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i-TTL Flash Control
Natural-looking flash exposures are easily influenced by ambient
lighting, so it was long assumed that a flash system could never work
consistently, especially if a scene’s ambient light was changing. Nikon’s
i-TTL system, however, meters every new exposure, tailor-making new
output levels before every image — something no one else can claim.
Milliseconds before the main flash, Nikon Speedlights such as SB-800,
SB-600 or SB-R200 emit a monitor pre-flash, which reflects off every
object in the frame, sending the five-segment i-TTL flash sensor and
RGB sensor data such as available light and shadow, subject distance,
reflectance and color temperature. This information, along with data
from the Matrix Metering system, is analyzed to adjust flash output for
the most balanced background/foreground exposure possible. All of
this complex processing happens in a fraction of a second before each
exposure, underlining why Nikon’s flash control system offers
unprecedented levels of precision and performance.
Even in backlit situations, i-TTL flash control achieves pleasing light
without washing out the main subject — something that frequently
happens with other flash systems.
Creative Lighting System
Beautiful pictures start with the right light. The Nikon Creative Lighting
System — available in Speedlights such as the SB-800, SB-600 and
close-up lighting system R1C1/R1 — combines studio-quality lighting
with the intuitive simplicity and freedom of wireless capability. With
i-TTL at its core, the system gives you consistently accurate exposures
in even the most difficult lighting situations. Moreover, being wireless
means you can set up as many Speedlights as you like, anywhere you
like. On the ground or on the ceiling, i-TTL makes it work, every time.
And what truly separates the Creative Lighting System from all other
camera makers is the ability to make remote adjustments to individual
Speedlight groups. It’s as simple as pushing a button on the
commander. Complex, professional-looking results, made simple.
Group A: Illuminates
from the rear
Group B: Illuminates
from the front
On-camera Commander
Dancer
Equipment positioning to take the above photo.
Control the settings of each individual
group from the commander unit.
D-TTL
i-TTL
Monitor pre-flash
Main flash
(1-2 times; depending on
subject conditions)
With i-TTL, high output pre-flash fires in a short period of time for efficiency.
Comparison of monitor pre-flashes with i-TTL and D-TTL
(3-18 times)
13
Shutter
release
© Joe McNally
© Joe McNally
