advantage of leaf shutter in x series cameras?

[miatadan]

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I noticed that all x series cameras including X Vario use leaf shutters. Unlike most dslr's this means flash will work at higher sync speed than 1/200th sec like the Nikon D600 or Canon 6D flash sync speed of 1/180th sec.

 

If I am correct max flash sync speed for Leica X Vario is 1/2000th....

 

I far as I know, non of the mirrorless interchangeable bodies use leaf shutters.

 

Olympus Pen E-P5 1/320 sec flash sync

Sony Nex 6 1/160 sec flash sync

Fuji X E-1 and Pro1 1/180 sec flash sync

Nikon 1 V2 1/250 sec flash sync

 

I realize that high flash sync speeds is good for fill flash. Is there any other advantages to using leaf shutter?

 

Will this help in times when you have low light levels?

 

Dan

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[mwilliamsphotography]

I noticed that also.

 

Probably not something that jumps out at the typical Leica small camera user including most M9/M240 shooters because strobes or aux lighting isn't used often, if at all.

 

It did to me.

 

Yes, Leaf shutter cameras tend to exhibit less shutter vibration at lower hand held speeds. This camera would have to be tested against a focal plane shutter camera of similar specs to see if it actually does, but it should.

 

More importantly, it caught my attention because it can be used with a Profoto AIR transmitter to fire studio strobes at least to 1/1000 sync, and perhaps all the way to 1/2000, without vignetting. One fellow uses a Nikon speed-light at 1/2000 sync on his X2.

 

Outdoors, this means you can control bright background exposures by increasing shutter speed rather than being stuck at the typical 1/160, /1/200, or 1/250 of focal plane shutter cameras. It is more like a Mini S2 with CS lenses in this regard, but the S Zoom isn't a leaf shutter, so the VX is better ... LOL!

 

I believe that makes this XV the only compact with a zoom that does this.

 

- Marc

[miatadan]

I noticed that also.

 

Probably not something that jumps out at the typical Leica small camera user including most M9/M240 shooters because strobes or aux lighting isn't used often, if at all.

 

It did to me.

 

Yes, Leaf shutter cameras tend to exhibit less shutter vibration at lower hand held speeds. This camera would have to be tested against a focal plane shutter camera of similar specs to see if it actually does, but it should.

 

More importantly, it caught my attention because it can be used with a Profoto AIR transmitter to fire studio strobes at least to 1/1000 sync, and perhaps all the way to 1/2000, without vignetting. One fellow uses a Nikon speed-light at 1/2000 sync on his X2.

 

Outdoors, this means you can control bright background exposures by increasing shutter speed rather than being stuck at the typical 1/160, /1/200, or 1/250 of focal plane shutter cameras. It is more like a Mini S2 with CS lenses in this regard, but the S Zoom isn't a leaf shutter, so the VX is better ... LOL!

 

I believe that makes this XV the only compact with a zoom that does this.

 

- Marc

 

Thanks, I will check out Profoto AIR transmitter as I am curious about it...

[ynp]

It works with the Broncolor transmitter.

[okli]

Hi,

 

does this apply to X type 113 too - I used yesterday my compact canon 90ex flash on it outdoors as fill-in flash in the bright sun and noticed that I was at 1/500 ss without any issues. I thought the camera reduces the ss automatically, but no - the photos are really at ss 1/500. Curious about it I checked the manual and didn't find anything regarding the max flash sync shutter speed. The only source of information is this thread here. I have to check this with my 580ex - this is always an issue with my 6D and its 1/180 max sync speed with running kids - if this is true I can catch them at last ;-)

 

TIA

[earleygallery]

Hi,

 

does this apply to X type 113 too - I used yesterday my compact canon 90ex flash on it outdoors as fill-in flash in the bright sun and noticed that I was at 1/500 ss without any issues. I thought the camera reduces the ss automatically, but no - the photos are really at ss 1/500. Curious about it I checked the manual and didn't find anything regarding the max flash sync shutter speed. The only source of information is this thread here. I have to check this with my 580ex - this is always an issue with my 6D and its 1/180 max sync speed with running kids - if this is true I can catch them at last ;-)

 

TIA

Yes, it does

[Chuck Albertson]

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That's always been an advantage of leaf shutters. You don't need to use a tansmitter to trigger an off-camera flash - just selecting "Studio mode" for the X2 pop-up flash works wel, if the off-camera flash can see it.

[okli]

Thanks for the info. I can trigger my yongnuo flash this way, but I can't get it work with my 580ex ii - the canon manuals are very unclear (at least to me), if the flash can be optically triggered in slave mode :-(. If someone found out, if and how this can work it will be very helpful if s/he can share the info here. What I've tried is to set 580 in slave mode (ch. 1) and x in studio mode as suggested.

 

TIA

[Chuck Albertson]

Thanks for the info. I can trigger my yongnuo flash this way, but I can't get it work with my 580ex ii - the canon manuals are very unclear (at least to me), if the flash can be optically triggered in slave mode :-(. If someone found out, if and how this can work it will be very helpful if s/he can share the info here. What I've tried is to set 580 in slave mode (ch. 1) and x in studio mode as suggested.

 

TIA

Good point. Some of the equivalent Nikon flashes have the optical slave function (SU-4), but I don't know if the Canaon has that. If it has a PC terminal, however, you can plug in an optical slave.

[okli]

Good point. Some of the equivalent Nikon flashes have the optical slave function (SU-4), but I don't know if the Canaon has that. If it has a PC terminal, however, you can plug in an optical slave.

