Does anyone make an "auto" flash any more ?

Do any of the speedlites on the market offer the pre-TTL, "auto" style of operation ?
Back when they were called a flash, it would look after itself and quench when its onboard sensor detected enough returned light. I'd like to buy a new (reliable) flash or two with that functionality, rather than older, used ones as they don't age well.

SteveInNZ wrote in post #10240861
Do any of the speedlites on the market offer the pre-TTL, "auto" style of operation ?

You'll need to have a look at the Canon 580ex II, which has an external flash sensor.

http://www.usa.canon.c​om …tArticleAct&art​icleID=946

Yes, the 580exII will do it, but you can still purchase the vivitar 285hv new if you want to go that route.

Take a look at the Metz AF 58-1 flash. Its a lower priced alternative to the 580 EX II and just as capable and has an excellent auto mode. The recharge rate on the Vivitar 285 is very slow so depending on what you're shooting it may not suit your purposes.

See review here: http://photo-tips-online.com …-mecablitz-58-af-1-flash/

SteveInNZ wrote in post #10240861
Do any of the speedlites on the market offer the pre-TTL, "auto" style of operation ?
Back when they were called a flash, it would look after itself and quench when its onboard sensor detected enough returned light. I'd like to buy a new (reliable) flash or two with that functionality, rather than older, used ones as they don't age well.

another vote for Metz 58 AF-1 - it's auto mode is quite accurate and you can select any of the 12 auto- controlled setting from f/1.0 to f/45 and you still have TTL, HSS, remote master and the rest . I'm very happy with mine (menus are a bit long though, but I can live with that).

This is what I used before getting my 430ex II http://www.adorama.com​/Als/ProductPage/FAB.h​tml

Adorama makes one for 36 bucks!

http://www.adorama.com​/Als/ProductPage/FAB.h​tml

It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that keeps coming across situations where that is the appropriate solution.

The Adorama one looks very similar to the Vivitar 2800 that I have. It's nice and light and simple. It does what it says it will do, so no complaints.
I have a 580EX and have to say that I've found it pretty frustrating - TTL is great in many cases, but it's not everything.
Both the Metz and the Nissin look like better options to me.
Will the master/slave protocols mix and match with the Canon flashes (eg have a 430EX slave) ?

Is this something that exists in that flash already or something you've asked for ? If so, does it work with my 40D or do I need to buy a new camera too ?

SteveInNZ wrote in post #10244702
It's nice to know that I'm not the only one that keeps coming across situations where that is the appropriate solution.

The Adorama one looks very similar to the Vivitar 2800 that I have. It's nice and light and simple. It does what it says it will do, so no complaints.
I have a 580EX and have to say that I've found it pretty frustrating - TTL is great in many cases, but it's not everything.
Both the Metz and the Nissin look like better options to me.
Will the master/slave protocols mix and match with the Canon flashes (eg have a 430EX slave) ?

Is this something that exists in that flash already or something you've asked for ? If so, does it work with my 40D or do I need to buy a new camera too ?

No, you can only control wirelessly from the pop-up in the 7D. You said the ETTL is frustrating in the 580exII, did you try the external sensor mode?

The Metz flash can act as either Master or Slave to compatible Canon flashes and vice versa. By that I mean the Metz can act as the Master for any modern Canon flash and slave to models like the 580EX II, 580EX, 550EX.

gonzogolf wrote in post #10244730
No, you can only control wirelessly from the pop-up in the 7D. You said the ETTL is frustrating in the 580exII, did you try the external sensor mode?

I have the 580EX, not the II. ETTL is fine. It's the disabling of simple functionality that erks me.

ALis great wrote in post #10243386
Its taken Canon over 20 years to found out that they forgot to install the flash auto sensor!
I guess they have no flash photographers working for them

And, per posts on POTN, then they make it underexpose significantly, just like ETTL mode had been criticized for years (and compensated by most with FEC = +1).

https://photography-on-the.net …php?p=7676997#p​ost7676997

Nissin Di866 has it too, but they call it Av mode. Actually looks useful-ish, but very dependent on the reflectiveness of your subject.
http://www.nissindigit​al.com/en/Di866-1.html

TweakMDS wrote in post #10247578
Nissin Di866 has it too, but they call it Av mode. Actually looks useful-ish, but very dependent on the reflectiveness of your subject.
http://www.nissindigit​al.com/en/Di866-1.html

ETTL is no less and no more dependent upon reflectiveness of the subject, compared to Auto (photosensor) or TTL flashes. ALL are dependent upon reflectiveness of the subject and other items in the scene. ETTL/iTTL/dTTL with digital sensors I find to be less dependable than the older technologies, although experiences with more recent versions of ETTL seem to have improved!

There's a fundamental difference between Auto and TTL.
TTL of any form is based on what the camera sees, while lighting is determined by the relationship between the light and the subject, not the camera. The position of the camera or how big the subject is in the frame doesn't alter the amount of light needed to light the subject correctly. In the majority of cases, the camera and the flash are the same distance from the subject and the subject fills a large portion of the frame. That's perfect for TTL. However, if you leave the flash in the same place and move away or around to the side of the subject, TTL will attempt to illuminate the field while the flash-centric auto mode will give the same amount of light on the subject.

TTL is the best option for things that fit within the TTL limitations. For those that don't, Auto is a useful tool between TTL and manual.