A300 shutter speed

[S3000]

How can I get a higher shutter speed when I activate the flash. In S and M mode I want a shutter speed of 1/250 sec or higher with the flash but when I activate the flash then it goes back to 1/160 sec.
Is there a way to override this?

[kencaleno]

Originally Posted by S3000

How can I get a higher shutter speed when I activate the flash. In S and M mode I want a shutter speed of 1/250 sec or higher with the flash but when I activate the flash then it goes back to 1/160 sec.
Is there a way to override this?

That is because the A300 has a top sync speed of 1/160 sec (It says so in your manual)-So you cannot sync at a higher shutter speed.The reason I went with Nikon on my D50 is because the top sync speed is 1/500 sec-The nikons D70 and D40 are the only other cameras that have this top sync speed- (and they can Sync at camera's top shutterspeed-1/4000sec,and1/8000sec,depending on which camera, when using off-camera flashguns)They all share an electromechanical shutter.You need to determine these features before you purchase your camera. This is why I wonder at people buying Olympus or Sony Alpha cameras-The Olympus synchs at 1/180 sec- very limiting.Regards, Ken

[DonSchap]

'S3000' - I sincerely hope you got the answer you were looking for at DCRP: (here's a copy)

You have to have a HVL-F58AM or HVL-F56AM or HVL-F42AM or HVL-F36AM flash unit to make use of the HSS (High-Speed sync) feature for any shutter speed. It will not operate (or is restricted) when using the built-in flash or another attached flash. You might conclude that this is a part of the SONY/Minolta "proprietary hot shoe."

You will see an "H" in the A300's viewfinder, when the HSS-flash is attached and set to provide the feature.

One Page 148 (Specifications) of your A300/A350 manual, you will see the maximum flash sync speed for the camera as 1/160 second.

This is from the HVL-F56AM flash manual (pg 35), to explain HSS:

"High-speed sync eliminates the restrictions of flash sync speed and enables the flash to be used through the entire shutter speed range of the camera. The increased selectable aperture range allows flash photography with a wider aperture, leaving the background out of focus and accentuating the front subject. Even when photographing at a wide f-stop in the A-mode or M-Mode, when the background is very bright and the shot will normally be over-exposed, you can adjust the exposure by using the high-speed shutter."

So, there is your reason to purchase one of these external flash units.

There really is not a lot more information concerning this on the SONY/Minolta camera system.

I agree ... there could be some improvement, but SONY seems to be concentrating on different aspects, at the moment. I suspect they are hoping Ken will come back from his short turn with Nikon.