Does ettl work woth RF triggers?

Photogo! · 27 Mar 2012

Hi all.. I'm trying to figure out how best to Tigger a nissin di866mk1 wirelessly off camera (canon 550d) and am a bit confused!

My question is.. Does the ettl metering still work when triggering with rf triggers?

And also.. Does anyone know of a reliable set of triggers? I've read yn's but again Can't quite grasp if/how ettl works in this instance.

Any suggestions/pointers would much appreciated especially if any one has a similar set up and can vouch for triggers that do work and maintain metering

Thanks for any help in advance,
Pete

Shine On · 27 Mar 2012

I think for wireless ettl you'd need to use the more expensive triggers, such as pocket wizards.

Jayst84 · 27 Mar 2012

Yeah, RadioPoppers, later versions of PocketWizards, and a few others offer TTL functions.

TTL works as it says in the name - through the lens, so it doesn't matter where the flash is.

My limited experience of TTL off camera flash was horrible, I'd take manual everyday (which is why I bought non-TTL Skyports instead).

desantnik · 27 Mar 2012

As others say, you can get TTL radio triggers, however I always have my doubts about the effectiveness of TTL off camera like that.

However, where such devices come in nicely is the ability to have a commander to manually set the remote flashes from the camera... now that gives you the best of all worlds - especially if you have placed your flashes somewhere hard to get to... like on the other side of a motorcross track!

Personally, I used Skyports, manually, but if I had the cash and enough use from it, I'd get the pocket wizards and commander module...

Triggaaar · 27 Mar 2012

desantnik said:
if I had the cash and enough use from it, I'd get the pocket wizards and commander module...

Yeah I'd like the control of the AC3.

Cheap, unreliable triggers have now been replaced by mid-priced, reliable triggers. I chose the Photix Strato II for studio work (manual), but for cheaper TTL I don't know if there's an equivalent to the AC3?

HoppyUK · 27 Mar 2012

For E-TTL with radio, Pocket Wizard Mini/Flex, Phottix Odin, or Radio Poppers (import only). All expensive.

For manual radio triggers, loads about - all cheap and seem to work reliably, eg Yongnuo RF-602. Phottix Strato II are very nice, a bit more money but full x-sync speed and TTL pass-though on the transmitter unit.

NikkiA · 27 Mar 2012

HoppyUK said:
For E-TTL with radio, Pocket Wizard Mini/Flex, Phottix Odin, or Radio Poppers (import only). All expensive.

There's also the Pixel 'King' triggers, which are fairly new, but cheapish (about £100 for a pair iirc)

HoppyUK · 27 Mar 2012

NikkiA said:
There's also the Pixel 'King' triggers, which are fairly new, but cheapish (about £100 for a pair iirc)

Not sure they've completely shaken off a chequered history. Personally I wouldn't, but some people seem to get on well enough with them.

Photogo! · 28 Mar 2012

Thanks for the replies! I have looked into a few of the brands suggested and they are quite costly.

So from what most people are saying, the ettl doesn't work fantastically with off Camera wireless flash... And most use manual?

I think I might get hold of a cheaper manual rf tigger and perhaps buy a chord for if I want to use off camera flash with ttl

Triggaaar · 28 Mar 2012

NikkiA said:
There's also the Pixel 'King' triggers, which are fairly new, but cheapish (about £100 for a pair iirc)

I looked at Pixels range at focus. The Rook was a (slightly) cheaper version on the Phottix Strato, and there are reviews about. Like the Strato they have groups, and TTL pass-through. The Strato has DC input, which I like the idea of for studio use, but I don't know how well the DC input works in practice.

The Pixel King is only available for Canon at the moment, and is a cheap TTL solution (TTL pass-though on camera doesn't work).

I'm hoping Phottix Odins (TTL) will be good when released for Nikon and I'll add them to my Stratos.