I have got a Nikon D40 which at the moment is good enough for me (until i can afford something better anyway). I have bought a Nikon SB-600 flash gun for it. I`m just wondering if anyone knows if the D40 can be programmed to do high speed sync to the flash. At the moment the quickest shutter speed i can get is 1/500ths which by the looks of it is the norm for most cameras. I was told when i bought it i could increase this but dont seem able to. Any advice would be appreciated as its starting to bug me a bit as i think i`m missing something simple

Look for auto FP mode in your cameras flash/bracketing menu, not sure what the specs are of the D40 as never had one but it says something like 1/250 auto FP

I`ve had a look for that sort of thing but cant find it anywhere. I`m guessing my thoughts were right and i cant go faster with the shutter speeds. Have to save up now to get a new camera body :-)

Does the D40 not have an electronic shutter like the d70? If so you can cover all the electronic pins on the flash bar the central one and using manual mode sync up to your cameras highest shutter speed (1/4000?)

Using a non i-TTL flash (single centre pin only...beware of high sync voltages) is another option

You could contact Nikon direct or look on their web site for the information you want?

Alaina Thornton

I have now found out that it can be done by indeed covering the back two pins on the hotshoe with electrical tape. This then allows the camera shutter speed to go all the way upto 1/4000th but also allows the flash to work in both i-TTL mode and manual

Thanks all

Hi Roy
I should volunteer that I don't use Nikon kit and am therefore unfamiliar with The D40 or your new flash gun.
Pardon my ignorance but I am lost to understand why you want a faster flash synch speed?  Can you please explain?

I did a shoot a couple of months ago where it was a very sunny day. I wanted to use the flash as a fill in but with the flash attached to the hot shoe i couldnt get the shutter speed past 1/500th. I know some have a high speed sync on them but the D40 doesnt. Hope that helps

You could always use a reflector ( White, silver or mirror ) - sync's. at all speeds :)