Understanding HyperSync and High Speed Sync
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HSS/Auto FP requires a speedlight. Studio strobes are not capable of pulsing light. HSS requires special timing
information from the camera. This information is communicated through the TTL pins of a camera's hot shoe. A
normal studio flash cannot perform the light pulse technique.
HSS exposures will not be as bright as standard single-pop flashes, because the available energy is divided among all
the pulses over exposure time. The pulsed light requires more energy than non-pulsed flash. Flashes using HSS may
need to be positioned closer to a subject.
HyperSync
A normal, non-HSS flash is more efficient at delivering light to a subject than an HSS (pulsed) flash. As a result,
flashes may be positioned farther from a subject.
HyperSync uses special camera communication to trigger a normal flash before the first curtain opens. It can also
eliminate the delay introduced by a typical radio trigger. The timing can be optimized for some flashes based on the
user’s wishes.
A camera triggering a flash with HyperSync follows this timeline:
1. The shutter button is pressed.
2. Several milliseconds of time pass. This is called lag time. The amount of lag time varies from camera to camera.
3. The attached MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 senses exactly when the shutter will fire, and then fires the flash early.
4. The first curtain begins to move from the top of the sensor to the bottom.
5. The camera’s sensor is exposed.
6. Before the first curtain reaches the bottom of the sensor, the second curtain begins to move. The space between
the first and second curtain is a small slit. The faster the shutter speed is set the smaller the slit will become.
7. The first curtain reaches the bottom of the sensor.
8. The camera triggers its PC terminal and the center sync pin on the hot shoe.
HyperSync requires a ControlTL transmitter like the Nikon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 or Canon MiniTT1 and FlexTT5.
Optimizing HyperSync Automation require a ControlTL receiver like the PowerMC2, PowerST4, or AC9 AlienBees
Adapter. All transmitter HyperSync adjustments are made in the PocketWizard Utility on the HyperSync/HSS Tab.
Any PocketWizard radio can be used as a receiver and be triggered from the ControlTL transmitter's HyperSync
timing. You will see the best results using a ControlTL receiver.
There are two methods of using HyperSync Automation available on a ControlTL receiver: Reduced Clipping and
Highest Energy. The two methods choose different flash firing times relative to the camera's shutters opening.
Reduced Clipping
Reduced Clipping attempts to keep bottom frame clipping out of your images. Reduced Clipping may result in a
gradient across the image. Gradation means the photo is lighter at the bottom and darker at the top. The results are
very usable in many situations.
Reduced Clipping
Reduced Clipping benefits photographers:
• Shooting outdoors where the sky is a major factor in the top part of the image
• Using aperture priority in conditions that cause the shutter speed to go above X-sync
• In any situation where the full frame must be used and cropping is not an option
"Reduced Clipping" is selected on the ControlTL receiver, as shown in on the All ControlTL Radios – HyperSync
Automation page. This is the factory default setting.
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