My Beginner Wish List!

[DGMPhotography]

What is your goal, here?

For studio work you may want to skip the TTL flash entirely, and go to monolights or a manual/auto hotshoe flash or two. I don't use TTL flash at all, myself, and so I don't know firsthand where it's useful. My understanding though is that it's great for event photography, stuff where the necessary exposure is changing constantly, the desired aperture is changing constantly, and you need to minimize the amount of mucking around you do with flash settings. A TTL flash will simply follow the camera settings and do the right thing.

If you're not in a rush when you're shooting, you can get away without TTL, and if you're interested in learning fundamentals of flash photography, you might be well-off skipping the TTL.

If you're interested, instead, in learning about solving lighting problems with a TTL system, which is a real thing in and of itself, then you're gonna want a TTL system. Obviously.

I do a lot of different types of photography. I enjoy portraiture, but I end up doing a bit of events as well. Honestly, I'm not even sure what TTL is, I just thought it meant automatic. As in, the flash will fire when I press the shutter. Am I understanding correctly that perhaps all flashes do this, and TTL simply adjusts the output of the flash in relation to the camera settings?

 

[ronlane]

You've heard the saying "do it right the first time", it saves you time and money from having to redo it. There is truth to that in photography as well. Get the good equipment first and you don't have to worry about expense of upgrading later, just replacement when it wears out. (which allows time to set aside money for it)

 

[ronlane]

What is your goal, here?

For studio work you may want to skip the TTL flash entirely, and go to monolights or a manual/auto hotshoe flash or two. I don't use TTL flash at all, myself, and so I don't know firsthand where it's useful. My understanding though is that it's great for event photography, stuff where the necessary exposure is changing constantly, the desired aperture is changing constantly, and you need to minimize the amount of mucking around you do with flash settings. A TTL flash will simply follow the camera settings and do the right thing.

If you're not in a rush when you're shooting, you can get away without TTL, and if you're interested in learning fundamentals of flash photography, you might be well-off skipping the TTL.

If you're interested, instead, in learning about solving lighting problems with a TTL system, which is a real thing in and of itself, then you're gonna want a TTL system. Obviously.

I do a lot of different types of photography. I enjoy portraiture, but I end up doing a bit of events as well. Honestly, I'm not even sure what TTL is, I just thought it meant automatic. As in, the flash will fire when I press the shutter. Am I understanding correctly that perhaps all flashes do this, and TTL simply adjusts the output of the flash in relation to the camera settings?

Wow, maybe you should search ttl and ettl.

 

[amolitor]

Any flash will fire when you push the button!

- A manual flash (or a flash in manual mode) will pump out a fixed amount of light. BAM. You can probably pick one of 3 or 4 power levels and you must adjust the camera to match, based on the distance to the subject. Variables YOU must control manually and manually get in balance (with some calculations and/or some test shots) are: ISO, aperture, distance to subject, flash power level.

- An "auto" flash has a meter built in to itself, and it will pump out the "right" amount of the light for the auto-power level you have set it to. Distance to subject goes away as a consideration (more or less) since the flash will quench itself when it sees "enough" light bouncing back from the subject. Variables YOU must control manually are and get in balance are: ISO/aperture on the camera should appropriately match the "auto-power" setting on the flash.

- A TTL flash basically does the same thing as an "auto" flash EXCEPT that it's integrated with the camera. It knows what the camera's aperture and ISO is, and it uses the camera's built-in metering to do the "quench myself when enough light has come back from the subject". TTL should simply do the right thing, always (within limitations). TTL systems may also be aware of multi-flash setups, so you can have them do the right thing even with several flash units popping -- how you set this up is beyond my pay grade, but I assume you set up lighting ratios or similar, and the computers in everything figure it out.

 

[Designer]

I'm not even sure what TTL is, I just thought it meant automatic. As in, the flash will fire when I press the shutter. Am I understanding correctly that perhaps all flashes do this, and TTL simply adjusts the output of the flash in relation to the camera settings?

TTL stands for "Through The Lens", meaning the camera's light meter reads the light that comes in through the lens. This is not new, but Nikon's proprietary "intelligent" system (iTTL) takes it further into the realm of integrating the flash light with the camera settings. The camera and flash(es) communicate to optimize the exposure.

 

[Tiller]

There's nothing wrong with the Yongnuo speedlights. When starting out I think it's smarter to go with them than an OEM unit just bc of the money you save. Later on you can get the expensive Nikon flashes when you have more money to throw into your photography.

