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Sdashiki

macrumors 68040
Original poster
Aug 11, 2005
3,529
11
Behind the lens
A quick intro to those who might have stumbled here on a whim not knowing what the following means:

M-sync = supports flash sync with (now obsolete) medium-speed electric flash bulbs. Because flash bulbs take some time to generate light, M-sync is timed to open the shutter at the time when light output from the bulb is greatest.

X-sync = the flash bursts in synchronization with the peak opening of the shutter. For some manual cameras, the X synch speed refers to the maximum speed that the camera can synchronize with the flash.

So since bulbs take longer to get bright than an electric flash, the M sync is technically faster to trip the flash than an X sync.


Attach an electric non-bulb flash to an M-sync and the flash fires before the shutter opens.

or

Attach a bulb flash to an X-sync and youll get the flash while the shutter is open, but the bulb isnt at its max brightness.


Other than this info, I know nothing.

I am curious to know what makes an M an M and an X an X, besides the timing.

Is a flash simply 2 wires that connect to a hotshoe? What determines the timing of M or X?

Can one make an M sync into an X with some resistors or rewiring?

Can I take an X sync from a donor camera and hack it onto another camera? If so, how do I get this flash to trip with the shutter?

Any help would be appreciated, im stumped on where to even begin looking for this kind of info.
 
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