What's the story with TTL?

[MitHere 3]

Hey guys,

 

What is the benefits of having a strobe with TTL? Is it that you can use the camera's preflash for the strobe and not have to worry so much about exposing correctly?

[ckchong 0]

Hey guys,

 

What is the benefits of having a strobe with TTL? Is it that you can use the camera's preflash for the strobe and not have to worry so much about exposing correctly?

 

 

consider right.....but only for marco shoot........

[TimG 62]

Hey!

 

I used to be a flat-earther: "who needs TTL strobes. Manual is good enough".

 

However having now had the Heinrichs Weikamp technology on my Subal/D300 system since June, there is NO WAY I would go back to manual. TTL DSLRs rock! I now get those grab shots. My composition may remain garbage, but 98% of my pics are now properly exposed. So I don't worry about that any more, just the composition which, errr, remains cr*p. But one less thing to worry about with the level of lighting....

 

And the critters are now no longer blinded by my strobing away.....

[gravity 0]

When using straight forward front lighting, you can set your f-stop based on your desired DOF and the TTL will adjust the strobes to the proper output so that you don't need to manually adjust strobe power.

 

I don't have TTL, but I imagine the more creative you get with your lighting the less helpful TTL is.

[Gudge 59]

First thing to remember about using TTL is that it doesn't mean you can leave your brain on the surface when using it, you still have to think about how and when to use it. It works very well for most macro subjects but things like very shiny fish and wide angle shots are best shot using manual strobe control. You also have to choose an appropriate metering pattern for your subject, eg small bright subjects against a dark background are best shot using spot metering.

[davephdv 0]

I'm a ludite.

 

I use it on occasion, but almost always shoot manual. I get more keepers and spend less time messing with my camera and more time looking for subjects.

[ce4jesus 1]

First thing to remember about using TTL is that it doesn't mean you can leave your brain on the surface when using it

I knew I was doing something wrong...

[kkgodiving 1]

Then I am still a flat-earthling . I sold my TTL converter shortly after acquiring it. Manual works for me. And it's one piece less equipment to hook up and worry.

Edited February 22, 2010 by kkgodiving

[tdpriest 115]

I used manual settings for years, until I switched to fibre-optic cables and had the option of TTL. I now use TTL for most shots, though I often vary the balance between two strobes using the variable power controls, and overall exposure using camera settings

[TimG 62]

So if you are called Tim, you use TTL.... otherwise Flat Earth rules by the look of it. Oh well.

 

As the guys have said, you do have to use it intelligently. But I've not managed that yet. I just love getting the right exposure pretty easily and not having to give that too much thought. Gudge is right of course, you do have to use the right metering pattern - although I do find the matrix setting fine the vast majority of time on my D300.

 

I know lots of people have had problems with TTL. I guess I've been lucky. Plugged it in - and away it went. I have to set -2EV on my camera (although it can be done on the convertor). Other than that, never give it much thought......

[tdpriest 115]

I used manual settings for years, until I switched to fibre-optic cables and had the option of TTL. I now use TTL for most shots, though I often vary the balance between two strobes using the variable power controls, and overall exposure using camera settings...

 

... I never finished this off, did I? ...

 

... often under-exposing by 1-2 stops in wide-angle images. Near the surface and shooting into the sun TTL breaks down because of the high levels of ambient light, so under those conditions I revert to manual control. It's mind-bending with Inon strobes, because the power dial then goes in the opposite direction!

 

Sometimes in dark water and with a wide-angle lens the strobe is too bright on TTL, but if you are following the typical photographer's advice to "fill the frame", TTL works with a under-exposure setting on the camera.

 

TTL and under-exposure also works, for me, with reflective fish; TTL and over-exposure with dark fish.

 

I probably adjust strobe and camera settings as much when I'm in TTL as I used to do when I was using manual, but my hit rate is a bit higher.

 

Tim

 

[jcarv66 0]

... I never finished this off, did I? ...

 

... often under-exposing by 1-2 stops in wide-angle images. Near the surface and shooting into the sun TTL breaks down because of the high levels of ambient light, so under those conditions I revert to manual control. It's mind-bending with Inon strobes, because the power dial then goes in the opposite direction!

 

Sometimes in dark water and with a wide-angle lens the strobe is too bright on TTL, but if you are following the typical photographer's advice to "fill the frame", TTL works with a under-exposure setting on the camera.

 

TTL and under-exposure also works, for me, with reflective fish; TTL and over-exposure with dark fish.

 

I probably adjust strobe and camera settings as much when I'm in TTL as I used to do when I was using manual, but my hit rate is a bit higher.

 

Tim

 

 

 

"reflective" fish are like that...reflective :-)

I think you then need to thnk about strobe/light orientation , in order to dribble that problem.