These initialisms sometimes throw me, but I think it is HSS (not HHS) for High (shutter) Speed Sync.

The latest ‘flash’ for photographers is a pulse of light from LEDs. This is the common ‘flash’ on a cell phone camera, and often uses the phone’s built in LED flashlight. No high voltage, big capacitors to recharge, or Xenon-filled glass tubes.

Since the light is very brief, and the voltage low, the LED doesn’t get cooked by its own heat, even if it gets a bit more electricity than it is normally rated for, and shines a bit brighter than normal. Some studio lights use a dimmer setting for posing lights, and then create a brighter flash from the LEDs when the shutter opens.

These lights also work well for shooting movies, which can be done with cell phones and many digital cameras.

Also, they can create a true stroboscopic effect since they can turn on and off so quickly.

It's a matter of nomenclature, photo slang, and general usage of words vs scientific language.

A general-purpose electronic flash unit or system is a so-called Speedlights, "strobe", or monolight, powere pack wired to the lamp head system ARE simply ELECTRONIC FLASH, Photographers call these "strobes, studio strobes, etc, because these all operate on similar electronic principles but most general purpose flash gear is no REALLY STROBOSCIPIC light sources. Actual STROBES not only provide flashes of light of very short duration but are also capable of rapidly repeating bursts that can be adjusted to fire various frequencies. The reuse in musical performances and stage shows for various animated effects is used scientifically to analyze notions, and photographically for special effects. You might see stroboscopic emergency lights atop police cars and other emergency vehicles or used on highway signage to warn of road hazards and dangerous conditions. Photograhers, including myself, still call much of our flash gear "strobes".

The term "speedlight" was once another generic term for electronic flash because of its very short flash duration that could freeze motion whe the fals was the primary light source. Early modes operated on an extremely high voltage and relatively low capacitance due to the use of oil-filled capacitors which stored less energy and discharged faster. Fast durations of 1/100,000sec. or shorter was not uncommon. The advent of more efficient electrolytic capacitors, lower voltages, and high capacitance enabled ample output and longer but still motion-freezing properties. In the early days, the faster shorter flash duration enabled extreme motion capture such as speeding bullets in flight. Some of the high-powered units that consist of power packs and wired lamp heads, in the 2400 watt/second range may have a duration as "slow" as 1/300 sec.

Nowadays, the "SPEEDLIGHT" is usually a smaller flash unit that is mounted on the cameras' "hot shoe". Someof some camer manufacturers have branded some of their flas unit models as "Speedlights" Some Speedlights and similar models will have extremely short flas duration weh set a low powere either manually or through a TTL exposure control system.

Flaslamps or flash bulbs are different species of flash. They are 1-shot disposable lamps that come in differet outputs. There were at one time various modes with longer and shorter flash durations based on the time that it took the zirconium foil or wire and/or gas in the lamp to remain burning. There wew long, short, and medium peak lamps to accompany differet shutter synchronization requirements for more to less ligh output, special delays for focal-plane shutters, and gas-filled models that kind of mimicked electronic flash duration but were also 1-shot disposables. Most of the specialized flash lamps are long out of manufacture and have become a niche market item.

All ofhte above is very basic and in many instances, "old school" theory inthat many of today's flash units and systems have far more sophisticated circuitry and automation. There is HHS that enables synchronization at higher than recommended normal shutter speeds and all kinds of exposure control devices. Nonetheless, at the heart tof every unt is some stepped-up high voltage, stored in capacitors, and discharged in a pulse, into the flas tube on firing. The energy ionizes the xenon gas in the tube thereby causing the flash.


.

It's a matter of nomenclature, photo slang, and general usage of words vs scientific language.

A general-purpose electronic flash unit or system is a so-called Speedlights, "strobe", or monolight, powere pack wired to the lamp head system ARE simply ELECTRONIC FLASH, Photographers call these "strobes, studio strobes, etc, because these all operate on similar electronic principles but most general purpose flash gear is no REALLY STROBOSCIPIC light sources. Actual STROBES not only provide flashes of light of very short duration but are also capable of rapidly repeating bursts that can be adjusted to fire various frequencies. The reuse in musical performances and stage shows for various animated effects is used scientifically to analyze notions, and photographically for special effects. You might see stroboscopic emergency lights atop police cars and other emergency vehicles or used on highway signage to warn of road hazards and dangerous conditions. Photograhers, including myself, still call much of our flash gear "strobes".

