TTL vs i-TTL ?

Camera Fun

Senior Member
More questions as I try to learn more about the issue:
Is TTL the same as i-TTL or are they different?
Can TTL & i-TTL flashes be used together in a multiple flash set up?
 

Fred Kingston

Senior Member
I simply copied this from another site...

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Mawz PRO 12 years ago

i-TTL works by firing a pre-flash before the mirror is raised when you take a picture. The meter evaluates this preflash, as well as other information (Aperture, ISO, selected AF point, AF distance, Flash exposure compensation) and determines an exposure. All TTL flash with the D50 is i-TTL. the flash then fires at the selected power level after the mirror is raised and the shutter open

TTL flash however reads the exposure via reflected light off the film to a flash sensor in the mirror box (or the camera meter in the case of the F3). It is more accurate than a pure pre-flash based system, especially in it's late incarnations (which use a pre-flash for initial calculations as well as the flash sensor reading off the film, aperture, selected focus point and and focus distance). But due to the high-reflectivity of Digital sensors, it doesn't work well for digital, and only 3 DSLR's have used it at all successfully (Fuji S2 Pro and Pentax *ist D and *istDS)

Now you might be thinking of the difference between TTL and TTL-BL (or i-TTL Balanced Fill Flash). TTL in this aspect meters only for the flash exposure, ignoring the ambient exposure, this is the mode to use when shooting with the flash as the main light. TTL-BL balances the ambient and flash exposures so as to use the flash to fill in shadows and bring out the subject. It works fairly well but seems biased to use the flash as the main light. I prefer to use TTL-BL with the Flash Exposure Compensation dialed down a stop or so (-1). The on-board flash on the D50 does TTL-BL only, the mode is selectable with the SB-800 or SB-600.

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Camera Fun

Senior Member
Thanks for the info. One aspect of my confusion is when a flash company has models for Nikon with one model listed as TTL and one as working with i-TTL.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
I expect it has been many years since flashes have been manufactured for film TTL. TTL is now a generic term used casually now meaing iTTL for Nikon, but still the fine print should specifically say iTTL somewhere. Amazon descriptions are pretty skimpy, try checking at B&H, and also checking description at the manufacturers site.
 

WayneF

Senior Member
So would the following godox model not work fully with my D7000 since i-TTL is not specifically listed in the technical data? I find it an intriguing option for when I would want more flash but not have to deal with a larger unit.

GODOX PHOTO EQUIPMENT CO.,LTD

It is surprising their specs would avoid saying iTTL, but their site text says that one is:

Compatible with Nikon Camera(TTL autoflash) such as D800 D700 D7100 7000 D5200 D5100 D5000 D300 D300S D3200 D3100 D3000 D200 D70S D810 D610 D90 D750 etc.

Which those are all iTTL (any Nikon DSLR in last ten years is iTTL)

Stuff like this bought from Amazon can be easily returned if not satisfactory. Not true everywhere, esp not of Ebay. But if compatible as stated, it can only be iTTL.
 

quickstep

New member
If I use an analog Camera, namely F4, combined with Flash SB-24. May Godox X1R-N also work? F4 does not support i-TTL.
Is it compatible downwards?
 

Bikerbrent

Senior Member
Welcome aboard quickstep, enjoy the ride. We look forward to seeing more posts and samples of your work.

You might also want to consider introducing yourself on New Member Introductions.

Someone will be along shortly to help you out.
 
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