Pop Up Flash D300

[BovrilArg]

Ok so I have a SB-600 which I usually use but on a recent trip I did not have it with me. So the pop up flash had to be used. While dialing down the intensity to reduce the harshness I saw that I have the option to change intensity and the setting of the flash. The options are and eye (I assume red eye removal), slow and rear.

So here is the question...what is the difference between slow and rear? I am guessing that slow would be if I was using a slow shutter speed. If so what is rear and how would this change the flash output?

[cyclohexane]

"SLOW" allows the camera to choose a shutter speed slower than the "flash minimum shutter speed" defined in the custom settings menu when shooting in Aperture Priority. It isn't available in Shutter Priority or Manual because you control the shutter speed in those modes. I'm not sure if it is available in Program mode, but I rarely shoot Program.

"REAR" is rear-curtain sync, which means the flash fires when the shutter closes, not when it opens. This gives a different look to your images, so you should definitely experiment with it. For example, you can open the shutter for a full second or more, move the camera around, and the duration of the flash should freeze your subject when the shutter closes.

[BovrilArg]

Wow. Thanks. Time to play with it a little.

[KmH]

The vast majority of the time you'll want the flash set to "rear", and that setting is used for any flash the camera fires, on or off the camera.

[PhotogWannabe]

Originally Posted by KmH

The vast majority of the time you'll want the flash set to "rear", and that setting is used for any flash the camera fires, on or off the camera.

Why would you want to have it set most of the time on "rear?" From photos of seen with that setting I would think it would be used infrequently or for specially set up shots.

To the OP: definitely play around with the flash but for most occasions I would leave the flash set to "front" curtain flash. In this case the little flash box on your top LCD panel would be blank.

[Steven G Webb]

I'm with Paul. Rear curtain sync. makes a really cool effect on subjects in motion because the motion blur (ghost) trails the subject, rather than proceeding it. For the most part, I think front curtain sync. would be the "normal" setting. But to each, his own.
Steve

[MyPerspective]

Originally Posted by Songman45

I'm with Paul. Rear curtain sync. makes a really cool effect on subjects in motion because the motion blur (ghost) trails the subject, rather than proceeding it. For the most part, I think front curtain sync. would be the "normal" setting. But to each, his own.
Steve

IF you use rear-sync, (as already mentioned) any motion blurring will look natural.

In the custom settings menu, you can manually set the camera's minimum shutter speed. IF the minimum shutter speed is set to 1/30th second or slower, most people will not be able to hand-hold the camera without blurring the image. So you'll need to use a tripod for slower shutter speeds! However, bumping up the ISO to around ISO 640 or 800, with the flash's minimum shutter speed set to 1/15th second, will give you some very nice ambient fill, creating the most natural looking images (of non moving "still" subjects).

I do sincerely hope you are using the camera's Advanced Lighting System! Your D300 will remotely control your SB600 flash unit! You can use all of these cool flash options, such as rear sync, slow-sync, red-eye reduction, etc., even in the remote control mode. The pop-up flash will remotely control your SB600, SB800, SB900 flash units, giving you Nikon's Advanced remote control operation of your flashes!