Fujifilm: Flash & TTL
Fuji is not known for its flash system. The only reason I can use the Fujis for work is the Godox flash system that works very well with Fuji. I need wireless remote.
My main setup is a Fuji X-H2s and a Fuji X-PRO2 as backup. Then I use the Godox X1T-F as the master on the camera and a combination of Godox flashes with TT385 and TT685.
People who want to impress other photographers will say, I only shoot manual and “Grown-ups don’t need no stinking TTL!”
It’s all fine and dandy when you can light a small place and the subject stays in that small area that is properly illuminated but when things (actually people and animals) move, then TTL is a “godsend”.
With TTL, the camera ask the flash to flash a very small quantity, the camera analyses the data and sends back to the flash asking for a quantity of light that it will need.
The problem with TTL is that often it’s different from photo to photo, even with the same subject and the same background. Either the photographer moved, or the subject moved, or the subject background ratio changed…
Tip
Just like regular automated exposure, the camera analyzes the light to 18% grey. It will get fooled by large areas of bright or by large areas of dark.
This is where Flash Exposure Compensation FEC comes in. It’s identical to the camera exposure compensation.
Sometimes, I have found my correct TTL combination and I want to keep, so I switch to manual. Both Profoto and Godox have some triggers that will convert the TTL exposure to a manual exposure, but only for some triggers and for some flashes.
Fuji can do this in the camera. It has 2 alternatives:
- SHOOTING MENU > LOCK WITH LAST FLASH
Which means:
Set the flash to the value metered for the last photo and do NOT change it any more.
and
- SHOOTING MENU > LOCK WITH METERING FLASH
Which means:
Meter for the flash and do NOT change it any more after that metering.