ETTL Flashguns

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J4MIE_P

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Jamie Palmer
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Hi Everyone,

This is probably me just being dump, but I'm having problems using my flashguns in ETTL mode.

I've been taking portrait photos quite well with manual mode, but thought I wanted to see if I can simplify my process even more by using ETTL.

At the moment I'm using a 580EX MKI (offcamera) with a FITP ETTL Cord.
Then I'm using a 430EX MKII as a slave just behind me to light the background.

I set the 580 to ETTL, then I get my 430 and set it to ETTL +3 stops EC.

All seems well, I go to take the photo and both the 580 and 430 fire at the same power levels.

So I look on my 580 to try and set the 430's power on the 580 but I can't seem to find anything apart from ratios,

So if someone could explain to me how I can set them both up, so the 580 is a master, with the 430 as a slave 3stops brighter for a high-key background would be fantastic.

Many Thanks
Jamie

EDIT: I do realise that at some point I will need another flashgun as a fill light, but for now a reflector is doing it's job. Once I've mastered this I'm going to advance to another flash gun.
 
The slave gun fires according to the instruction sent by the master, which will override whatever you have set it to individually - as you have discovered ;) Unless you adjust the ratios, it will fire at the same output as the master.

Check out ratios in the handbook.
 
Thanks Richard,
I knew that was the case, so if I want to make the slave fire more powerfull than the master, would it be 8:1 or 1:8? Sorry if that seems dumb but I'm unsure, and is 8 to 1 classed as 8 stops brighter? Or 8 what?
 
J4MIE_P said:
Thanks Richard,
I knew that was the case, so if I want to make the slave fire more powerfull than the master, would it be 8:1 or 1:8? Sorry if that seems dumb but I'm unsure, and is 8 to 1 classed as 8 stops brighter? Or 8 what?
Click to expand...

It's in the manual, page 38 ;)

8x is three stops, not eight (2x = 1 stop, 4x = 2 stops etc).
 
Ahh great. Thanks Hoppy :)
Plus, I can't look in the manual because I dont have one :(

I bought it used from MPB so all I got was the flash and the case lol.

But at least I know now.

So If I'm in Manual Mode, say 1/200 F4 @ ISO100
Have a 580 (TTL Cord) off camera in a softbox or umbrella.

And have two 430's behind the model at the background both on a ratio of 8:1 then It'll make the backdrop overexpose?
 
J4MIE_P said:
Ahh great. Thanks Hoppy :)
Plus, I can't look in the manual because I dont have one :(

I bought it used from MPB so all I got was the flash and the case lol.

But at least I know now.

So If I'm in Manual Mode, say 1/200 F4 @ ISO100
Have a 580 (TTL Cord) off camera in a softbox or umbrella.

And have two 430's behind the model at the background both on a ratio of 8:1 then It'll make the backdrop overexpose?
Click to expand...

No handbook! You must get one. 580EX is a complicated little b****r and you'll not get the most out of it without. You can download it here http://www.usa.canon.com/consumer/c...oadDetailTabAct&fcategoryid=316&modelid=10514 or get an official hard copy from here http://www.instructionbooks.co.uk/

You're getting confused already :D You don't use ratios in manual mode! The way to light a white background, or the way I would suggest starting out, is to work in manual and first set the exposure for the front light - the main subject light.

Then start with the background lights on a lowish power and keep turning them up bit by bit until you get the blinkies showing on the LCD - the highlight over exposure warning. To get pure white, you only need a fraction of over exposure. There is no point in blitzing it and indeed doing that causes lots of undesirable side effects, so turn the background lights up only just enough to activate the blinkies, and no more.
 
I understand all waht you are saying, and I have been successfully using my flashgun in manual mode as described above. I just wanted to know if I could achieve this with ETTL, to save on set-up times, etc.

But evidentally looks like I'll be sticking with manual mode :D
Thank you soo much for the help Hoppy, really appreciate it.
 
J4MIE_P said:
I understand all waht you are saying, and I have been successfully using my flashgun in manual mode as described above. I just wanted to know if I could achieve this with ETTL, to save on set-up times, etc.

But evidentally looks like I'll be sticking with manual mode :D
Thank you soo much for the help Hoppy, really appreciate it.
Click to expand...

You can do it with E-TTL! It gets confusing trying to explain but all will become clear when you get hold of the handbook. You really can't do this stuff without, or at least I can't - it does my head in ;)

Once you've got it sorted and you know what's what, no probs - away you go. It takes a few minutes to get your head around but once you've got the hang of it, E-TTL certainly does save set up time and usually gives a decent result first time. That's when I use it, when there's no time to mess about.

But in a studio situation, when there is plenty of set up time and you can get everything just right, I much prefer manual as you're in full control and once it's set it can't change. The one thing I don't like about E-TTL is that you never know what power the gun is firing at. Sure you know the exposure is right and that the other units are firing at X:1 ratio, but what's the actual power ouptput? Maybe it's just me but I like to know these things.
 
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