Nikon SB-800 TTL auto flash mode, TTL auto flash D, Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash Do

TTL auto flash mode

■■■ TTL auto flash: D

In this mode, the flash illumination that is reflected back from the subject is detected by the camera’s TTL auto flash sensor and the camera automatically controls the flash output level to give the correct exposure.

Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash: Do

Press the a button to display Do on the LCD panel, and Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash is performed. The flash output level is automatically adjusted for a well-balanced exposure of the main subject and background. (While performing Balanced Fill-Flash, no o appears with cameras in Groups III and IV.)

• Do indicates “i-TTL Automatic Balanced Fill-Flash” in the i-TTL mode.

Standard TTL flash: D

Press the a button to display D on the LCD panel, and Standard TTL flash is performed. The main subject is correctly exposed regardless of the background brightness. This is useful when you want to highlight the main subject.

•D indicates “Standard i-TTL flash” in the i-TTL mode, “Standard TTL flash for Digital SLRs” in the D-TTL mode, and “Standard TTL flash” in the TTL (film-based) mode.

tNotes on TTL mode indicators

Comparison tables are provided on pages 108-110 to show the SB-800’s TTL mode indicators and the corresponding ones used in the instruction manuals of Speedlights featuring no CLS.

•For details on shooting procedures in the TTL auto flash mode, refer to “Basic operation” (p. 17).

tFlash shooting in the 1/300 TTL High-Speed Flash sync mode (F5 only)

The farthest flash shooting distance cannot be read on the SB-800’s LCD panel. In this case, use the guide number table and equation (p. 106) for calculating this distance, according to each zoom-head position.

uDifference in flash control level in TTL and Non-TTL auto flash mode

In either flash mode, the flash illumination that is reflected back from the subject is measured to control the flash output level. In the TTL mode, this measurement is made through-the-lens, while in the Non-TTL auto flash mode, it is performed through the Speedlight’s light sensor window for Non-TTL auto flash covering a limited range. Therefore, if you take the same subject in different flash modes, some difference in the flash control level might appear, depending on shooting conditions. Use of the TTL mode is recommended when taking pictures with cameras compatible with TTL auto flash.

Detailed operation

37