Difference between revisions of "HyperSync"

Revision as of 10:08, 12 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.

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.

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

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

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

The steps below will get you working with HyperSync quickly for any ControlTL-capable camera.

White Wall vs. Real World

Canon EOS 7D at 1/6400 F/2.8

Here are some examples of white wall HyperSync performance for specific camera and flash combinations. 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

Using a transmitting MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 on your camera, follow the instructions below for your specific receiving PocketWizard radio and then take pictures normally.

AC9 AlienBees Adapter

• For the most consistent results with Nikon radios, it is highly recommended that you connect your transmitting MiniTT1/FlexTT5 that is on top of your camera to the PocketWizard Utility, navigate to the HyperSync/HSS Tab and check "HyperSync Only (Disable HSS/FP)" and click "Apply Changes."

1. On the receiving FlexTT5, select the flash connected to the AC9 AlienBees Adapter in the HyperSync/HSS Tab of the PocketWizard Utility in the "AC9 Flash" dropdown menu.

2. Make sure you choose "Reduced Clipping" or "Highest Energy" depending on which method of HyperSync you want to employ.

3. Click "Apply Changes."

4. Attach the transmitting MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 to your camera.

5. Connect the receiving FlexTT5 and AC9 AlienBees Adapter to the flash and take pictures normally.

As of this firmware release, HyperSync Automation is currently implemented for the following Paul C. Buff flashes:

If your flash is connected to an AC9 AlienBees adapter and is not in the list above, try selecting a flash of a similar power level.

PowerMC2

• For the most consistent results with Nikon radios, it is highly recommended that you connect your transmitting MiniTT1/FlexTT5 that is on top of your camera to the PocketWizard Utility, navigate to the HyperSync/HSS Tab and check "HyperSync Only (Disable HSS/FP)" and click "Apply Changes."

1. Attach the transmitting MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 to your camera.

2. Connect the PowerMC2 to the PocketWizard Utility, navigate to the "HyperSync" tab and choose "Reduced Clipping" or "Highest Energy" depending on which method of HyperSync you want to employ.

3. Click "Apply Changes"

4. Connect the receiving PowerMC2 to the flash.

5. Take pictures!

Note that the Einstein E640 Flash is an IGBT-controlled flash, and has an extremely short flash duration once set to anything less than full power. As such, the Einstein will see best HyperSync performance when used at full power.

PowerST4

• For the most consistent results with Nikon radios, it is highly recommended that you connect your transmitting MiniTT1/FlexTT5 that is on top of your camera to the PocketWizard Utility, navigate to the HyperSync/HSS Tab and check "HyperSync Only (Disable HSS/FP)" and click "Apply Changes."

1. Attach the transmitting MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 to your camera.

2. Connect the PowerST4 to the PocketWizard Utility, navigate to the "HyperSync" tab and choose "Reduced Clipping" or "Highest Energy" depending on which method of HyperSync you want to employ.

3. Click on the Misc Tab and select which type of flash head you are using with your pack. You can also select what kind of Elinchrom flash you are using from the "Flash Model" selection.

4. Click "Apply Changes"

5. Connect the receiving PowerST4 to the flash.

6. Take pictures!

At present, HyperSync Automation is currently implemented for the following Elinchrom flashes:

If your flash is connected to a PowerST4 and is not in the list above, set the remote ControlTL radio to receive on a Standard Channel and configure HyperSync using the HyperSync Transmitter Controls, as described below. Make sure to disable High Speed Sync from the transmitting radio.

FlexTT5 - Flash Connected to P2 Port

* For the most consistent results with Nikon radios, it is highly recommended that you connect your transmitting MiniTT1/FlexTT5 that is on top of your camera to the PocketWizard Utility, navigate to the HyperSync/HSS Tab and check "HyperSync Only (Disable HSS/FP)" and click "Apply Changes."

1. Connect your receiving FlexTT5 that will be attached to the remote flash to the PocketWizard Utility, select the “P2 HyperSync Flash Duration” dropdown menu under the HyperSync/HSS Tab and choose a duration to match the estimated flash duration of your strobe.

2. Connect your receiving FlexTT5 to your flash, and power on the flash, then the FlexTT5.

3. Attach the transmitting MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 to your camera.

4. Take pictures normally.

5. If you're seeing clipping at the bottom of the frame, try repeating step #1 with a different value for best results.

PocketWizard Radio Receiving on a Standard Channel

(Plus II, Plus III, PlusX, MultiMAX, FlexTT5 in Basic Trigger Mode), or internal PocketWizard receiver built in to your flash

1. Connect the transmitting FlexTT5 or MiniTT1 that will be on top of your camera to the PocketWizard Utility.

2. Navigate to the HyperSync/HSS tab, check the HyperSync Only checkbox.

3. Choose a value from the "HyperSync Flash Duration For Standard Channels" drop down menu.

4. Click "Apply Changes"

5. Connect your receiving Plus II, MultiMAX, Plus III, PlusX, or turn on your flash and set the internal PocketWizard receiver to the same Standard Channel as your transmitter.

6. Take pictures as normal!

7. If you're seeing clipping at the bottom of the frame, try repeating step #1 with a different value for best results.