Why do I get a black band at 1/200s when using wireless flash triggers?
Asked 6/8/2012
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I’m using Yongnuo YN-603 wireless triggers to fire a YN-560II flash on a Nikon D5100. At the camera’s rated 1/200s sync speed, I see a small black band at the bottom of the frame. Can wireless triggers introduce enough delay to cause this, even if the camera’s normal sync speed is 1/200s? Does this mean my effective usable sync speed is lower when using these triggers, and how can I verify that the camera is working normally?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
14y ago
2 Answers
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Well. the max sync speed presupposes that the slave flash reacts instantly to the trigger. If it takes any amount of time at all for the slave to react, that is going to eat into your sync speed as the second curtain will have started to close before the slave flash actually fires.
So I'd say that yes, you would be better off to back off some from max sync when using slave flashes.
Originally by user3458. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user3458
14y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
Yes. The camera’s actual sync speed does not change, but wireless triggers can add a small firing delay. At the rated sync speed, timing is very tight: if the flash fires slightly late, the second shutter curtain may already be entering the frame, which causes the black band.
So in practice, your usable sync speed with those triggers may be a little lower than the camera’s nominal 1/200s. That does not necessarily mean the camera is faulty.
To check, test the camera with a flash connected directly rather than through the radio trigger. If it syncs cleanly at 1/200s directly, then the delay is coming from the trigger/flash setup. You can also test a series of shutter speeds and use the fastest one that gives a fully clean frame, such as 1/160s or 1/125s if needed.
Trigger delay can vary by trigger design and even battery condition, so backing off slightly from maximum sync speed when using radio triggers is normal.
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