Manual vs. E-TTL

lputman · 01-15-2009

OK, I'm starting to try to understand flash. In layman terms, can anyone explain why I would use one over the other?

Brooks · 01-15-2009

You use your off-camera or on-camera flash on manual and meter with an incident flash meter because you don't want the E-TTL to be fooled by the tones of whatever the flash or camera is pointing at.

Usually an incident meter reading is much more accurate than E-TTL metering because it measures the light falling on the subject, not the light reflected from the subject. Unless you're using a flash/spot meter and choosing to actively place your exposure based on the tonal value you're metering and how you want that tone rendered in your scene.

Or...you use your flash on E-TTL because you're shooting an fast moving event and you don't have the time to meter each scene properly, so you use E-TTL and depend on the kindness of your flash and camera to come up with the correct exposure. Doesn't always work well, but sometimes it gets lucky.

Max@Home · 01-15-2009

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brooks

Doesn't always work well, but sometimes it gets lucky.

...surprise: it got a little better

called 'E-TTL II' in Canon land, but Nikon also has an updated (& even more consistent, I'll give you that

) ?i-TTL II ? system

...€0.02...

Kindest regards!

Max@Home

01-15-2009	#1
lputman PhotoCamel Supporter F1 Camel Location: Olive Branch, MS Posts: 4,664 CamelKarma: 86003 Editing OK?: Yes Gallery \| Blog	Manual vs. E-TTL OK, I'm starting to try to understand flash. In layman terms, can anyone explain why I would use one over the other? __________________ Members don't see ads in threads. Register your free account today and become a member of PhotoCamel to open up the site's many benefits and features.
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01-15-2009	#2
Brooks F1 Camel Location: Tampa, Florida Posts: 4,109 CamelKarma: 238970 Gallery \| Blog	Re: Manual vs. E-TTL You use your off-camera or on-camera flash on manual and meter with an incident flash meter because you don't want the E-TTL to be fooled by the tones of whatever the flash or camera is pointing at. Usually an incident meter reading is much more accurate than E-TTL metering because it measures the light falling on the subject, not the light reflected from the subject. Unless you're using a flash/spot meter and choosing to actively place your exposure based on the tonal value you're metering and how you want that tone rendered in your scene. Or...you use your flash on E-TTL because you're shooting an fast moving event and you don't have the time to meter each scene properly, so you use E-TTL and depend on the kindness of your flash and camera to come up with the correct exposure. Doesn't always work well, but sometimes it gets lucky.
	__________________ "You are born. And you die. And if you are very lucky in between you get to ride motorcycles." Every single camera and all of the lenses that I've ever owned.

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