Looking to get a flash - Yongnuo 568 - should i get TTL triggers too?

hello all,

I am looking to get a flash setup so I can learn how to use it correctly. I've pretty much always shot with available light, but would like to learn a new skillset.

I know some folks with the Yongnuo 568 and they say it is a great flash. Awesome, that's within my price rangem so I'm thinking of picking one up. My question is about the TTL trigger. Is that basically used for off camera flash work? Can someone help me understand what I would gain with a TTL trigger? Thanks!

-jon

To make a 2-dimensional image look real, objects in said image should be lit on a gradient. One side will be dark and then progressively brighter. This gives you the illusion of depth. To achieve this, your light source should come from the side and/or above. Frontal light, while brightening the subject, makes the lighting pattern flat so you don't get that depth. A radio trigger will let you move the flash so you can light your subject from any direction and achieve 'directional' lighting. You can also buy a cheap ETTL cord. Flash Zebra has some good ones.

TTL triggers allow the flash to calculate exposure for you. It's basically like full auto mode for your flash. It also enables use of HSS (high speed sync). Some TTL triggers allow remote power adjustment of the flash, which is the most important feature. Having to adjust power manually (e.g. by physically touching the flash unit) is obsolete. You definitely want the TTL triggers for remote power adjustment. Use them in manual mode though whenever possible. TTL mode teaches you as much about lighting as using your camera in full auto teaches you about exposure.

LostArk wrote in post #16466686
TTL triggers allow the flash to calculate exposure for you. It's basically like full auto mode for your flash. It also enables use of HSS (high speed sync). Some TTL triggers allow remote power adjustment of the flash, which is the most important feature. Having to adjust power manually (e.g. by physically touching the flash unit) is obsolete. You definitely want the TTL triggers for remote power adjustment. Use them in manual mode though whenever possible. TTL mode teaches you as much about lighting as using your camera in full auto teaches you about exposure.

I agree. I learned the hard way that while I like ettl, it gave me sporadic coverage. Nothing was consistent, manual is consistent.

Simply put, if you get a yn568 then pick up a set of yn622c's as well.

Just because they are ETTL trigger does not mean that's what you have to use them for. I mostly used mine in manual.

So why ETTL trigger then?

The fact that I can change all the flash setting from my camera instead of having to go to the flash to do so make it so worth it alone (espically when the flashes are inside an Apollo softbox!). But wait, there's more . ETTL trigger also give you the option for HSS and second curtain sync.

For flash, ETTL and manual both have their place and both are very useful. Learn how to use, and when to use, both ETTL and manual. Doesn't matter which order you learn them (or even if you start to learn both at the same time) just make sure that you do learn both.