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i-TTL and Standard TTL

flash i-ttl standard-ttl fill-in flash view-nx

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3 replies to this topic

#1
NickOn

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I'm just having some fun experimenting with fill-in flash on some images and trying to master the nuances of my D300/SB400 combination.

 

I think that I'm right in saying that the only way to 'select' Standard i-TTL as opposed to the snappily entitled "i-TTL Balanced Fill-flash" mode is to select spot metering?  If I've got this right, the proof of the pudding should be in the eating, in that I should gain some control back over flash and exposure compensation, as opposed to the "camera does it all", i-TTL Balanced Fill-flash method?  I seem to have achieved this in some pictures that I have taken.

 

I've attached an image taken at f22, 60sec, flash given as "i-TTL" in View NX and taken at -1.0 OEV flash compensation. Tokina 11-16mm, f2.8 lens,  ISO 800, auto white balance.

 

Also, using View-NX, should I be able to see a difference in the entries in the View-NX meta-data report?  Using, what I believe to be Standard i-TTL, I'm seeing "i-TTL" in the View-NX report.

 

Any thoughts or further tips on the technical side of fill-in flash would be very helpful.

Attached Thumbnails

  • fill-in flash 01.JPG


#2
hatman

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Hi. The difference between standard iTTL and balanced fill flash is just as the name suggests. Standard is where you are using the flash as the main light source, balanced fill flash is where you use the flash to fill or brighten shadows leaving the ambient light to expose the rest of the image. An example would be a lady wearing a hat on a sunny day. Her face is in dark shadow from the hat so you can use fill flash to lighten the areas of her face thats in shadow. You don't nessesarily want to eliminate the shadow as that would not look natural for a sunny day, you just want to lighten the areas of her face that is in shadow. In this example if shooting in landscape mode you'll still end up with a thin strip of her face right under her hat not illuminated by the flash because the flash is mounted above the camera. To eliminate that either cord the flash or leave the flash on the camera and shoot with the camera upside down. 

 

In your example the flash ended up being the main light source because the background is dark. If that's the intent that's ok but if the background is to be normally exposed then you've used a shutter speed/aperture combination that's underexposing the background. It's a smart system. Use matrix metering and let the camera with flash control to the exposure and use the flash exposure compensation button to control the amount of fill flash. Hope that helps.



#3
NickOn

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Hello Hatman,

 

Thanks for your reply and yes, that helps.  

 

On the question of selecting either Standard i-TTL as opposed to the i-TTL Balanced Fill-flash mode, is selecting spot metering the only way to get "Standard".  Is it correct to say that flash compensation adjustments will be overridden if I select i-TTL Balanced Fill-flash?  The only way to use flash compensation is in Standard mode?

 

In the image that I posted, I was experimenting with creative fill--flash ideas for a photography evening class that I am doing so I was trying to underexpose the background but to do it sufficiently to show detail and then to emphasise the thistle in the foreground.  I was using Standard i-TTL and had several shots at different flash values.

 

Thanks again

 

NickOn



#4
hatman

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With your particular flash yes. Other speedlights allow you to choose either/or right on the speedlight but the SB400 lacks that control. I don't have an SB400 so I don't know how it performs with your camera. I have an SB800 but after much use I've got to know it and no longer have to think too much about it. The same goes with using the built in flash. 

 

In the above shot where you were wanting more control over flash exposure then choosing spot metering to override the automatic fill flash might be the better choice. I say might because Nikon's flash exposure system is a fairly complicated system which includes ambient light and even data from the lens. Having said, all I can recommend is experiment and experiment some more. Take a shot, evaluate, and try again with a different setting. Practice so your flash usage becomes predictable. There's no right or wrong setting, just take control over your gear. 







Also tagged with one or more of these keywords: flash, i-ttl, standard-ttl, fill-in flash, view-nx