FJ Strobes HSS Not Working (High-Speed Sync)

Sync functions, like HSS and rear and front curtain sync, are typically controlled by the host unit, the speedlight or the trigger. When units are properly connected wirelessly, the host unit will override settings and adjustments made manually on the units themselves.
If issues persist, select the FJ Wireless gear you want to troubleshoot.

When working with the FJ Wireless system, ensuring proper functionality and connectivity is essential for a seamless shooting experience. This guide will walk you through troubleshooting steps with your FJ Strobes.

By following these steps, you can quickly identify and resolve any challenges, helping you maintain consistent performance across your FJ Wireless Strobes. This comprehensive guide is designed to educate and assist you with your FJ Wireless gear.

Topics on this page:

1. Enable HSS on Your Westcott Equipment

HSS control is controlled by the host unit. The need to manually toggle HSS on the unit itself is rare.

FJ400 ii and FJ800

Press the Menu tab until Menu 2 is displayed
Press the Sync tab to display the different sync modes and select "High Speed"

FJ400

Press Button 1 repeatedly until MENU 1 appears in the cyan square at the top right of the screen.
Press Button 3 until the High-speed Sync icon appears in the bottom left of the screen.

FJ200

Quick press the center Control Dial once to enter the Settings menu.
Rotate the Control Dial until SYNC is selected with the thin box. 3. Once selected, quickly press the Control Knob until the thin white box turns blue.
Rotate the Control Dial until HSS sync is selected.
Engage HSS sync by quickly pressing the center Control Dial or by pressing the Return | Model button once.
Rotate the Control Dial to make further changes in the Settings menu or press the Return | Model again to return to the main control screen.

2. Enable HSS Inside Your Camera

In addition to enabling HSS on your FJ gear, HSS must be enabled inside your camera if it does not enable automatically.

Within your camera's settings, locate flash function settings and enable HSS. Refer to your camera's manual for assistance.

Consider the following settings to adjust in your camera as well:

Flash: Enable
Shutter Mode: Mechanical if available otherwise E-Front Curtain Shutter
Flash Mode: Fill
Silent Shutter: Off/Disabled
Red Eye reduction: Off/Disabled
Wireless Flash: Off
Flash sync: Auto FP 1/250

3. Proper Pin Alignment With the Host Unit

Because FJ Wireless System uses a universal hot shoe mount, it's important to ensure the host unit, trigger, or speed light, is set to the appropriate camera manufacturer and that all pins are properly aligned.

Additionally, refer to our FJ80 Speedlights and FJ Triggers troubleshooting sections for more mounting details on host units.

Fuji: A small lip at the hot shoe may need a little extra force forward to mount fully.
Canon R series: added pins at the front of the hot shoe may give the impression that the FJ gear is fully mounted when in fact a small nudge forward may be needed to ensure a full mount and proper contact
Nikon Z series: Rarely have issues, but older DSLRs may need a backward nudge before locking down.
Sony: Align the pins at the base and the front of the hot shoe with the contacts and ensure they are clean. The Sony pins at the front of hot shoes can become dirty over time and prevent proper connections. Check that the pins are free of dirt and grime
See Properly Connecting FJ Gear to Your Camera (HSS and TTL) for more information.

4. Update Firmware

Check Firmware

Ensure all your FJ Wireless gear and camera are running the latest firmware. You can check what version your equipment is on by looking at the bottom right of the screen when powering on. To download the latest firmware and follow along with detailed instructions, refer to our Firmware page.

Reinstall firmware

In some cases, firmware can be uploaded to your unit with an error causing odd issues like the screen powering on but using the touch screen to power it on does nothing.

Delete any downloaded firmware on your computer
Restart your computer
Redownload the current firmware version and follow firmware installations as instructed.
- Firmware and instructions
Eject the connected unit before unplugging it.
Power on the unit

Please follow this link to select the host unit you wish to troubleshoot if issues persist.

FJ Strobes HSS Not Working (High-Speed Sync)Updated a month ago