Rear Curtain Sync with Z8/9 cameras.

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I just checked.... yep it’s not April 1st. I thought the Z9 had an electronic shutter......no curtains. I’m not sure it even has a way to emulate rear curtain sync.
😂 I think there is an option somewhere inside the menu, don't ask me how it does it though cos I don't have a clue! It's a toughy for sure. I use it quite often on my D6 to make some artistic birds in flight images, just wondering if the new cameras can do it also.
 
Push the Flash Button, turn the rear dial, select Rear Curtain Sync:

The reference manual says:

The flash fires just before the shutter closes, creating the effect of a stream of light behind moving light sources.

  • Selecting mode P or A after choosing this option sets the flash mode to slow sync.
  • Note that photos may be prone to blurring due to camera shake at slow shutter speeds.
  • Use of a tripod is recommended.
 
"Before the shutter closes," what shutter??? There is no shutter!! tripod is not an option either with moving targets as there is a bit of panning involved🤨 Mind boggling😳
 
The duration of the electronic shutter in the Z9 / Z8 to initiate and read the pixel rows is 5ms, which is 1/200 of a second, the flash synchronization speed.
The camera fires the flash in a much shorter pulse either right at the start (front 'curtain') or at the end (Rear 'curtain') of the sensor read. Obviously, the duration of this sensor reading the scene luminance - ie Shutter speed - can be longer: up to 30 s

Thom Hogan describes flash settings and much more in his Z9 ebook
 
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