Canon 1D X

Review this page for information about the Canon 1D X and its performance with PocketWizard radios.

General Canon Operational Considerations

The following operational considerations apply to all Canon cameras unless otherwise noted.

Calibration Shot

With a Canon camera and ControlTL radios the first exposure after initial connection or power-on is the calibration shot. It is recommended that you take the calibration shot at 1/125. This initiates communication between the camera and radio. This shot will not fire remote flashes.

Manually Select Camera Model

For best results with a Canon camera and ControlTL radios, be sure to manually select your camera model on the transmitting radio. Camera model selection is found on the "Channel" tab.

1D X Specific Operational Considerations

Camera Firmware

For best results, use the latest camera body firmware. The latest firmware for the 1D X is Version 1.2.4, available for download at Canon U.S.A. Support & Drivers.

Limited Compatibility, No TTL

As of August 2014, the Canon 1D X, Canon 6D and Canon T4i are TTL compatible - the information below is left purely for historical purposes and has no bearing on the currently available firmware.

TTL is not currently available for the 1D X, 6D, or Rebel T4i with ControlTL radios. Manual power control for X-sync, manual power control for HSS, HyperSync, and Rear Curtain Sync are all available. An AC3 ZoneController with the zone set to “M” for Manual, and manual power control of compatible flashes like Einstein E640, AlienBees, White Lightning, and select Elinchrom flashes will also work.

Manual-Only Operational Considerations:

• For remote manual power control to work, remote Speedlites on FlexTT5 radios must be set to TTL, as is normal operation for the ControlTL system.
• A Master Speedlite on the camera’s radio set to E-TTL mode will not trigger. Any remote zones set to TTL will not trigger.
• A Master Speedlite on the camera’s radio set to manual mode, with or without remote manual zones, will function normally.
• The Canon 600EX-RT Group and ALL modes are not supported in the ControlTL system for any Canon cameras, including the 1D X, 6D, and T4i. Master Manual Mode works properly with these cameras.
• An AC3 ZoneController will not trigger any zones set to A for either TTL remotes (Speedlites) or PowerTracking studio remotes.
• If the 1D X, 6D, or T4i are woken up with a very quick full-press of the camera’s shutter release, flashes may misfire or clipping may occur. Try to always wake the camera with a slow, deliberate half-press of the shutter release before taking the exposure. On the 1D X, consider setting C.Fn6 (“Timer Duration”) to 1 min or longer to keep the camera awake longer after a full-press.
• When using a bare shoe FlexTT5 or MiniTT1 on the 1D X, 6D, or T4i (no Master Speedlite and no AC3 ZoneController), the camera’s FEC adjustment can adjust the manual power of remote Speedlites or studio flashes per the table to the right ->
• This adjustment is not real time. To apply an FEC adjustment, either wait for the camera to sleep, and then wake it with a half-press of the shutter release button, *or* press the FEC button, make your adjustment, and then press the FEC button again to “set” the adjustment.
• On cameras other than the 1D X, 6D, or T4i, using a bare shoe MiniTT1 or FlexTT5 (no AC3 ZoneController or Master Speedlite) would cause the remote flashes to be used as TTL flashes, with FEC controlling compensation to output power in real time.
• Only the “Full Manual” PowerTracking mode is available for the 1D X, 6D, and T4i. If other PowerTracking modes, like “Center on ISO & Aperture” are selected, they will perform as “Full Manual.” “No Change (Trigger Only)” will work as expected.

HyperSync Performance

Use the tables below to view the 1D X's HyperSync performance with a specific flash.

1. Find the table for your flash brand and PocketWizard receiver.
2. Locate your flash in the "Flash Model" column.
3. Follow the "Transmitter Setup" link in the "Radio Setup" column to configure your transmitter.
4. Follow the appropriate Receiver Setup link in the "Radio Setup" column. When configuring your receiver, you will need to choose a HyperSync Automation method, either Reduced Clipping or Highest Energy.
5. Choose the PDF that corresponds to the HyperSync Automation method that you have selected for your radios. The PDFs contain images that illustrate the kind of performance you should expect with your setup.

Einstein and PowerMC2

Flash Model	Radio Setup	HyperSync Automation Selection
Einstein E640	Transmitter Setup	Highest Energy PDF	Reduced Clipping PDF
	PowerMC2 Setup

Note: Example images were captured using the Einstein's "Color" mode.

Elinchrom and PowerST4

Flash Model	Radio Setup	HyperSync Automation Selection
Ranger RX A-Head	Transmitter Setup	Highest Energy PDF	Reduced Clipping PDF
	PowerST4 Setup

AlienBees and FlexTT5 with AC9 AlienBees Adapter

Flash Model	Radio Setup	HyperSync Automation Selection
AlienBees B1600	Transmitter Setup	Highest Energy PDF	Reduced Clipping PDF
	FlexTT5 and AC9 AlienBees Adapter Setup

Don't see your gear?
We have paused our HyperSync testing and PDF production for the time being. We may be adding more results to the wiki as they become available. Check back in the future.

Canon Special Notes

The following special notes apply to all Canon cameras.

In-Camera Speedlite Control

Speedlite controls set via the in-camera menus, like Flash Exposure Compensation and ratio settings, are not currently supported.

Rear-Curtain Sync and Bulb

Rear Curtain Sync and Bulb mode cannot be used together. For more information, visit our Rear Curtain Sync page.

Remote Infrared Control

ControlTL radios disable ALL infra-red/optical communication pulses used in Canon’s native TTL system, and will not trigger remote flashes configured to receive these pulses. A PocketWizard radio is required for each remote flash you want to trigger.

Unsupported Flash Modes

FEB (Flash Exposure Bracketing) and Stroboscopic Flash are not currently supported.

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