Nikon Setting Question

[Plugus Maximus]

When I set my camera to aperature priority (a) I have the option on the flash settings of 'slow rear' sync. I like the effect this can produce but why it this not an option in the manual (M) setting? It's puzzling me but then most of this stuff does puzzle me!

 

[CT]

Slow Sync and Rear Curtain Sync are two different things. This is obviously a setting peculiar to Nikon which could be handy at times in combining two techniques.

Slow Flash Sync would be used for example when you want to take a flash photo of someone standing in front of a nice sunset. You'd meter for the sunset and set a fairly low shutter speed to expose that correctly, but during the exposure the flash would fire and put out just enough light to adequately light your foreground figure, with the result that you get a shot properly exposed for both the foreground subject and that nice sunset. Regardless of this setting provided for you, you should be able to set Rear Curtain Sync manually regardless of the mode, the option being buried somewhere deep in the menus no doubt. The Nikon guys will no doubt advise on that.

There's an explanation of Rear Curtain Sync HERE

It's not nearly as complicated as it sounds.... honest.

 

[Hacker]

I can't tell you anything about slow synch but to change the settings hold down the button to the left of the flash and turn the command dial, in the top LCD panel you will see the settings change.

Hope this helps.

 

[Plugus Maximus]

Thanks guys. I understand slow and rear syncing (I think!) and how to find it but what I don't understand is why on my camera it's only an option on the aperature setting and not on manual? That's the bit that puzzles me ...

 

[CT]

I think the answer is that in Manual Mode you can make all the necessary settings for yourself to duplicate this 'convenience' setting.

Looking at the camera spec details from the D40X review on Digital Camera Review, it does appear that this setting is available in 'P' Mode which you'd really expect, and in Aperture Priority Mode, as that's the mode where you pick the aperture and the camera picks the shutter speed, so could select a suitable shutter speed for slow flash sync?

 

[Plugus Maximus]

I think the answer is that in Manual Mode you can make all the necessary settings for yourself to duplicate this 'convenience' setting.

So how can I synchronise my built in flash on the rear curtain in the fully manual mode? I'm sure if this is possible it would be in the manual but I can't find it. Also if I select the slow rear sync option while in (a) mode it flashes twice in the same exposure, again how can I replicate this in manual settings?

Ta ....

 

[CT]

It looks to be straightforward. Press the flash button on the front of the camera and rotate the command dial to cycle through the options...