ttl vs auto

[raihan]

Was shooting my sis wedding the other day using the sb800. It was set to ttl but was advised to use auto instead. Why?

In what way is auto better than the other? pls advise....

[sooming]

I shoot in auto-aperture mode all the time as my flash doesn't support i-TTL. It come out good most of the time. I'm using a Metz flash.

[bagatelle]

How does a Metz compare with the dedicated Nikons?

Are they cheaper, more lasting, and yet support all the dedicated functions? Or are they just more powerful?

Just curious, and want to open up available options.

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by raihan Was shooting my sis wedding the other day using the sb800. It was set to ttl but was advised to use auto instead. Why? In what way is auto better than the other? pls advise....

The person may be using TTL[BL], and find it a bit underexpose, so advise you to use AUTO instead of TTL.

If SB800 is use as the main light source, set to TTL,
If SB800 is use as secondary light source, set to TTL[BL].

TTL and TTL[BL] are different, so are AA and A, please refer to your SB800 manual for detail.

Hope this help.

[mpenza]

Originally Posted by bagatelle How does a Metz compare with the dedicated Nikons? Are they cheaper, more lasting, and yet support all the dedicated functions? Or are they just more powerful? Just curious, and want to open up available options.

Metz could be just as expensive, as lasting, support dedicted fundctions and some are more powerful. however, when the camera manufacturers tweak the flash algorithm, a Metz user might have to wait a while for a new adaptor that supports the new dedicated functions.

[Zenten]

Is there a Metz Flash that can do burst on the D70? Budget within $300.

[Snowcrash]

Originally Posted by raihan Was shooting my sis wedding the other day using the sb800. It was set to ttl but was advised to use auto instead. Why? In what way is auto better than the other? pls advise....

so do you see the difference between the 2 mode when you shoot your sister wedding?

[raihan]

Originally Posted by Snowcrash so do you see the difference between the 2 mode when you shoot your sister wedding?

Yup there is a difference between the 2. With ttl picture is a bit underexposed as compared to auto. Need to compensate.

CATCHLIGHTS:
Thanks for the advise. But i'm confused now. I get underexposure with ttl so u think A or AA is a better option?

[catchlights]

Underexposed? TTL or TT[BL]?

[raihan]

Its set to ttl. But i read a thread that someone got overexposure with ttl. Strange. Or maybe my batteries are dying...hmmm

[snowspeeder]

It seems that TTL has different effects on cameras?
Does this mean that TTL & AA is more suited than TTL BL for weddings?

[Zerstorer]

Originally Posted by snowspeeder It seems that TTL has different effects on cameras?

TTL algorithms vary on individual cameras. For TTL-BL and TTL on nikon cameras, TTL-BL biases the flash to act as a fill flash and attempts to balance it with ambient exposure, thus there might be a tendency to underexpose if the ambient exposure is insufficient. Positive compensation may be required in such cases.

TTL is biased towards the flash acting as the key light. Negative compensation is required if flash is to act as fill.

For Autoflash, the reflected light is metered by the flash and its behaviour is similar to traditional TTL, with the only difference being that it doesn't require a pre-flash even on digital.

Quote: Does this mean that TTL & AA is more suited than TTL BL for weddings?

Depends on which mode you are familiar with, each can be tailored to achieve the same effect, I've tried all 3. AA is slightly more predictable than the other 2 due to the fact that it has no algorithm, just direct metering.

Raihan: Were you bouncing without a bouncecard? In such a case and depending on distance, positive compensation might be required.

[sooming]

Originally Posted by Zenten Is there a Metz Flash that can do burst on the D70? Budget within $300.

Nope. The only Metz that can work with i-TTL is the Metz 54 MZ4i with the corresponding SCA 3402 M3 adaptor. It can support almost all the features except wireless TTL.

Metz's flash is famed for their reliability and accuracy (and consistency) of the colour temperature. They also have very accurate flash sensors. You'll never go wrong with Metz, but if you fancy all the i-TTL feature of the SB800, then the SB800 is a better bet. Cheaper too.

Btw, the Metz 54 MZ4i also has a secondary flash unit which can be used as fill flash while the 'cobra' head flash is used for bounced light. It will auto distribute it to 30-70% between the two.

[snowspeeder]

Hmmm....having tried the 3 modes, seems that TTL suits me, followed by AA mode. For the EV setting, do you guys normally leave it at 0.0 or push it up a little?

[mpenza]

Originally Posted by Zenten Is there a Metz Flash that can do burst on the D70? Budget within $300.

No standalone Nikon or Metz flash <$300 could do that. for bursting, you'll usually need to use an external power source for the flash, whether Metz, Nikon or Canon, assuming signiicant output is required from the flash. It's the external power source that adds to the costs and make the total exceed $300.

[snowspeeder]

Originally Posted by catchlights The person may be using TTL[BL], and find it a bit underexpose, so advise you to use AUTO instead of TTL. If SB800 is use as the main light source, set to TTL, If SB800 is use as secondary light source, set to TTL[BL]. TTL and TTL[BL] are different, so are AA and A, please refer to your SB800 manual for detail. Hope this help.

So is it correct to say that if the indoor environment is dimly lit, then better to use TTL. Whilst if there are ceiling lights in the room, better to use AA? Pls advise.

[Zerstorer]

Originally Posted by snowspeeder So is it correct to say that if the indoor environment is dimly lit, then better to use TTL. Whilst if there are ceiling lights in the room, better to use AA? Pls advise.

Don't just look at the light, judge your ambient exposure. (Even if there are lights, if you use low iso and small aperture, you might still underexpose with TTL-BL)

AA/Auto behaves similarly to TTL.

The main difference is between TTL and TTL-BL(TTL Balanced Fill-Flash), one behaves as key light, the other behaves as fill-light.

[catchlights]

If SB800 is use as the main light source, set to TTL,
If SB800 is use as secondary light source, set to TTL[BL].

If this is you want you flash to behave, you can overwrite it with EV compensation to get the effect you want.

Yes, like what Zerstorer said, judge the ambient exposure,

I think most of the time, we want our subject to be correctly exposed, so sometime TTL[BL] is used, we find that our subject is a bit underexpose, didn’t know that this is how we want the flash to behave. (Off course you have to work within the flash working distant)

There is nothing wrong with SB800, or which flash is better, unless you are looking for more powerful flash unit.(as in flash power)

Hope this help.

[HotSpots]

If we know that TTL[BL] consistently underexposes, can we up the flash compensation and still use it as main light?

[catchlights]

Originally Posted by HotSpots If we know that TTL[BL] consistently underexposes, can we up the flash compensation and still use it as main light?

Why don't simply use TTL?

TTL[BL] act like a fill flash effect, this is how it suppose to be. But of course you can dial up the flash EV to get what you want, like expose for the ambient and give a bit more exposure for the subject.

Hope this help.