Speedlight TTL Basics With The Best Entry Level Flash!

[@Giovinetta]

I bought speedlight just today as I shoot christening tomorrow at church. Never used speedlight before and I was watching tutrials to learn and this tutorial helped me the most, thank you so much!

[@scottgarriott3884]

FINALLY - a simple tutorial that covers the basics without going into equipment specifics or covering only one narrow technical topic! THIS is what I came for. Thank you!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you found it so helpful!

[@romalibra_books]

This video is so good because it’s so repetitive, instead of having to watch it 5 times, you repeat it in different way and it’s such a great way of learning thank you

[@jamieandrei]

the old 3 step.. 01 tell em what you gunna tell em, 02 tell em, 03 tell em what you told them method.. it's timeless..

[@thunderpup1327]

Rarely use my Speedlight because everything is over exposed. This is very instructive and I am highly motivated to put some batteries into my light and start experimenting. Thank you.

[@georgestiros4392]

THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU......i just bought the S5ii and was ready to buy the flash , now I am calling BanH and having it shipped ASAP. The best video ever, thank you again.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad to help out! Hope you enjoy the flash!

[@troymclean9301]

Thank you! Very helpful! New to flash, just purchased the Westcott FJ80IIS for my Sony a7iv. I was testing last night and now I know why my F11 pics were black!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Great to hear it was helpful for you!

[@willvazquez3218]

Great video! The issue with a lot of on camera flashes and especially the Wescott FJ80 SE is that it runs super blue. I use a 1/4 CTO gel on it and it’s night and day how much more beautiful the image looks right in camera. I like my JPEG’s to look great when I play them back and show to a client. Then the RAW needs less work to tweak in editing .

[@Alakazam2047]

Thank you for the detailed video. As a beginner, you're one of the few that actually clarified to switch to manual mode on the camera instead of the flash. If I'm doing event photography (run and gun), am I okay to use Manual Mode on my camera with auto-ISO and TTL? Or do you still recommend full manual on the camera?

[@TC-eo5eb]

I learned more in17 minutes here than I have in hours of other videos. Excellent tutorial.

[@KC-vp7wn]

Okay I didn't think about putting the camera in manual! I've always had it in auto. Now I know better.... Thanks much and Great video

[@baybridge54]

Thank you for this straight- forward explanation of TTL. It seems very easy to become overwhelmed by settings in an unusual environment! This has made the process very clear and methodical. Phew! Many thanks! Regards, Jonathan 😊

[@FrancoisRioux-ed8bv]

Great tutorial. Finally a good easy to understand explanation about speedlight!!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Thank you. Glad you found it educational!

[@suzannegogna9551]

Great video. So helpful for beginners like me. It's nice to watch you try and show the effects of different settings. Very helpful.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Great to hear. Wishing you success with your photography!

[@brdbrntrn]

Thanks! Usually, my biggest challenge is finding the right white balance. How do you set your white balance? Is it based on ambient light or the flash?

[@JohannesDalen]

INCREDIBLY useful, thanks a ton!

[@skp-bg3it]

Thank you so much for this! I was never considering the ambient light exposure when using an external flash and the images turned exactly like you'd shown. Going to try and apply this the next time I rent a speed light.

[@Jamal-of6em]

Fantastic video love that you used examples and explained everything including what each setting changes in different situations.

[@rdkevin7729]

One of the best how to flash advice. Interested in how your adapter and Canon EF lens work with your Panasonic camera? My Fringer adapter works just like native lenses to all my Canon EF lenses to my Fujifilm body.

[@fingereze7202]

Good informative video with plenty of examples and shots with explanation. Thank you!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you found it worthwhile! Thanks for watching!

[@admbn9830]

Excellent, simple explanation! And "keep on clicking" at the end just made my day! :)

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for your comment!

[@TheUberSchattenjager]

Well explained! And a great model! Bravo!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you liked it! Thanks for the compliment!

[@danimac2028]

Beautiful tutorial!!! I learned so many knowledges in few minutes!! Thank you so much!!

[@khanscombe619]

Way cool. Jamie was awesome. Love the let’s get started twirl. I’m experimenting with the Cobra style modifier or the bounce + white fan blending colour gels is important as well.

