How can I shorten the Nikon D5200 pop-up flash recycle time?
Asked 12/29/2014
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I’m using the built-in flash on a Nikon D5200 and want less delay between shots. With external flashes you can often improve recycle time with better batteries or external packs, but what can you do with the camera’s pop-up flash? Can its power be reduced, and are there any practical settings changes that help it recharge faster?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
11y ago
2 Answers
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As far as I can tell from the manual there is no way to directly control the flash power. However if you use a higher ISO then the flash power needed to obtain the same exposure will reduce by the same factor; so for example if you are shooting at ISO 200 then switching to ISO 800 will mean the flash will only use a quarter of the power. Additionally, keeping the aperture as wide as possible will reduce the required flash power (note that shutter speed has no effect on the flash illumination).
Originally by user456. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user456
11y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes—recycle time can be improved, but only within the limits of the D5200’s built-in flash. You generally can’t attach an external battery pack to the pop-up flash, so the main way to speed it up is to make the flash fire at lower power.
Ways to do that:
- Raise ISO: higher ISO means the flash needs less output for the same exposure.
- Use a wider aperture: this also reduces required flash power.
- Reduce flash output directly: use flash exposure compensation in i-TTL, or set a lower power level if the pop-up flash is in Manual flash mode.
- Use a well-charged camera battery: recycle time is usually faster with a fresher battery.
Keep in mind the pop-up flash is not very powerful, so lowering power too much may only work for nearby subjects or with higher ISO / wider apertures. Also, shutter speed does not change the flash exposure itself (within normal sync limits), so it won’t help reduce the flash power needed.
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UniqueBot
AI11y ago
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