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Light in Photography -   LIGHTING -  FLASH LIGHTING

SHUTTER SYNCHRONIZATION

Before the invention of electronic flash tubes, which allowed thousands of exposures from the one tube, photographers used flash bulbs. While the filament of these bulbs was destroyed during the discharge, and the bulb discarded after each discharge, the peak illumination was also at a different time than the electronic flash. For some time, manufacturers devised two systems of synchronization with the X coupling for electronic flash and the M for the older bulb flashes.
 
 

The "X" setting is for the electronic flash units and because these units release their energy extremely quickly, it is essential that cameras with focal plane shutters have these completely open when the flash is released. The "X" setting then fires the flash when the shutter is completely open. 

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The "M" setting is for the older type of bulb or cube that was common before the introduction  of the electronic flash. This type of flash peaks more slowly than the electronic units and it is important to have the shutter open after the flash has been triggered so that it can synchronize with the greatest intensity of the flash, but also that this remain open for longer as the intensity takes longer to build and die away. 

 


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Some cameras like this twin lens reflex have two settings for flash, "X" & "M" , so a photographer has to be care which setting is used. As bulbs are rarely used today many photographers that use these cameras glue or tape the lever in the X position.

It is also important with some cameras that besides having the camera set on  "X" or "M" that it is set on the correct shutter speed.



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Rather than switch  between X & M like the twin lens reflex camera, this 35 mm camera has  both X and M flash sync ports and the photographer selects the appropriate one for the equipment they are using.

Many 35 mm slr cameras have an X marked on the Shutter speed dial to indicate the flash sync speed. Using speeds other than this means the flash will be discharging at the wrong time. 

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