[@martycavassa]

Excellent video, very informative. Separately, I note in the specs on Westcott's website that the color temp for the FJ80-SE is 6500K vs. 5500K for the FJ80 II. Have you noticed any sort of blue cast when processing your files after using this flash?

[@electronicbox6990]

J, great video as always, but I see as with my S5mk2 that the results are super inconsistent. Can you make a video dedicated to s5 and explain in more details the camera settings for flash, also try for example on manual mode -1 on the camera ,ttl on the flash, change subject position and you will get different results. At least this is what i have found. Pana is super bad for flash photography, those are my observations. Some folks show that flash delay in s5.

[@MrClaudioAgostini]

Very clear explanation. Thanks!

[@GuerrillaMonk]

Very helpful video! Thanks!!!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your comment!

[@drhito]

Great Video! It was very informative. That S5II has some beautiful colors.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you liked it! And yes, that S5II has great color!

[@lesyaromanyuk9782]

Great video tutorial! Thank you so much :)

[@richpfeifer7791]

Hi Jay - love your videos! One situation I run into is that I am shooting in several rooms with different lighting situations - or even hopping outside and then back inside quickly. This wouldn't give me enough time to set my camera for the ambient light and then turn on the flash. Any tips on how to handle this situation? Thanks!

[@isoawe1888]

Thought for sure you put your model in black so you could explain how it will affect TTL. For those that missed it, remember that your camera always tries to make your image average gray. TTL flash will lighten black overexposing face and darken white leading to underexposed face. That’s what exposure compensation is for on the flash. Dial it in the opposite direction than your exposure went.

[@fotoScentfx-zr6kl]

Thanks. His first shots were a bit overexposed due to the black shirt, and the camera overcompensated by averaging out…. 20 years ago, I got a shot of a white hare in the snow, but it was all grayed out. I should have overexposed by at least to stops. Plus, it was done on film that turned the photo pinkish with time. Oops, that was actually 30 years ago.😂

[@ohnoflicks]

You’re the best, Jay! 😀

[@trini938]

Setting a high ISO what about the noise?. Great video

[@jasonbodden8816]

Most modern cameras nowadays are pretty great on noise and even some of the older ones - like my crop sensor Canon 60D dslr - is clean up to ISO 800. So you adjust to suit. Use the ISO you're comfortable with. You'll just have to adjust your other settings to let more of the ambient light into your images (use a wider aperture and/or slower shutter speed). And Noise Reduction nowadays is really good anyway (the Denoise feature is arguably the best right now).

[@Lunar_Films]

Great to see you using the S5 ii

[@TheSJRuss]

Bloody brilliant. ❤

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you found it worthwhile. Thanks for watching!

[@marcodemedici1032]

Great job as usual. What harness are you using to hold your cameras? Do you have any recommendations for harnesses?

[@TheSlantedLens]

Are you meaning neck straps or a body harness?

[@josediazh3890]

Muchas gracias.

[@TheSlantedLens]

De nada! Glad you enjoyed the video!

[@old4004]

A good explanation, like always.

[@lucschoonjans4540]

What is your WB setting? Considering the ambient light is warmer and the flash is daylight balanced (right?), how do you set your WB on the camera? Thanks!

[@adventure9606]

Since he’s using flash and not natural light when you edit in Lightroom if you click on automatic white balance it should get you close. If you look at event photos on the internet some events seem to leave the white balance alone in this case casting a warm or yellow tone sort of like a filter.

[@alfredymwongify]

Thanks so much. Definitely helpful

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for your comment!

[@straitjacketstudios]

Great video!!! Thanks!!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@jamalnasir526]

Thank the Video was very Helpfull

[@TheSlantedLens]

You're welcome! Thanks for your comment!

[@michellepaleo3239]

Exactly what I needed, thanks! 👍🏼

[@b991228]

Even with slower shutter the strobe of the flash is good at freezing motion. The quick exposure from the from flash pulse will result having a nice subject sharpness.

[@jerold5654]

Do you use CTO gels to get a more accurate white balance?

