Today, we’re diving into another video in our series where we break down and define common photography terms that you often hear but might not fully understand. This series aims to help you grasp these concepts and use them effectively in your photography. Let’s dive into our topic: TTL.
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TTL stands for Through-The-Lens, and it’s a technology used by modern cameras to measure the amount of light passing through the lens to determine the correct exposure. When we talk about TTL in flash photography, we’re referring to the camera’s ability to automatically adjust the flash output for a proper exposure based on what the camera’s metering system reads.
How Does TTL Work?
So, how does TTL work? In most cases, when you press the shutter button halfway, your camera’s metering system evaluates the scene’s ambient light. When you fully press the shutter button, the camera fires a pre-flash—a brief, low-power burst of light. The camera’s sensor measures the light reflected from this pre-flash and calculates the proper amount of flash needed for the correct exposure. Then, the main flash fires with the calculated power when you take the picture.
Benefits and Limitations of Using TTL
Now, why should you use TTL? There are several benefits, but also important limitations to be aware of:
First, automatic adjustments: TTL automatically adjusts the flash output based on the lighting conditions, making it easier to get a properly exposed image without manual adjustments. However, in scenes with very bright or dark backgrounds or clothing, TTL can struggle to find the correct exposure, aiming for an 18% gray average in your final image, which can lead to overexposure or underexposure. The same thing that happens in automatic exposure settings without flash will happen when using automatic exposure settings with TTL.
Second, speed: TTL is great for fast-paced shooting environments where lighting conditions change quickly, such as weddings, events, or photographing a model at dusk who is rapidly posing and moving while you yourself are constantly moving the light and changing your composition. I used TTL on this shoot with Kasan while reviewing the Elinchrom One Flash unit, and I will link to that video. However, TTL can be less reliable in complex lighting situations or when a light source is pointed directly at the camera, like a hair light or edge light.
Third, flexibility: TTL works well in various shooting modes and can adapt to different lighting scenarios. However, the pre-flash can sometimes cause subjects to blink or react, affecting the final image.
Additionally, if you’re using TTL and like the results, and if the conditions aren’t changing rapidly, your flash manufacturer may allow you to switch your flash to manual mode using the settings from your last TTL exposure. For example, with my Elinchrom pro trigger, I can do this easily just by switching the mode to manual. Also, you can set up multiple lights and use them in TTL exposures with different exposure compensation values for each group the lights are assigned to. For instance, you could put your main light in group 1 and set the exposure compensation to 0, and you could put a fill light in group 2 and set the exposure compensation for that group to -2.
Setting Up TTL
Setting up TTL on your camera and flash is simple:
First, ensure that both your flash and trigger are TTL-capable. If your gear is older, TTL may not be an option. To enable TTL you normally just switch the trigger to TTL, but you may need to enable TTL mode on your flash too.
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Hashtags:
#PhotographyTips #TTL #FlashPhotography #CameraSettings #PhotographyTutorial #Canon #Nikon #Sony #Elinchrom #phototips
Chapters
00:00 – Introduction
01:22 – Benefits & Limitations of TTL
04:38 – Manual Lock
05:36 – Setting Up TTL
06:32 – Conclusion
