what is ETTL?

This may be a bad question, but it is confusing me. Is ETTL something that only applies to external flashes, or does the pop-up flash on a 60D also use ETTL metering? I am considering buying a cheap external flash but I don't really understand much about them. Probably something like a YongNuo 468 II.

This will add to your confusion: http://en.wikipedia.or​g/wiki/Canon_EOS_flash​_system

More info: https://photography-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=171657

A lot more: http://photonotes.org/​articles/eos-flash/

It's the equivalent of the camera's 'automatic' exposure mode. In auto, the camera guesses what the exposure should be. In ETTL mode, the flash guesses what its light output should be, which determines part of the exposure. I found that I learned more quickly when using manual for both camera and flash. The YN-560s are good cheap manual flashes.

"Guesses" is perhaps to take it a bit far. It meters the light according to certain presumptions about subject reflectivity.

E-TTL works with a pre-flash, just before exposure, where the camera meters the flash. The camera will then tell the flash how much power to put into the real flash, when the actual exposure occurs. As with all reflective light metering, it's convenient and works well for many subjects, albeit not all of them.

Electronic Through The Lens metering.

Mike

Evaluative Thru The Lens metering

MikeWa wrote in post #14955444
Electronic Through The Lens metering.

Mike

WaltA wrote in post #14955644
Evaluative Thru The Lens metering

'Fraid Walta is right here. ETTL is Canons way of deciding how much flash you want. It functions differently in each of the 4 modes, M, Av, Tv, and P. Take the same shot with each of these modes and you will likely get a completely different flash and ambient exposures. I find it to be most predictable in P mode. Something I don't use very often. Manual is better. Best to leave Av and Tv alone when shooting with a flash. It can be full of surprises.

The best way to use flash is in Manual mode, the flash not the camera. That way YOU get to decide what the equipment is going to do. Couple that with manual exposure control for ambient and you are in total control of what you get.

Yeah, I'm not totally comfortable with Manual and Flash yet so I've found that if I'm worried about not getting a good shot with a flash I'll drop it into P mode and take a backup shot. Seems to always work "OK".

I agree with TSchrief...Manual everything IS the way to be assured of getting exactly what you have envisioned.

However, when shooting on the fly(at weddings and other events) I have found ETTL to be useful if not essential for nailing shots that I simply don't have time to set up perfectly. It works very nicely using P or Tv modes. Av is problematic in that the shutter speed can drop below hand holdable levels(though this can be limited via custom function on some cameras).

The system is not perfect and will give unexpected results in some situations, but I've found that in most instances it provides adequate results when time is at a premium.

To answer your questions:

1.) Yes ETTL is applied with the on board flash.

2.) I don't own them so I can't speak from experience, but I've read elsewhere that the YongNuo flashes don't have ETTL capability.

And yes, the pop-up flash can also use ETTL metering. It's just not a very effective flash unit.

rrblint wrote in post #14955758
2.) I don't own them so I can't speak from experience, but I've read elsewhere that the YongNuo flashes don't have ETTL capability.

It depends on the model. They have some that are manual only, but most of the newer ones have ETTL and similar functionality to canon's flashes. Not to equate them in build quality however.

gonzogolf wrote in post #14955795
It depends on the model. They have some that are manual only, but most of the newer ones have ETTL and similar functionality to canon's flashes. Not to equate them in build quality however.

Thanks for the info Gonzogolf.