Images below from a recent sportrait.

The first image of Sue running towards me and  the second image of Sue standing was shot at 1/1000th sec. She is lit with one Elinchrom Ranger RX Speed AS  1100W power pack , an S light & the Maxi Lite reflector.

Tom Bol, Photographer has been getting amazing sync speeds using his Nikon D300s.  Check out his blog here. As high as 1/8000th sec, but as a Canon user, I wanted to see what the 7d could do.

Using the Canon 7d and the clever hypersync technology from pocketwizard I was able to shoot way above the normal sync speed of 1/25oth. I was operating at about the 5.7.to 6.1 power setting ( max is 7.5) Apparently it works best using the Elinchrom Ranger. That’s not to say you won’t get above your normal sync speed using other lights, but you need to do your own tests.

It’s important you use the S head and not the A head as the S light has a longer flash duration, which works best with the hypersync technology. Although Elinchrom flashes are documented as having longer flash durations at lower power levels, Pocketwizard told me they found them to work best with hyperSync at full power in practice.You also need to use the Pocketwizard TT1, which sits into your camera’s hot shoe. Furthermore, you will need to use the Elinchrom ST4 (with an adapter) to connect to the Ranger power pack.
The pocketwizard website has plenty of advice on how you calibrate the TT1. You test fire your light against a light wall and adjust the TT1 until you have reached the max sync speed for your camera. I was at -2500 setting. I didn’t  actually try to get over 1/1000th of sec and will test some more to see if I can better that.
Incidentally I also tested the Canon 5d mark 2, which has a miserable sync sped of 1/200th. The most I could get 1/640th at the TT1 calibration setting of -2500.

I also tested a second hand  Nikon D300 and without really trying was getting sync speed of 1/2500th sec. I am sure it can do more but I didn’t investigate after that.

Results ( which are non exhaustive)

Canon 7d -  1/1000th sec

Canon 5d – 1/640th sec

Nikon D300 – 1/2500th sec ( it can do more)

Pretty damn cool……..

EDIT: Have since updated my TT1 and ST4.I am using calibration setting -1000. Make sure your St4 is withed to standard rather than control channel when housing with elinchrom ranger as otherwise you’ll find the power drops down. Very inconvenient. Any way new settings are:

Canon 7d – 1/1000th sec..you can push to 1/1250th there is a bit of black banding at bottom.

Canon 5d – Wow..getting some usable imagery at 1/2000th sec. There is a faint  vignette which is very usable

triathlete runs along beach triathlete stands on beachtriathlete stands on sand dunesbehind the scene with elinchrom