 

[DGMPhotography]

What is your goal, here?

For studio work you may want to skip the TTL flash entirely, and go to monolights or a manual/auto hotshoe flash or two. I don't use TTL flash at all, myself, and so I don't know firsthand where it's useful. My understanding though is that it's great for event photography, stuff where the necessary exposure is changing constantly, the desired aperture is changing constantly, and you need to minimize the amount of mucking around you do with flash settings. A TTL flash will simply follow the camera settings and do the right thing.

If you're not in a rush when you're shooting, you can get away without TTL, and if you're interested in learning fundamentals of flash photography, you might be well-off skipping the TTL.

If you're interested, instead, in learning about solving lighting problems with a TTL system, which is a real thing in and of itself, then you're gonna want a TTL system. Obviously.

I do a lot of different types of photography. I enjoy portraiture, but I end up doing a bit of events as well. Honestly, I'm not even sure what TTL is, I just thought it meant automatic. As in, the flash will fire when I press the shutter. Am I understanding correctly that perhaps all flashes do this, and TTL simply adjusts the output of the flash in relation to the camera settings?

Wow, maybe you should search ttl and ettl.

I was expecting that comment. I'm lazy And it's sometimes better to have things explained by people and professionals in the trade who have experience with them.

 

[ronlane]

I'm lazy

That's going to serve you well in business.

 

[cgipson1]

I do a lot of different types of photography. I enjoy portraiture, but I end up doing a bit of events as well. Honestly, I'm not even sure what TTL is, I just thought it meant automatic. As in, the flash will fire when I press the shutter. Am I understanding correctly that perhaps all flashes do this, and TTL simply adjusts the output of the flash in relation to the camera settings?

Wow, maybe you should search ttl and ettl.

I was expecting that comment. I'm lazy And it's sometimes better to have things explained by people and professionals in the trade who have experience with them.

And sometimes if you want to be taken seriously, you should do a little research before asking questions... so that you at least understand the basic concepts enough to understand what the pro's in the trade tell you! Why should we work at teaching... if someone doesn't work at learning?

 

[Greiver]

No idea about the rest but I have the Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8 Lens and it's amazing. Deserves every 5 star review it's gotten, amazing for DOF shots such as portraits.

 

[Designer]

..it's sometimes better to have things explained by people and professionals in the trade who have experience with them.

Just so you know; I'm not a professional photographer.

 

[Derrel]

So this is a list I've compiled so far of equipment I'd like to buy for my photography. I'd like to know your thoughts if this is good to start with, and/or if you've purchased any of these products and have any opinions on them.

Photography to-get list:

1. Nikkor AF-S 50mm f/1.8 Lens - $279
   1. I bought one. It's good. If you have a D5100, this is the 50mm lens to buy.
2. 5-in-1 Reflector - $17.66
   1. I think circular reflectors are a PITA...they require way too much grip equipment to keep them positioned, but they do fold up small. I prefer square, or rectangular reflectors, which have MORE area, and bounce much more light, per size and per dollar.
3. 1. Yongnuo YN-565EX ETTL Speedlite Flash for Nikon--I would rather have a Vivitar 285 HV flash and a Nikon SC-28 cord.
4. Flash Bracket - $80.58 SKIP the flash bracket, and save the money. I have an expensive Stroboframe. I seldom use it.
5. Scoop Flash Modifier - Buy a box of Pop Tarts and use the box and tape to make a better one.
6. Studio Light Kit-Cowboy Studio fluourescent light 'studio'....nope...run away...

 

[Tee]

Your list is as tacky as acid wash jeans, frosted hair, and Reebok high tops. Why are you wasting money on TTL? Learn how to actually use a flash. I agree that the Yongnuo's are a good choice but I would never spend money for TTL when I can buy their flash for a $100 cheaper. Still, Tyler and others have a good point about buying used. Buy yourself the reflector and a flash. Then add the 50mm. And quite frankly, you should be banned for even considering Cowboy Studio.

 

[tirediron]

I was expecting that comment. I'm lazy And it's sometimes better to have things explained by people and professionals in the trade who have experience with them.

For $125 an hour (2 hour minimum) I will be glad to explain all aspects of this in as much detail as you would like.

 

[amolitor]

I would rather have a Vivitar 285 HV flash and a Nikon SC-28 cord.

It's always a struggle for me NOT to plug this unit in every single post I make. I got nuthin but love for my Vivitar. You need to think slightly harder to use it in Auto mode than you do with a TTL flash (I think) but not all that much harder, and it's $85.