E-TTL capable on Speedlite 380EX or Sigma EF-430ST

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I have an Elan IIe and I just recently tried to purchase a Speedlite 380 but the salesman told me that the Sigma EF-430ST was a better value. I asked him if it had the same ability to do E-TTL and he said it had "TTL" and I asked him again if it had E-TTL and he said it was the same. I bought the flash to do backlit fill flash type shots and I think that I need the E-TTL capabilitiy to do this easier. My questions are 1) Do I need the E-TTL? 2) Does the Sigma have E-TTL? 3) Should I return the Sigma and get the 380?

I shot 2 rolls with the Sigma. Most shot were on apature priority and program mode. Most shots were with strong backlit sushine. most pictures turned out dark, or fair background dark subject or even bright background bright subject. non turned out evenly exposed forground and/or background.

4)would the E-TTL solve this? 5)am I using too much backlighting?

PS If i am to exchange the flash I need to do it within a week.

-- Tony Baricevic (Cromagnet@aol.com), September 15, 1999

Answers

You should take the Sigma flash back, tell the salesman he's a lying &*^%&^$& and insert the non E-TTL flash into him. Typical scum of the earth sales droid. Don't give them any more of your money. Find an honest store to deal with. Any store that steers you off a Canon product onto a 3rd party product generally isn't helping anyone but themselves.

The Sigma may have TTL, but that isn't the same as E-TTL. It doesn't allow FEL (Flash exposure lock) or FP (high speed sync) either.

Do you need E-TTL? Maybe, but you certainly don't have it.

-- Bob Atkins (bobatkins@hotmail.com), September 15, 1999.


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