Enter the flash duration and power of the flash into the calculator to determine the Watt Seconds. This calculator can also evaluate any of the variables given the others are known.

Flash Energy To Watt Seconds Formula

The following formula is used to calculate the conversion from Flash Energy to Watt Seconds.

WS = FD * P

Variables:

  • WS is the Watt Seconds (Ws)
  • FD is the flash duration (seconds)
  • P is the power of the flash (watts)

To calculate the Watt Seconds, multiply the flash duration by the power of the flash. This will give you the total amount of light produced by the flash unit in Watt Seconds. This measurement is crucial for photographers as it helps them understand the intensity and duration of the flash, which can significantly influence the final image.

What is a Flash Energy To Watt Seconds?

Flash Energy to Watt Seconds is a conversion that is often used in photography to measure the amount of light produced by a flash unit. It is calculated by multiplying the flash duration (in seconds) by the power of the flash (in watts). This measurement is important as it helps photographers understand the intensity and duration of the flash, which can greatly affect the final image.

How to Calculate Flash Energy To Watt Seconds?

The following steps outline how to calculate the Flash Energy To Watt Seconds.


  1. First, determine the flash duration (FD) in seconds.
  2. Next, determine the power of the flash (P) in watts.
  3. Next, gather the formula from above = WS = FD * P.
  4. Finally, calculate the Flash Energy in Watt Seconds (WS).
  5. After inserting the variables and calculating the result, check your answer with the calculator above.

Example Problem : 

Use the following variables as an example problem to test your knowledge.

flash duration (FD) = 0.5 seconds

power of the flash (P) = 100 watts