The term "speedlight" was once another generic term for electronic flash because of its very short flash duration that could freeze motion whe the fals was the primary light source. Early modes operated on an extremely high voltage and relatively low capacitance due to the use of oil-filled capacitors which stored less energy and discharged faster. Fast durations of 1/100,000sec. or shorter was not uncommon. The advent of more efficient electrolytic capacitors, lower voltages, and high capacitance enabled ample output and longer but still motion-freezing properties. In the early days, the faster shorter flash duration enabled extreme motion capture such as speeding bullets in flight. Some of the high-powered units that consist of power packs and wired lamp heads, in the 2400 watt/second range may have a duration as "slow" as 1/300 sec.

Nowadays, the "SPEEDLIGHT" is usually a smaller flash unit that is mounted on the cameras' "hot shoe". Someof some camer manufacturers have branded some of their flas unit models as "Speedlights" Some Speedlights and similar models will have extremely short flas duration weh set a low powere either manually or through a TTL exposure control system.

Flaslamps or flash bulbs are different species of flash. They are 1-shot disposable lamps that come in differet outputs. There were at one time various modes with longer and shorter flash durations based on the time that it took the zirconium foil or wire and/or gas in the lamp to remain burning. There wew long, short, and medium peak lamps to accompany differet shutter synchronization requirements for more to less ligh output, special delays for focal-plane shutters, and gas-filled models that kind of mimicked electronic flash duration but were also 1-shot disposables. Most of the specialized flash lamps are long out of manufacture and have become a niche market item.

All ofhte above is very basic and in many instances, "old school" theory inthat many of today's flash units and systems have far more sophisticated circuitry and automation. There is HHS that enables synchronization at higher than recommended normal shutter speeds and all kinds of exposure control devices. Nonetheless, at the heart tof every unt is some stepped-up high voltage, stored in capacitors, and discharged in a pulse, into the flas tube on firing. The energy ionizes the xenon gas in the tube thereby causing the flash.


.

It's a matter of nomenclature, photo slang, and general usage of words vs scientific language.

A general-purpose electronic flash unit or system is a so-called Speedlights, "strobe", or monolight, powere pack wired to the lamp head system ARE simply ELECTRONIC FLASH, Photographers call these "strobes, studio strobes, etc, because these all operate on similar electronic principles but most general purpose flash gear is no REALLY STROBOSCIPIC light sources. Actual STROBES not only provide flashes of light of very short duration but are also capable of rapidly repeating bursts that can be adjusted to fire various frequencies. The reuse in musical performances and stage shows for various animated effects is used scientifically to analyze notions, and photographically for special effects. You might see stroboscopic emergency lights atop police cars and other emergency vehicles or used on highway signage to warn of road hazards and dangerous conditions. Photograhers, including myself, still call much of our flash gear "strobes".

The term "speedlight" was once another generic term for electronic flash because of its very short flash duration that could freeze motion whe the fals was the primary light source. Early modes operated on an extremely high voltage and relatively low capacitance due to the use of oil-filled capacitors which stored less energy and discharged faster. Fast durations of 1/100,000sec. or shorter was not uncommon. The advent of more efficient electrolytic capacitors, lower voltages, and high capacitance enabled ample output and longer but still motion-freezing properties. In the early days, the faster shorter flash duration enabled extreme motion capture such as speeding bullets in flight. Some of the high-powered units that consist of power packs and wired lamp heads, in the 2400 watt/second range may have a duration as "slow" as 1/300 sec.

Nowadays, the "SPEEDLIGHT" is usually a smaller flash unit that is mounted on the cameras' "hot shoe". Someof some camer manufacturers have branded some of their flas unit models as "Speedlights" Some Speedlights and similar models will have extremely short flas duration weh set a low powere either manually or through a TTL exposure control system.

Flaslamps or flash bulbs are different species of flash. They are 1-shot disposable lamps that come in differet outputs. There were at one time various modes with longer and shorter flash durations based on the time that it took the zirconium foil or wire and/or gas in the lamp to remain burning. There wew long, short, and medium peak lamps to accompany differet shutter synchronization requirements for more to less ligh output, special delays for focal-plane shutters, and gas-filled models that kind of mimicked electronic flash duration but were also 1-shot disposables. Most of the specialized flash lamps are long out of manufacture and have become a niche market item.

