Just got a new flash unit (Neewer TTL750ii) for my Nikon D3500

3 years 3 months ago #707050 by butcha61
I had an Amazon Gift Card as a Christmas present, so I ordered a new hot-shoe flash for my Nikon D3500.  No offense to Nikon, but I can't believe the cost of the real OEM flashes!

There's dozens of aftermarket flash units by Godox, Yongnuo, Neewer, etc... and are incredibly priced versus the top name brand.

What I like about this flash unit, is the TTL function.  I mean, "set it and forget it", as it just knows what to do and works perfectly with the Nikon.  Put on the small 18-55mm lens, and watch the flash LCD screen.  Zoom out from 18mm and watch the flash change its settings to match the camera lens.  Really cool!
Getting to the point, I am wondering about the "M" mode and manually experimenting with the power levels 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, and how that will work with flash photography and taking a nice portrait photo, bouncing the flash upwards off the ceiling.

Do you use TTL or do you mainly stick with the "M" manual setting?  Which is better?

Lastly, please excuse the poor quality photo, as I was using my Samsung Galaxy smartphone and got a little too close, so it's a touch blurry.  Oops....



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3 years 3 months ago #707051 by Nikon Shooter
I gladly use TTL when covering events but
M in studio and most "on location" works.

Light is free… capturing it is not!
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The following user(s) said Thank You: butcha61
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3 years 3 months ago - 3 years 3 months ago #707056 by Screamin Scott
Basically the same as NS... I'll use auto modes except when I'm shooting macro and need to vary the power settings (that's using an older film era ring/point light which doesn't do TTL)

Scott Ditzel Photography

www.flickr.com/photos/screaminscott/

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The following user(s) said Thank You: butcha61
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3 years 3 months ago - 3 years 3 months ago #707060 by butcha61
Thank you for the replies.  I like the TTL mode as the flash "talks" to my Nikon, if that makes sense.

Here's what I did (sorry, no photos -- just an experiment and then deleted):

Nikon D3500 --> Nikkor AF-S DX 35mm f/1.8G (prime) lens --> Neewer TTL 750ii flash
Tripod mount
10 feet away, aimed at my living room mantle above the fireplace, with various photos on the wall and my wife's knickknacks on the mantle as well.

Nikon's "P"rogram Mode use for the test.  1/60 shutter and f/5.6 aperture, ISO 100.
TTL:  Camera & Flash used f/5.6 and took a perfectly centered photo, not darkened and not bleached out either.

"M" (manual flash):  Camera was using f/4 in the viewfinder.
1/1 power:  Wicked bright, full powered, way way overexposed, bleached out photo.
1/8 power: Bright looking photo, but still pretty nice.
1/16 power: Nice photo, nice colors. (I'm assuming this is what TTL used).
1/64 power: Darkened photo, moody type of appearance.
1/128 power: Darkened more, like a lamp was turned off in the room.

In closing, I am certainly NOT an expert in this field, but am learning by "trial and error".  If I totally screw up a photo, I delete it and learn from my mistake.  I ask questions and learn from others as well.

Edit:  I skipped around on the manual settings and various power levels.


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