Flash bender with TTL?

[connersz]

Hi, I have been using the flashbender for a while now and it has earned it's rightful place among my common setup.

I am looking to get a new flash which will have TTL; something my currant one does't have.

I use the flashbender during the day mostly in moderate to bright sunlight and on manual it works OK within the higher regions of the flash output.

I do a lot of outdoor shoots with kids and as you know, using a manual flash when they're running about so much can sometimes be interesting to say the least so TTL has me interested.

I was wondering if anyone has experience using a flashbender with TTL and more specifically if possible; in an outdoor daytime environment.

 

[markmullen]

I use my flashbender in TTL all the time, no problem at all. The last job I used it on was an outdoor event in bright direct sun when using flash for fill.

 

[Sharky]

I use my flashbender in TTL all the time, no problem at all.

The same, TTL should always expose correctly the flash probably just has to work a touch harder with it being diffused by the flash bender.

 

[connersz]

I suppose when I picture TTL, I imaging it sending out a small burst of light then when the real flash comes it knows how much brighter to make it but the flash bender loses a lot of light out the top and I was wondering it that could upset the TTL but no different to an umbrella or something I suppose.

 

[HoppyUK]

I suppose when I picture TTL, I imaging it sending out a small burst of light then when the real flash comes it knows how much brighter to make it but the flash bender loses a lot of light out the top and I was wondering it that could upset the TTL but no different to an umbrella or something I suppose.

Light loss like that won't affect the auto-TTL exposure, but working outdoors you might well run out of power. Try bending the top of the Rogue over to send all the light forward. Or try something like the Lumiquest Pocket Bouncer - you can get clones for a tenner. My personal favourite is the Lumquest QuikBounce - very versatile, indoors and out http://lumiquest.com/

 

[Phil V]

I suppose when I picture TTL, I imaging it sending out a small burst of light then when the real flash comes it knows how much brighter to make it but the flash bender loses a lot of light out the top and I was wondering it that could upset the TTL but no different to an umbrella or something I suppose.

Yep, but your logic is twisted, the flashgun sends out a preflash which takes the same route as the main flash, so the measurement knows what's happening to the light, the whole point of TTL is that it can easily compensate for bouncing. Whereas if you'd calculated your flash power with something like a flashbender, your head would melt.