What is TTL/iTTL?

Can someone explain TTL/iTTL to me?

I am just getting back into photography and trying to get up to date on technology.

Also, why are flashes and flash accessories so expensive? The SB600 and SB800 specifically.

Thanks!

It's my understanding that TTL means "Though the Lens", in other words light is read through the actual lens and not just from a sensor in front of the flash. Nikon used to use a variant it called d-TTL. More recently it has used something it calls i-TTL, which only its newest cameras and flashes support.

As to why Nikon charges so much for the SB600 and SB800, part of it is probably due to development of this technology - someone has to pay for the research and development - and some is due to product cost, the rest likely is "because they can."
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--Bob

TTL in general stands for through the lens. It refers to the process of measuring flash exposures using a meter inside the camera (as opposed to a sensor on the flash) and controlling the flash duration by the camera. Older camera systems either used manual calcuations to determine flash exposure or used a sensor on the flash itself. TTL flash metering has been available from all major camera makers for more than 20 years.

iTTL refers to the latest TTL flash system from Nikon.

As to why the flashes are expensive, you'd have to ask Nikon. I can tell you that a good flash dedicated to a camera makers latest cameras were about the same price 20 years ago as they are today. So in real dollars, they are cheaper.....

Thanks for the replies.

Do you know if other brand flashes such as Sunpak, etc...are comparable? Price wise they seem about the same.

Just curious.

Thanks again!

I think SB600 or 800 will be more compatible using TTL... and also it can be used wirelessly with a nikon D70

TTL has been explained above. iTTL is Nikon's latest iteration. Features on their SB800 flash includes being able to remotely control another SB600/800. From my understanding this only works if you have an SB800 controlling a 600 or 800 but not if you have an SB600 controlling another 600.

As far as it being expensive is concerned, compared to Olympus, your SB800 is less than have the price of their equivalent top of the line flash which is roughly $500 and doesn't have the remote control capabilities.

There are a number of iTTL compatible flashes including units from Metz an Promaster. About the only missing feature on these 3rd party flashes is the aforementioned remote control feature.

I should point out that the promaster is about the same price as the 800 and the Metz is nearly $500. Both Promaster & Metz are usable for multiple brands and types of cameras through the use of specific modules which is a nice feature if you own different brands of camera's like me.

HTH.

thirdlife said:

Can someone explain TTL/iTTL to me?

I am just getting back into photography and trying to get up to
date on technology.

Also, why are flashes and flash accessories so expensive? The
SB600 and SB800 specifically.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

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Primary Camera: Nikon D70 w/ Tamron 28-300 lens
Backup Camera: Olympus C-8080WZ

You can get a Sunpak or a Vivitar, or a Sigma flash to "work with" your camera, but IMHO you are much better off spending the extra $ at least for the SB600. You'll find the SB600 to be much easier to use and more capable, if not as powerful as some of the third party flash units.

If you plan on using a flash off-camera wirelessly, and you should, I don't think any of them will function as well as the SB600/800, if at all in iTTL.

thirdlife said:

Thanks for the replies.

Do you know if other brand flashes such as Sunpak, etc...are
comparable? Price wise they seem about the same.

Just curious.

Thanks again!

Click to expand...

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FJBrad
D70...it's not rocket surgery.