What is High-Sync Speed?

Trigger your flash units at higher shutter speeds

HSS

Want to get started with HSS photography and sync your flash faster than 1/200th of a second?
See below why this technology opens up a new world of possibilities!

 

High Sync Speed?

Hi-Sync and HSS are technologies that allow you to sync your camera with your flash unit at very high shutter speeds.

Technically, Elinchrom’s High-Speed Sync (HSS) and Hi-Sync (HS) features are an easy-to-use and improved version of previous other systems in the field. By offering a Transmitter Pro with built-in HSS and Hi-Sync technology, triggering a camera with flash units at high shutter speed is now easy to achieve and very reliable!

The Transmitter Pro is available for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, Panasonic and Fujifilm cameras

Why sync a flash faster than 1/200s

For photographers, especially those doing action photoshoots, the 1/200th second flash sync speed often represents a huge limitation. With HSS, the 1/200th sec. flash sync speed is no longer a limitation.

By using Hi-Sync or HSS technology, photographers are now able to:

  • Overpower daylight with less power output (or from far away)
  • Obtain a high shutter speed to freeze motion
  • Use flash with a large aperture and create a narrow depth of field
  • Darken backgrounds using a high shutter speed

Overpower daylight from far away with Hi-Sync.

Freeze motion with shutter speeds up to 1/8000th of a second.

Darken background using a high shutter speed.

Use flash with a large aperture with a narrow depth of field.

HSS for whom?

Any kind of photographer can enjoy the benefits of using Hi-Sync and HSS.

Mostly considered as a godsend for action photography, any kind of photographer can actually enjoy the benefits of High-Sync Speed. Both HASS and Hi-Sync techniques can be used to create shallow depth of field in portraits or fashion shoots.

Whether you are an experienced photographer or an amateur, interested in portraits or action sports, Hi-Sync and HSS opens up a world of creative possibilities.

Why 2 technologies?

Elinchrom first entered the game of High-Sync Speed with Hi-Sync technology.

A few years ago, when the ELB range was launched (Quadra, ELB 400, ELB 1200), no solution existed to enable HSS. Due to the technical hardware design, we had to find a way to go around this technical challenge.
The solution was Hi-Sync; it was specifically designed to be able to trigger flashes beyond 1/200s.
More recently, with the ELB 500 TTL release, the ELC 125/500, and the ONE, we now use Elinchrom’s version of HSS.

Both techniques are quite different but end up with the same results; sync a flash faster than 1/200th of a second.

For more information, this article provides an in-depth and technical explication of HSS and Hi-Sync.