 

From the other posts I read on the inet it seems plugging an additional optical slave is the only solution.

[2wk]

My XV can sync at any speed with its built in flash. However it can only sync up to 1/1000 with my transmitter (Flashwave-3) which is still really great! With a 580 ex ii and a Nikon SB-800.

[TMorita]

Leaf shutters enable sync at any speed with a wired flash, but with a wireless flash you're limited by the wireless propagation delay. I can do a max of about 1/800th with Godox radio triggers.

 

I use it to "kill the ambient" so I can do low-key or mid-key photography during the day outdoors.

Here's an example at ISO 200, 32.5mm, f/5.1, 1/500th sec.

 

Toshi

 

 

 

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[Echo63]

its about the fuji X100, (leaf shutter and built in 3 stop ND) but most of this Strobist post is relevant to any leaf shutter lensed camera 

http://strobist.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/leaf-shutter-nd-flash-fuji-x100s.html

 

the main advantage is being able to shoot with a wider aperture and flash in full sun, this means a narrower depth of field, without power robbing HSS/FP sync

 

1/1000 sync means you can open up the aperture 2 stops from a DSLR's 1/250th (for most Canons) and your flash can be dialled down 2 stops, or you can double the distance between the light source and your subject - from a strobist's perspective, it makes your flashes 4 stops more powerful.

[TMorita]

its about the fuji X100, (leaf shutter and built in 3 stop ND) but most of this Strobist post is relevant to any leaf shutter lensed camera 

http://strobist.blogspot.com.au/2013/05/leaf-shutter-nd-flash-fuji-x100s.html

 

the main advantage is being able to shoot with a wider aperture and flash in full sun, this means a narrower depth of field, without power robbing HSS/FP sync

 

1/1000 sync means you can open up the aperture 2 stops from a DSLR's 1/250th (for most Canons) and your flash can be dialled down 2 stops, or you can double the distance between the light source and your subject - from a strobist's perspective, it makes your flashes 4 stops more powerful.

 

 

I think you mean "4 times more powerful" or "two stops more powerful", one of the two.

 

In my opinion you're missing the point of doing this. It isn't to "shoot wide open in full sunlight". It's so you can properly expose when the subject is backlit by the sun and in the frame.

I usually don't do this on my LXV because it doesn't focus well at -2 EV and I can't disable the aperture preview.

Here's one from the Sony RX1 which is better for this technique.

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[TMorita]

Here's another one that's backlit, but the sun isn't in the frame.

But properly exposed.

This one was taken with the Sony RX1, but could have been done with the LXV.

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[farhiz]

Leaf shutters enable sync at any speed with a wired flash, but with a wireless flash you're limited by the wireless propagation delay. I can do a max of about 1/800th with Godox radio triggers.

 

I use it to "kill the ambient" so I can do low-key or mid-key photography during the day outdoors.

Here's an example at ISO 200, 32.5mm, f/5.1, 1/500th sec.

 

Toshi

 

That's some suit, man.

[Echo63]

I think you mean "4 times more powerful" or "two stops more powerful", one of the two.

 

In my opinion you're missing the point of doing this. It isn't to "shoot wide open in full sunlight". It's so you can properly expose when the subject is backlit by the sun and in the frame.

I usually don't do this on my LXV because it doesn't focus well at -2 EV and I can't disable the aperture preview.

Here's one from the Sony RX1 which is better for this technique.

 

correct - I mixed up what i typed - 2 stops or 4 times, not 4 stops.

 

and it depends on the goal of the photo - sometimes you want to correctly expose (or underexpose) the sky and having the extra 2 stops of sunlight killing ability that your flash doesn't have to fight against, means you can back your lights up a bit, or power them down a little for a faster recycle, or it gives you an extra two stops before you run into the sync speed at maximum aperture and minimum ISO limit.

 

other times you may want to shoot wide open for that "medium format look" (i know i know, it doesn't look anything like MF - but the full sun, flash lit, narrow DOF thing is pretty much limited to MF and quirky little big sensor leaf shutter compacts like the X100, RX1 and X Vario)

Nice Example pics, by the way ! 

 

 

Leaf shutters enable sync at any speed with a wired flash, but with a wireless flash you're limited by the wireless propagation delay. I can do a max of about 1/800th with Godox radio triggers.

 

I use it to "kill the ambient" so I can do low-key or mid-key photography during the day outdoors.

Here's an example at ISO 200, 32.5mm, f/5.1, 1/500th sec.

 

Toshi

the flash duration matters too - some cheaper flashes have ridiculously slow flash durations. (the new IGBT strobes like the godox AD600, Profoto B1 and B2, and most speed lights are pretty quick, and get quicker as you wind the power down)

[TMorita]

 

 

the flash duration matters too - some cheaper flashes have ridiculously slow flash durations. (the new IGBT strobes like the godox AD600, Profoto B1 and B2, and most speed lights are pretty quick, and get quicker as you wind the power down)

 

 

I've done this with the Yongnuo 560 IIIs which are super cheap and didn't have a problem.

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[Echo63]

I've done this with the Yongnuo 560 IIIs which are super cheap and didn't have a problem.

They are a speedlite - using an Inverted Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) setup, so their slowest flash duration is full power, and most IGBT lights have a t5 time faster than 1/500th

[TMorita]

They are a speedlite - using an Inverted Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) setup, so their slowest flash duration is full power, and most IGBT lights have a t5 time faster than 1/500th

 

I've never seen any flashes which are voltage controlled. Do you know of any?