I sent the following reply to Paul Buff, Inc. after receiving a "we don't know
about FP timing" reply from their tech support. Got any bulbs left, Mike?
Maybe I can loan you my CyberSyncs sometime after I get home Wednesday night.
I'm interested to know the outcome.
Chuck Norcutt
> -------Original Message-------
> From: chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> To: Info at Paulcbuff.com <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: RE: Can Cybersync battery receivers/transmitters trigger a large
> flash bulb?
> Sent: Apr 26 '11 11:24
>
> Thanks for the reply, David. My guess is that you're much younger than my
> 67 years since you appear to have little knowledge of FP (focal plane) flash
> bulbs. The camera I mentioned (an Olympus OM-2) is a mid-70s film SLR and
> the last of the OM line of cameras to support FP synchronization (focal plane
> flash bulbs) as well as X sync for electronic flash. Selection of the sync
> speed is via a two position switch near the lens mount.
>
> You are correct about the timing for FP bulbs. Unlike electronic flash
> (which can only be fired at shutter speeds slow enough that both curtains of
> a focal plane shutter are fully open), FP bulbs are specifically designed
> for use with focal plane shutters and can be used at any shutter speed. They
> have a very long burn time which, to assure compete coverage of the image
> plane, must be at least as long as the X-sync time for the camera. For the
> OM-2 that's at least 1/60 second and I suspect large FP bulbs may have burn
> times of 1/30 second or longer for the even larger and slower-shuttered
> medium format SLRs of the day. In addition to the long burn time there is
> also an extended ignition time. That simply means that it takes the bulb
> some appreciable time to start burning at a constant rate which is necessary
> for even illumination as the slit formed by the focal plane shutter traverses
> the image plane. So, you are also correct that the timing for FP sync trig
gers the bulb well before the shutter starts to open. I appreciate the
information on the 1/4000th latency of the CyberSync. I don't have precise
knowledge of how that will affect an FP bulb but suspect that something that
fast is in the range of random noise for something with the long ramp up time
of an FP bulb.
>
> What I had hoped you might be able to supply me with was the amount of time
> that the CyberSync trigger signal is actually being transmitted. Our concern
> is that it might not be long enough to assure reliable ignition. It's sort
> of like trying to light a candle with a match. If you place the lit match in
> contact with the candle wick for 1/10 second you're not likely to light the
> candle. Any signal duration timing info you have will be appreciated.
>
> It's possible I may simply lend my CyberSyncs (by mail) to the friend with
> the FP bulbs. If I do I'll advise you of the outcome of the experiment.
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
>
> > -------Original Message-------
> > From: Info at Paulcbuff.com <info@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> > To: chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: RE: Can Cybersync battery receivers/transmitters trigger a large
> flash bulb?
> > Sent: Apr 26 '11 10:24
> >
> > Hey Chuck,
> > Thanks for contacting us! Unfortunately, this has not been tested by us,
> and
> > I am not familiar enough with those type bulbs to make an educated guess.
> I
> > would think if they can be triggered by jumping a sync cord, they can
> likely
> > be triggered by a CSRB with the correct wiring. However, some additional
> > thoughts on this: Are you using this with a typical DSLR, or do you have a
> > camera designed to use these, and you just are looking for a wireless
> > solution? My research has lead to my understanding that these need a sync
> > connection that will trigger in advance of the shutter opening. A standard
> > sync connection will not do that, and cause the lights to trigger too
> late.
> > Additionally, regardless of the camera, the all radio remotes introduce
> some
> > latency. In the case of Cyber Sync, it is about 1/4000, which may or may
> not
> > skew the timing of the trigger.
> >
> > I hope this helps, and if there is anything else we can do to assist,
> please
> > let us know!
> >
> > Thanks again,
> > David
> > Paul C. Buff, Inc.
> > 1-800-443-5542
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
> > Sent: Saturday, April 23, 2011 9:25 AM
> > To: tech@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> > Subject: Can Cybersync battery receivers/transmitters trigger a large
> flash
> > bulb?
> >
> > A friend has acquired a large flash gun and a supply of FP bulbs.
> Assuming
> > that a Cybersync transmitter is attached to a camera with FP sync (an
> > Olympus Om-2) will the receiver trigger the bulb? Another friend has
> > speculated that radio triggers designed for electronic flash may not have
> > sufficient duration to trigger the bulb. Advice?
> >
> > Chuck Norcutt
> > Endwell, NY
> >
> >
>
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