[@TheSlantedLens]

I use them because I like the images to be a little warmer.

[@johnawareness]

OMG ❤😢 THANK YOU FOR THE VIDEO ❤❤❤

[@Nas-rd9pk]

Best speedlight /camera Settings ..perfect

[@anujasharma9677]

Excellent Video 👏👏

[@TheSlantedLens]

Thank you very much! Glad you found it worthwhile!

[@allabouthim03]

At events be careful with those slow shutter speeds. I am an event photographer, you get too slow now you have blurry images due to movement. Surely try to keep that shutter speed above 100, especially during those fast movements parts of the event. My sync is 250, so I'm primarily there during those run and gun moments, compensate exposure with apurture and ISO.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Thanks for sharing your expertise about Event Photography!

[@MichaelCTruth]

Do u use ttl?

[@MichaelCTruth]

​@@TheSlantedLenswhen ive tried ttl, but the images are always overexposed. Nothing like you are getting in this video. What am i doing wrong?

[@allabouthim03]

@@MichaelCTruth I use TTL during the event activities. If I notice over or under exposure I use exposure compensation on the back of the Speedlite. At times during the dance sequence or shooting table I will set a manual flash setting.

[@Apollos2023]

I thought the flash stopped motion while shutter speed affected ambient light. Is that wrong?

[@anotherlazymillennial]

Great video! Thanks for sharing

[@TheSlantedLens]

Our pleasure! Thanks for your comment!

[@chadsexinton]

Will the room change if my lens has a variable apetutre?

[@packard224]

great tutorial man really loved it

[@TheSlantedLens]

Good to hear. Glad you enjoyed the tutorial!

[@ecs2sy501]

I hope I can get a reply, can you let me know the type of metering you're use? Sport? Wide, etc?

[@khalidalkaabi5506]

Thank you ❤

[@TheSlantedLens]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@smb4658]

What is the white balance setting used?

[@huynhminhtruc1718]

I have a question: if the GN decreases, should we decrease it with zoom or flash so that the GN remains the same if the zoom is changed?

[@peteesposito6633]

what speedlight modifier did you use in the gym

[@aamsergie]

As a more novice photographer, it would be great if you put all the photos up together, it will be super easy to compare.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Great suggestion. Thanks for your comment!

[@marclabro]

Super tuto !

[@delaneygibson]

You're the best photography teacher on KZbin!

[@TheSlantedLens]

Wow, that is a super compliment. I appreciate that!

[@RishiRajKoul]

super thanks

[@michaelschmitt5413]

Too bad they aren't making the Kobra anymore. One thing I have wondered, is which in-camera metering mode to use. I've also had problems with TTL when the subject is wearing a bright white shirt, blouse or coat.

[@alfasud1972]

I don't know what I'm doing wrong, if I expose for the background, use TTL and Aperture priority mode, the flash is over exposing heavily. So much, I can not bring it down with EC or flash compensation... Edit: After going through all my settings in the camera again, and the speedlight, I noticed the setting "ratio" was on in the speedlight settings, turning it off solved my problems and TTL is fine finally! (I'm not going to say how many years this took me to find out :-/ )! Using a modifier, appears to throw off the TTL when I'm testing. Edit again: a pre-flash setting in my camera resolved the throw off.

[@NataliaSanchez-f4m]

He also mentioned to use manual mode with flash. Not AV

[@jaytube227]

Here's my question. When exposing for the background sometimes you need ISO 1000 or more. In these cases the flash power is too much. Shutter at say 1/80th. f2.2 for blurred background. The flash even 3 stops down is blown out. Most flashes can't adapt and cant find a better solution than using some brand flashes that can output lower

[@bnazzaro21]

Very good

[@timelesstruths]

Great tutorial.

[@Emerald_City_]

Great teaching, so didactic, simple and structured, much appreciated. But honestly, I kept watching Jamie most of the time. She's so pretty. I am surprised at her looks - my aesthetics are developed by the models and fashion in the end of 1960s, and she repeats the sentiment with her youthful vigor... To my taste, the best results in this video were in the small room with the modifier aimed straight at her, underexposed one stop.

