Difference between revisions of "HyperSync"

Revision as of 14:36, 25 June 2013

This section only talks about HyperSync. Read the section on Understanding HyperSync and High Speed Sync to learn more about the difference between HyperSync and High Speed Sync.

HyperSync enables a PocketWizard-connected flash to trigger at a precise moment just *before* the camera triggers a sync pulse. Since you are "triggering faster than a wire" with HyperSync, you can sync at shutter speeds faster than X-sync and get more usable flash energy in your image. HyperSync pushes the boundaries of camera and flash technology to the extreme, and it is limited to the capabilities of the cameras and flashes involved. Some HyperSync results include artifacts like clipping or gradation, and these may or may not suit your style of photography. The combinations of flash, camera, and photographer taste means that each situation is unique.

X-Sync

X-sync triggers far too late for usable sync. Shutter speed: 1/8000

Here are some examples of the differences between X-Sync and HyperSync using a Canon 5D Mark II and an Elinchrom Ranger RX with an S-head.

Triggering with a flash above X-Sync via a sync cord yields unacceptable results.

Using HyperSync, the flash is triggered at a precisely calculated moment to allow light from the flash to make it to the sensor even though the shutter speed is very fast.

There are two kinds of HyperSync appealing to different styles or needs of photography.

Reduced Clipping

Reduced Clipping keeps black bars out of the frame, but has a gradient. Shutter speed: 1/8000

Reduced Clipping uses precision timing to keep hard black bars out of your images. This method may result in a gradation across the image (lighter at the bottom and darker at the top), but for many situations, the results are quite acceptable and useable. 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 the section Configuring HyperSync.

Highest Energy

Highest Energy puts more light on the scene with less gradient, but there may be black bars. Shutter speed: 1/8000

Highest Energy uses precision timing to get as much flash energy into the image as possible above X-sync. This will reduce gradation, but can result in black bars or clipping in the frame. For many photographic situations this can yield acceptable or useful results as clipping can be cropped out of the image. Highest Energy benefits photographers:

• Needing as much action stopping flash power in the image as possible (remember that for HyperSync, longer flash durations are better)
• Gathering images where gradation is not acceptable
• In any situation where cropping is an option

"Highest Energy" is selected on the ControlTL receiver, as shown in the section Configuring HyperSync.

White Wall vs. Real World

Canon EOS 7D at 1/6400 F/2.8

Canon EOS 7D at 1/6400 F/11

Here are some examples of white wall HyperSync performance for specific camera and flash combinations. Select your camera from one of the grids below to get started. More combinations will be coming in the future!

Please note that white wall performance is presented so you can see what is happening in the harshest and most clinical conditions for HyperSync. White wall performance is often not representative of what HyperSync can do for your photography in real-world conditions. We present the white wall images because it is impossible to recreate every real-world situation photographically, nor can every photographer’s level of acceptability be captured scientifically.

* These cameras do not support HyperSync or HSS/FP-Sync operation: D5300, D5200, D5100, D5000, D3300, D3200, D3100, D3000, D40x, D40

Configuring HyperSync

HyperSync requires at least one ControlTL radio like the MiniTT1 and FlexTT5 to serve as the transmitter. Receiving radios may be ControlTL radios like the FlexTT5, PowerMC2, or PowerST4, or Standard Channel radios like the MultiMAX, Plus II, Plus III, or PlusX.

Setting up your radios for HyperSync is easy with a few quick adjustments in the PocketWizard Utility. Choose your radios below and follow the links to detailed instructions.