Is ETTL worth it? Can anybody really tell the difference? I would assume that most photographers would be shooting manual on their flash. Any non-Canon Flashes utilize ETTL?

Thanks.

Ron

-- Ron Rivchin (ronrivchin@hotmail.com), April 21, 2002

Answers

I've compared many chromes shot with my 420EX/Elan 7E or EOS 3 and 430EZ/ A2. Does the 420EX get better flash pictures than my old 430EZ and A2? Sometimes and sometimes not. Daytime fill flash is wonderful, even in bright sun, but the 430EZ is equally effective. However, the Elan 7E/420EX combo deals better with off-center subjects. Exposure is measured with the Evaluative meter (21 or 35 zones) rather than the 4 zone/3 point flash meter of A-TTL/TTL. This method should be better but the difference isn't apparent most of the time.

In my view, the 420EX's main improvements over A-TTL/TTL units are FP Flash, FE Lock and wireless slave ability (with a 550EX or ST-E2). FP Flash has limited range due to extreme power loss, but it is great for fill flash at close range when you need large apertures. FE Lock is very useful for non-human subjects as it functions like a flash spotmeter. Unfortunately, it accomplishes this feat with a preflash and is thus too rude for human use. The single feature I find that makes E-TTL truly "worth it" is wireless slave ability: control of lighting ratios and multiple slaves in a portable package that fits in a small camera bag.

Sigma and Metz have E-TTL units available but I haven't seen or tried them.

Aloha,

-- Puppy Face (doggieface@aol.com), April 21, 2002.

I agree with the previous post. However, Ron did not mention which EOS camera body is being discussed. This could be important because some EOS bodies cannot make use of all E-TTL features, particularly modelling flash and wireless ratio control.

And as for "shooting manual", only a few EX flash units are capable of easy* manual flash power control. Besides, the E-TTL preflash(es) preclude the use of a handheld flash meter, making it hard to make manual adjustments to flash power.

I personally find it easier to FEL (flash exposure lock) with FEC (flash exposure compensation) with a 420EX or 550EX (or both) on my Elan 7E.

*Of course, you can force any E-TTL flash into full-power mode by performing FEL with the lens cap on.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), April 21, 2002.

I have 2 Elan II bodies. I just got a 380ex and I am wondering if I bought the wrong flash. Does the 380ex have FEL (flash exposure lock) with FEC (flash exposure compensation)?

Thanks.

Ron

-- Ron Rivchin (ronrivchin@hotmail.com), April 21, 2002.

a question in regards to flash ratio control on the elan 7,,,,i was reading the responses and wondering if flash ratio control is possible with 2 550ex and st-e2??

-- steve lanier (slanier@vci.net), April 21, 2002.

Ron asked; "Does the 380ex have FEL (flash exposure lock) with FEC...? - - Yes & no. It has FEL on any EOS camera capable of E- TTL metering, but it does not have FEC controls built into the flash. However your Elan II has FEC controls built into the camera body and this will work with any EOS dedicated flash (not just E-TTL ones) attached, including the built in one.

Steve asked; "...wondering if flash ratio control is possible with 2 550ex and st-e2??"

Yes. Ratio control is available with wireless E-TTL as long as you are using an EOS 30/Elan 7, 3, 1V, D30, D60 or 1D. But not the EOS 50/Elan II/IIe or the EOS 500G/Rebel G. Not sure about the EOS 300/Rebel 2000.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), April 21, 2002.

... i was reading the responses and wondering if flash ratio control is possible with 2 550ex and st-e2??

According to the manual on my 550EX, Canon offers three methods to achieve control of wireless flash ratios. Only the first method (two group - A:B ratio) is possible using the ST-E2 as the W-ETTL master. The second method (three group - A:B:C ratio) requires that a 550EX be the W-ETTL master. I do not know if A:B:C will work with an MR-14EX or the MT-24EX macro flash units.

The third (manual) method of flash ratio control is possible only if using 550EX as the slaves (as you propose). Being a manually controlled system, it can even be used on type B bodies.

Alas, I bought a 420EX as a slave only to discover that it will not act as a slave in a wireless manual-flash system. And there are also unconfirmed reports that the Sigma EF 500 Super might also not behave properly as a slave in an A:B or an A:B:C setup.But I am willing to learn otherwise.

-- Julian Loke (elan7e-owner@yahoogroups.com), April 21, 2002.