Forget TTL or Nikon CLS
Posted: Sun 7 Mar 2010 00:31
I've completely given up on Nikon's CLS and any TTL flash systems. There are certain times when I'll still use them, but it's becoming less and less frequent for me. I discovered a new way for me to take photos using a flash (Alien Bee B1600 and Nikon SB-900). I now shoot in all manual mode and suggest that you try the same if you get a chance. It's so much more liberating and I have learned how to underexpose the sun with high powered studio strobes. The Nikon CLS is great for certain things, like Joe McNally has shown us, but you need so many of them for portrait work in bright sunlight that it makes it impractical and expensive for me. I trigger my strobes with a Paul C. Buff radio transmitter, which is the cheapest one I could find.It works every bit as good as the more expensive pocket wizards and has been field tested to distances that I'd never even think of being from the subject anyway. I don't own a 3000mm Nikon lens and they probably don't even make one! lol I have learned how to take portraits now with the aid of only one light and controlling the flash exposure and ambient light manually. Everything is in manual mode when taking portraits as I feel it should be, which gives you the most control and consistency. I hope you enjoyed my rant and have a look at the photos. Take care and good luck with your manual non-TTL flash endeavors!