[@Garbid]

I just go with ad200 on a light stand with magmod. Horisontally but high. Ambient is almost equal to 0. And flash just feels shadows. Easy setup on one hand.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Thanks for sharing your workflow!

[@stephanyfaycohen3842]

Thank you for a great tutorial. GOD bless you both.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@aquiltiburon]

A BIG thank you

[@TheSlantedLens]

You are very welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@12314andy]

Good thing you know what a stop is. 🤔

[@TheSlantedLens]

True, that is a good thing to know!

[@donatzbergerphotography]

1/80th sec is motion blur territory - even with flash, with that ambient light at 1/80th, you will see blur if the subjects are moving, and at an event, they're almost always moving. I shoot events at 1/160th on most cameras and even higher if I can get away with it. Better to have a stop more grain and a stop more motion-stopping shutter speed.

[@barrystewart3950]

That was an interesting point, about putting the camera in manual, so that you only have one automated function (TTL) in operation. I often have my camera in auto ISO for non-flash use - and have to make sure I go back to manual ISO for flash work. One difficulty for manual exposure in run-and-gun work is if the ambient light is changing, such as part-cloudy days or where the room lighting is not even.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Good point! Thanks for sharing!

[@davemunoz9742]

Where is the speedlite modifier link?

[@TheSlantedLens]

That one is no longer available. Too bad huh!

[@ArtKingjr]

I was hoping for new info, including all the new features with face detection metering etc, but no. I have never been able to get consistent light with ttl in a nightclub atmosphere. Not sure if it's all the random lights going on and off or what it is, but ttl has never worked for me. I only shoot in manual (no auto anything). Still no luck. I also do on the spot printing, so I need my exposure on point. Compensation is a joke when shooting moving people.

[@adventure9606]

In some events I pick a place and adjust everything to get the best shot then ask the guest to follow me to that spot and get it done which only woks when you have the space and time. The rest of the event I’m having to adjust on the fly. There are some KZbin videos from pro event shooters that may give you tips as well.

[@hubertcole1645]

how about if they are wearing glasses?

[@TheSlantedLens]

You may need the person to tip their glasses up or down a bit to avoid the glare.

[@nativestrong7253]

Your flash speedlite name ends with a dash and a letter. That letter lets you know what brand that flash was made for. Every hot shoe is NOT the same. Buy accordingly.

[@gregshawphotography8828]

What happened to Kobra?

[@TheSlantedLens]

We don't know. Wish they were still around.

[@DaveInBridport]

On viciously you're trying to sell that flash but you give sound advice. Too many camera owners are chasing the latest tech rather than learning how to use their $4000 box of tricks.

[@curtisjones1987]

Dude you sound like stevo from jack ass

[@TheSlantedLens]

I must have been sick that day!

[@Thr3-Words]

JP Morgan!? Wow, you don’t look a day over 180, sir!

[@liauchungren848]

Wow, this bloke is using LUMIX with Westcott flash... Consider that as an ethnic minority lol

[@Man_Cave]

James or Jamie?

[@macbaar6073]

Sony users: manual use = no TTL. I am an Sony user and use Godox for Sony. Works fine.

[@TheSlantedLens]

There is a Westcott Speedlight FJ80se S that is made for Sony.

[@lucschoonjans4540]

@@TheSlantedLens just to clarify - the FJ80SE S (i.e., specifically made for Sony) does work in TTL mode, right? While the other ones are compatible with all the other brands (at least most of them). Did I get this right?

[@sidha22]

I use neewer Z1s with a6700, works beautifully.

[@steveg2417]

I use the Westcott FJ 80IIS (Sony) after my Godox failed. A bonus is that Westcott has amazing customer service that can help you get the most out of your system.

[@Kinadnuf]

Sorry, but this flash is NOT reasonably priced, it's seriously expensive! Love your videos but come on, it is not cheap! I was wrong! I mistakenly looked at the next model up (not SE) which is £345 in UK, found the SE model for around £200 - sorry, I apologise.

[@TheSlantedLens]

Yeah, it is reasonably priced and works great!

[@zachgoldsmith5642]

Very helpful video! Thank you.

[@gabriellescarbeau8857]

Amazing video! thank you!