Flash with High speed sync for 550d?

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samagroma

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Hi mates,
I've just bought Canon 550D and Canon 60mm 2.8 macro lens and would like to buy a flash with High-Speed Sync (HSS). I am considering Nissin Di-866 or Sigma EF-530 DG Super (don't know yet which one would be better) (Canon flashes too expensive) as both have the HSS but I am not sure if I will be able to to us it with 550d and how to do it? I also wander if I will be able to use the flash wirelessly with 550d for macro?
 
HSS is very useful (though probably not for macro) when you want to use fill-in flash outdoors in bright light that inevitably pushes your shutter speed above the max x-sync. Just switch it on and shoot as normal. You can leave it permanently on if you like, and it will switch itself in and out when necessary.

The only real drawback with HSS is it's inherantly wasteful of power, so maximum range is reduced.

For off-camera macro flash, the obvious answer is to use a cord. Unless you particularly need wireless for some reason, though that can be done easily enough.
 
Thanks mate.

HoppyUK said:
HSS is very useful (though probably not for macro) when you want to use fill-in flash outdoors in bright light that inevitably pushes your shutter speed above the max x-sync. Just switch it on and shoot as normal. You can leave it permanently on if you like, and it will switch itself in and out when necessary.

The only real drawback with HSS is it's inherantly wasteful of power, so maximum range is reduced.

For off-camera macro flash, the obvious answer is to use a cord. Unless you particularly need wireless for some reason, though that can be done easily enough.
Click to expand...
 
samagroma said:
Could you give me some reasons why nd filter would be better please?
Cheers
Click to expand...

Essentially the only reason you need to be in HSS is because you want a faster shutter speed, so the question really becomes "why do you need a faster shutter than max sync?"

If you want to freeze macro action flash at max sync without hss will do that, if you want to reduce ambient exposure then you can go ISO 100 or smaller apertures.

An ND filter will uniformly reduce the light coming into the lens to allow the shutter to remain at or below max sync or shoot at a wider aperture if required.

Hope that helps!
 
Looking at the question, you’d like the option to use HSS wirelessly.

The minimum you need for that:

(1) A flashgun that supports HSS
(2) A wireless triggering system that supports HSS using the flashgun you’ve chosen.

Without (2) you'll be limited to the 550D max sync speed, which is 1/200 whether you buy a flashgun that supports HSS or not.
 
Mitch38 said:
Looking at the question, you’d like the option to use HSS wirelessly.

The minimum you need for that:

(1) A flashgun that supports HSS
(2) A wireless triggering system that supports HSS using the flashgun you’ve chosen.

Without (2) you'll be limited to the 550D max sync speed, which is 1/200 whether you buy a flashgun that supports HSS or not.
Click to expand...

Cheers mate.
Are you 100% sure about (2)?
I have a wireless triggering system (bought on ebay a year ago) but I have no idea if it supports HSS...
 
hsuffyan said:
Essentially the only reason you need to be in HSS is because you want a faster shutter speed, so the question really becomes "why do you need a faster shutter than max sync?"

If you want to freeze macro action flash at max sync without hss will do that, if you want to reduce ambient exposure then you can go ISO 100 or smaller apertures.

An ND filter will uniformly reduce the light coming into the lens to allow the shutter to remain at or below max sync or shoot at a wider aperture if required.

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

Thank you very much but I think I still prefer HSS as it is much better solution in poor or average light conditions. At least I think so...
 
samagroma said:
Cheers mate.
Are you 100% sure about (2)?
I have a wireless triggering system (bought on ebay a year ago) but I have no idea if it supports HSS...
Click to expand...

Yes I'm 100% sure, unless you bought wireless triggering system that supports, or partially supports ettl + HSS

On manual triggers like YN rf602 rf 603s etc etc, you can go beyond 1/200 if you want, however you'll get banding in your images.
 
Mitch38 said:
Yes I'm 100% sure, unless you bought wireless triggering system that supports, or partially supports ettl + HSS

On manual triggers like YN rf602 rf 603s etc etc, you can go beyond 1/200 if you want, however you'll get banding in your images.
Click to expand...

Just to be clear on this, with most cheaper radio triggers, if your normal x-sync speed is 1/200sec, you'll probably max out at 1/160sec before a dark band appears at the bottom of the frame.

There's a fractional delay while they process and reprocess the firing signal.
 
HoppyUK said:
you'll probably max out at 1/160sec before a dark band appears at the bottom of the frame.
Click to expand...

Yes I agree. When you say probably rather than deffinatley - what factors influence that probabilty ?
 
Mitch38 said:
Yes I agree. When you say probably rather than deffinatley - what factors influence that probabilty ?
Click to expand...

Speed of the trigger. Unless it says something like 'x-sync up to 1/250sec' then it will probably lose a bit, but even if it does, it won't do 1/250sec unless that's the camera's native x-sync max. Only higher end cameras will run to that, most are 1/200sec and some 1/180sec-ish. Unless you're shooting outdoors and need to balance the flash with bright ambient light, then it doesn't matter much.

I use Phottix Strato II triggers and they will run clean up to 1/250sec. V good triggers but a bit more money than most. Or you could splash out on Pocket Wizard Flex/Mini auto-TTL triggers that can even run higher than the native max. They're very clever and extract an earlier trigger signal from the camera that can push 1/250sec up to as high as 1/400sec.
 
Many thanks guys for all the info.
In this case I understand that buying an expensive flash with HSS such as Nissin Di-866 or Sigma EF-530 DG Super would be pointless as I wouldn't be able to use this function (HSS) with my Canon 550d. Am I right?
 
HSS is a flash gun feature, not a camera feature. Yes, you can use it on a 550D.

You can also do wireless remote HSS, with full auto control, if you have a) an E-TTL master flash (or controller unit) on-camera, and b) a HSS enabled remote gun.
 
Just bought used Canon 220EX flash for only 45 and am very happy as it has HSS! It is not very powerful but smaller and for my needs will be perfect. I also have off shoe cable so I don't worry that it doesn't swivel.
Thanks again
 
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