TTL or MANUAL for portraits

gqtuazon

Gear Head
Manual. I prefer controlling the amount of light each flash puts out.


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FastGlass

Senior Member
In studio, manual always. Recomposing may change the flash output. Outdoor, if time allows than manual again. If time is important say if doing a wedding that needs to move quickly than TTL. TTL works pretty good most of the time. Better than Canon's system.:D
 

WayneF

Senior Member
TTL or manual flash is really simply a personal choice, however you want to work.

TTL is more point&shoot. Sure, we can adjust it a little with flash compensation, but most newbies have not realized that yet... they feel like they have to take whatever they get. The Commander can even let us adjust a couple of TTL lights individually. But... it is often limited to only a couple of lights.

Manual flash, esp in the studio, typically means we meter each light carefully, to set its light level exactly how we want it to be, in relation to the others (lighting ratio, etc). We setup the lighting like we want it, any number of lights, and then we don't want no stinkin' computer messing with it. :)

Now yes, we can do some degree of that adjustment with TTL, certainly we can be more critical than point&shoot. But then when the subject turns their head, and TTL meters that differently, and we get unwanted variations, then we tend to consider manual lights.

Manual lights are much more tedious work, but nothing else can be controlled as well. A handheld light meter would be necessary. And Manual is nothing like point&shoot.
 
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hulk2012

Senior Member
In studio, manual always. Recomposing may change the flash output. Outdoor, if time allows than manual again. If time is important say if doing a wedding that needs to move quickly than TTL. TTL works pretty good most of the time. Better than Canon's system.:D

Joe McNally used 95% TTL
 

FastGlass

Senior Member
Joe McNally used 95% TTL
Yes he does and with great results. I've done some portraits before where I would shoot a couple against a flowering bush and recompose so a lake was now behind them and the exposure was off, but just a touch. I also did my boy's baseball team individuals and choose to do in manual because the lights stayed stationary as did the players so I new I would get consistent results. But if i'm in sorta a hurry, TTL is the way to go. If I didn't know much about shooting in manual or didn't have a meter to dial it in than yes TTl would be my choice and wouldn't have a worry about it. For the most part TTL works like a dream. But manual is dead nuts every shot.
 

Yourreflectphot

Senior Member
Being new to Nikon and it's system are there any good books on using the sb910 in manual mode? I am just starting using Nikon and would love some pointers. A good book that illustrates manual flash or a mentor. I am just starting my photography after finishing college and could use the help.

Jerry
 

hulk2012

Senior Member
Being new to Nikon and it's system are there any good books on using the sb910 in manual mode? I am just starting using Nikon and would love some pointers. A good book that illustrates manual flash or a mentor. I am just starting my photography after finishing college and could use the help.

Jerry

Get some tutorial from Blue Crane Digital. Also get your hands on as many Joe McNally workshops, webinars as you can afford. Personally I already spent quite a lot on education and keep spending. Attending seminars is a must also.
 
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