Sony HVL-LE1 - Manual (Page 12)

Slow Sync Flash
On-Camera Flash Basics
What is it?
Creates a long exposure with
flash to allow ambient light to be
seen and balance natural light
with flash light.
How to use it?
• Set your camera to Slow
Sync Mode
• Place your camera down or use
a tripod to keep it stable
• Set the self-timer or use the
optional wired or wireless remote
control so you are not moving
the camera while it is capturing
the image
• If photographing a person, have
them remain still for the duration
of the photo
Where to use it?
Nighttime shots where the
background is important to
the overall image. Great for
capturing ambient light from
decorations or city lights, while
keeping your subject sharp.
slow sync
flash
Recreate what your eyes see and tell the whole story.
It’s a lovely evening and you’re out for a stroll when you come across the
perfect setting for a photograph, but you face a problem. Your camera
will either need a long exposure to capture the ambient detail of the lights
which would leave your subject in the foreground in the dark, or your fill
flash will illuminate your subject leaving the background dark and lacking
the mood you originally wanted to capture.
Most of the time, capturing a moment at night will
require a flash to illuminate the image. However, if you
simply fire the flash you will not be telling the entire story.
The main goal of a flash is to illuminate what is directly in
front of it. At night, this is useful for capturing the subject
but not for capturing what is happening beyond the
range of your flash.
Slow Sync flash allows you to capture both the subject
as well as the background. How? Slow Sync flash will
slow down your shutter speed as well as fire the flash
later in the exposure. A slower shutter speed will allow
more ambient light to be captured and the flash will
ensure your subject and the background behind them
are properly lit.
Background Under Exposed
Standard Fill Flash
F5, 1/60 SEC, ISO 320
F5, 1/8 SEC, ISO 320
Flash
Split-second Breakdown
Shutterblade position over time
Total exposure: 1/60 SEC Total exposure: 1/200 SEC
Flash
Shutterblade position over time
Split-second Breakdown
Capturing Ambient Light
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