Digital camera and flash sync question

[Grandpaw]

When using my Nikon F 35mm cameras with a focal plane shutter the flash syncs at 1/60 of a second. I bought a Kodak P880 digital and I am wondering if there is any shutter speed I can't go over. I am not sure if it even effects a digital camera but would like to know so I can try an external flash. I looked in the manual and can't find anything except don't go over 500volts trigger voltage. Thanks for any input, Jeff

[SmartWombat]

Usually 1/250 second for a focal plane shutter, some can sync as fast as 1/500.

Kodak seem to have the limit at 1/60 ?
(5) implies you can use a slower shutter speed, but not faster.
Bur because it's digital, you can just try it and see what shutter speeds work with an external flash.

To prepare the camera for external flash:
1. Set the desired color mode/quality mode.
2. Select center-weighted or center-spot focus.
3. Select the sharpness.
4. Set the ISO to 80 or 100.
5. Set the shutter speed.
Use 1/60 second unless you are using a tripod.
6. Set the f/stop.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/servi...EntryPath=7560

[another view]

Guess I've never tried it with my compact, but why not? As long as there is some manual control, you'll know immediately if it worked or not.

I'm sure you probably know this, but what would happen if you shot at a faster speed with your SLR is that part of the frame would be black (unexposed). Some cameras allow for much faster than 1/60 but faster isn't always better.

It's nice to have the option of going faster in some cases - for example a portrait in bright sunlight where you want to use a fairly wide aperture like f4 or 5.6. ISO100 would give you a shutter speed much faster than 1/60, so you'd be out of luck. If your camera would do 1/250, you might get close with f5.6 so that would be an advantage.

Slow shutter speeds can make great effects though - in a dark room the longer shutter speed will let in more ambient light so that the room doesn't look so dark - without affecting the flash exposure. Then there's always the motion blur tricks!

[Grandpaw]

Thanks for the info and the web site. I looked at it then decided to call Kodak and see if they could tell me the sync speed..They told me it was in sync up to 1/4000. The reason I wanted to know was if I set the aperture and let the camera choose the shutter speed I wanted to know that it wouldn't go at a shutter speed higher than the flash would sync too.

Seems like the more I learn the more questions I have. Thanks to both of you for taking the time to respond, Jeff