Shutter speed in M mode

[Aqueelah]

Good evening,

I currently own the Sony A230 and am greatly enjoying it . I have had it since December (just a newbie) But there is something that is really boggling me as well as frustrating me. I cannot change the shutter speed in M mode. When I first turn the camera on while in M mode, I am able to adjust the shutter speed. But then after I take the first picture, the shutter speed shifts to 1/160 and will not allow me to move to a higher value. This also happens to me in S mode. I have tried changing the WB and the ISO, but the shutter speed won't budge past 1/160 (unless I turn the camera off then back on). I was told by a "professional" that it depends on the environment I am in, indoors or outdoors. I have discovered that the shutter speed will increase with the flash off. But this seems to be a little unfair and restrictive. Is there is anyone that can be peace to mind about this matter because I am all confused.

Truly confused,

Aqueelah Maxwell

[PWhite214]

In manual, you should be able to select any shutter speed with any aperture that you want. Page 65 of the manual shows how to adjust each.

There could be a problem with the camera. If you bought it locally see your dealer. Second choice would be to call Sony's tech help, the number should be in the paperwork.

Good luck,

Phil

[jdepould]

Adjust your flash sync speed or use rear curtain flash.

[FlyingKiwiGirl]

Originally Posted by Aqueelah

Good evening,

I currently own the Sony A230 and am greatly enjoying it . I have had it since December (just a newbie) But there is something that is really boggling me as well as frustrating me. I cannot change the shutter speed in M mode. When I first turn the camera on while in M mode, I am able to adjust the shutter speed. But then after I take the first picture, the shutter speed shifts to 1/160 and will not allow me to move to a higher value. This also happens to me in S mode. I have tried changing the WB and the ISO, but the shutter speed won't budge past 1/160 (unless I turn the camera off then back on). I was told by a "professional" that it depends on the environment I am in, indoors or outdoors. I have discovered that the shutter speed will increase with the flash off. But this seems to be a little unfair and restrictive. Is there is anyone that can be peace to mind about this matter because I am all confused.

Truly confused,

Aqueelah Maxwell

Aqueelah, I have a Sony a350. You are correct the shutter speed will not budge past 1/160 if you have the in camera flash engaged, I assume so you can't under expose your shots. It will move though (as it should) if the flash is has not been popped up, so if you are having problems when turning it on, and not engaging the flash, then there is a problem. The rear curtain flash doesn't allow the shutter past 160 either, not sure about the fast flash sync, I haven't checked that out. I did notice that if you shift the flash setting to wireless it will allow you to increase the shutter speed. You obviously need an off camera flash for this. I'm not that advanced so can't help any further.

ETA- I think the a700 has a maximum shutter speed of 1/250 when the flash is engaged.

[inkista]

Your camera is automatically throttling you down to your max. sync speed so that you won't get dark bars at the top or bottom of the frame.

Your shutter works by having two curtains: the front curtain and the rear curtain. The gap between the curtains is the exposure. As your exposure time gets faster, that gap between the curtains gets smaller and smaller. Your max. sync speed is the fastest speed at which that gap is still big enough to leave all of your sensor uncovered. Once you go faster than that, one or the other (or both) of the curtains will be covering a portion of the sensor when the flash burst goes off, and you'll get black bars.

Upshot: you have to use high-speed sync if you want to go faster than 1/160s. High-speed sync is a feature that a lot of modern flash/camera systems use where the camera and the flash can time a series of bursts to follow the shutter gap as it sweeps across the sensor, so that the entire sensor will be evenly covered with light from the flash. However, the rapid repeated bursting of the flash will reduce the power/light output that you can get from the flash when you're using HSS.

Unfortunately, your A230's pop-up flash cannot do the HSS thing (this is pretty much on par with most entry-level cameras). You'll probably have to get an external Sony speedlight to use HSS.