ETTL II or M

I was wondering how everyone uses their external flash. I personally use ETTL - II and for the most part satisfied with the results. However, i read that some ppl perfer M mode on the flash cause they get better exposures. I have never really used my external flash in M mode cause i usually don't know how to meter for it. So what do you guys do and if you use M how do you meter for it.

-Mike

PS. oh i've also read ppl saying that they find ETTL inconsitant, your thoughts?

The only time I've heard of anyone setting their flash to Manual is if it is a non E-TTL flash. However, setting the CAMERA to manual is the way to go when flash is the main source of illumination. In this case E-TTL II is still being used (for exposing the subject), it's just that you manually set the camera up to get the ambient exposure that you want.

Sorry Bob lemme clarify by "M" i meant manual mode of the flash not the camera itself.

MikeKS wrote in post #2186140
I was wondering how everyone uses their external flash. I personally use ETTL - II and for the most part satisfied with the results. However, i read that some ppl perfer M mode on the flash cause they get better exposures. I have never really used my external flash in M mode cause i usually don't know how to meter for it. So what do you guys do and if you use M how do you meter for it.

-Mike

PS. oh i've also read ppl saying that they find ETTL inconsitant, your thoughts?

If you can estimate distances, you won't need to meter the flash in manual mode. Perhaps you'll be interested in reading the following thread if you haven't seen it already. It explains how to use your flash in manual mode.

http://www.photography​-on-the.net/forum/showthre​ad.php?t=146153

But personally, unless I'm in a controlled environment, I usually never use the flash in manual mode, only in ETTL mode.

Sometimes ETTL can be fooled by bright or reflective objects. So if you're not happy with the exposure you just took with ETTL, you can go to Manual flash and divide you're distance into the guide # for the fstop. But you have to know your guide # for each manual flash setting and for each lens you're using. (These crazy Canon flashes change guide #'s with focal length of lenses).

steve547 wrote in post #2186808
Sometimes ETTL can be fooled by bright or reflective objects. So if you're not happy with the exposure you just took with ETTL, you can go to Manual flash and divide you're distance into the guide # for the fstop. But you have to know your guide # for each manual flash setting and for each lens you're using. (These crazy Canon flashes change guide #'s with focal length of lenses).

I think you can also benefit from my previous post re working with the EX flashes in manual mode.

steve547 wrote in post #2186808
you have to know your guide # for each manual flash setting and for each lens you're using. (These crazy Canon flashes change guide #'s with focal length of lenses).

We should set a few things straight here.

1) The guide number of any flash with a zooming head will change as the zoom seting changes. Whether it zooms automatically or manually, it's a matter of physics, not a crazy design element of Canon flashes in particular. It's related to lens focal length only as far as the flash zooms to match the focal length.

2) Your ISO setting will also change the guide number. At ISO 200 you need to multiply it by 1.4. At ISO 400 you need to double it.

3) You can memorize every guide number, at every zoom setting and every ISO, and calculate the distance at various apertures in your head, or you can just read the distance scale on the back of the flash unit. The flash does all the calculations for you!

Thanks guys! Looks like i got some reading/playing with my flash to do

That may be another advantage of the 580EX over my Sigma 500DG ST. I don't have any scales on the back of the flash, and the flash zoom is completely automatic. So I cant just manually choose the zoom position of my widest lens and memorize that Guide #. As far as ASA, I could use ASA100 and still shoot at 20 feet with f8. That covers most of my flash needs.