All ofhte above is very basic and in many instances, "old school" theory inthat many of today's flash units and systems have far more sophisticated circuitry and automation. There is HHS that enables synchronization at higher than recommended normal shutter speeds and all kinds of exposure control devices. Nonetheless, at the heart tof every unt is some stepped-up high voltage, stored in capacitors, and discharged in a pulse, into the flas tube on firing. The energy ionizes the xenon gas in the tube thereby causing the flash.


.

These initialisms sometimes throw me off, but I think it is HSS (not HHS) for High (shutter) Speed Sync.

The latest ‘flash’ for photographers is a pulse of light from LEDs. This is the common ‘flash’ on a cell phone camera, and often uses the phone’s built-in LED flashlight. No high voltage, big capacitors to recharge, or Xenon-filled glass tubes.

Since the light is very brief, and the voltage low, the LED doesn’t get cooked by its own heat, even if it gets a bit more electricity than it is normally rated for, and shines a bit brighter than normal. Some studio lights use a dimmer setting for posing lights, and then create a brighter flash from the LEDs when the shutter opens.

These lights also work well for shooting movies, which can be done with cell phones and many digital cameras.

Also, they can create a true stroboscopic effect since they can turn on and off so quickly.

It's a matter of nomenclature, photo slang, and general usage of words vs scientific language.

A general-purpose electronic flash unit or system is a so-called Speedlights, "strobe", or monolight, powere pack wired to the lamp head system ARE simply ELECTRONIC FLASH, Photographers call these "strobes, studio strobes, etc, because these all operate on similar electronic principles but most general purpose flash gear is no REALLY STROBOSCIPIC light sources. Actual STROBES not only provide flashes of light of very short duration but are also capable of rapidly repeating bursts that can be adjusted to fire various frequencies. The reuse in musical performances and stage shows for various animated effects is used scientifically to analyze notions, and photographically for special effects. You might see stroboscopic emergency lights atop police cars and other emergency vehicles or used on highway signage to warn of road hazards and dangerous conditions. Photograhers, including myself, still call much of our flash gear "strobes".

The term "speedlight" was once another generic term for electronic flash because of its very short flash duration that could freeze motion whe the fals was the primary light source. Early modes operated on an extremely high voltage and relatively low capacitance due to the use of oil-filled capacitors which stored less energy and discharged faster. Fast durations of 1/100,000sec. or shorter was not uncommon. The advent of more efficient electrolytic capacitors, lower voltages, and high capacitance enabled ample output and longer but still motion-freezing properties. In the early days, the faster shorter flash duration enabled extreme motion capture such as speeding bullets in flight. Some of the high-powered units that consist of power packs and wired lamp heads, in the 2400 watt/second range may have a duration as "slow" as 1/300 sec.

Nowadays, the "SPEEDLIGHT" is usually a smaller flash unit that is mounted on the cameras' "hot shoe". Someof some camer manufacturers have branded some of their flas unit models as "Speedlights" Some Speedlights and similar models will have extremely short flas duration weh set a low powere either manually or through a TTL exposure control system.

Flaslamps or flash bulbs are different species of flash. They are 1-shot disposable lamps that come in differet outputs. There were at one time various modes with longer and shorter flash durations based on the time that it took the zirconium foil or wire and/or gas in the lamp to remain burning. There wew long, short, and medium peak lamps to accompany differet shutter synchronization requirements for more to less ligh output, special delays for focal-plane shutters, and gas-filled models that kind of mimicked electronic flash duration but were also 1-shot disposables. Most of the specialized flash lamps are long out of manufacture and have become a niche market item.

All ofhte above is very basic and in many instances, "old school" theory inthat many of today's flash units and systems have far more sophisticated circuitry and automation. There is HHS that enables synchronization at higher than recommended normal shutter speeds and all kinds of exposure control devices. Nonetheless, at the heart tof every unt is some stepped-up high voltage, stored in capacitors, and discharged in a pulse, into the flas tube on firing. The energy ionizes the xenon gas in the tube thereby causing the flash.


.