Using P-TTL off camera

I want to experiment with P-TTL off camera. I have a Sigma 610 super and a Pentax 540. I had always been under the impression that the P-TTL system wasn't to effective and that wireless triggers were not available to suit. I have an outdoor shoot in a couple of weeks and thought If I could master the process, it would save a lot of metering time. Has anyone mastered the P-ttl system off camera and what are your views on it ? What did you use to fire the flash guns ? Do you get consistent results ?

Stuart,
There are no radio triggers for PTTL.
The only wireless option is line of sight from the popup (depending on model) or additional flash as master.
Outdoors it's not that reliable, especially if you are using a brolly etc. The slave may not see the command. I used it once.

Personally, I use M mode or A mode flash for any set up scenario. I get the exposure in two or three shots and everything is setup from then on. PTTL is fine for making a quick stab at exposure or where ambient light changes quickly. Full M mode is by far the best for control - manual flash, manual camera I use the Cactus radio triggers - nice for out of line of sight stuff.

Matt

(My ebook could help too!)

Plus one to that

Hi Stuart

OK, in answer to your question the first point is the K7 & K5 are really hit and miss with P-TTL. However, There is a trigger made by Aokatec that will fire flash wirelessly in P-TTL mode http://www.aokatec.com/Product.html I have not used them, so i can't provide any feedback in relation to how effective they are. Have you thought about using a P-TTL lead? You could join two 3 meter leads together, that would give you plenty of room to move about.

Your best option however, would be to shoot in manual, you will get precise flash results as long as the lighting, subject and photographer don't change from the set up. You will also have more control of creating the look you are after, perhaps mixing flash with ambient. If you plan to use flash outdoors you can create some nice looks combining a variable ND with flash. see post i made a few weeks ago https://www.pentaxuser.com/forum/topic/daffodils--some-spring-sunshine---a-vari-...

Don't be intimidated by manual flash, if you practice using your camera and flash in manual you will get the basics in an hour or two and then you can build up from there.

Regards

Fletcher8

Thanks for the replies guys. You have confirmed in all honesty what I already knew.(Except for the Aokatec trigger) But it is nice to know im on the right track. I'm not afraid of manual flash at all. Just find that when im mixing with ambient light. I find myself constantly metering. Being generally lazy I thought I could cut this down somewhat. Which was why I got the Pentax AF540. Looks like I was mistaken.

Hi Stuart

If you are using a Pentax AF540 in P-TTL mode and just want quick effective flash that looks subtle have you tried this?

Use a bounce card on your flash, Flashbender works really well with this technique, -1 or -1.7 EV on the flash and you will get some fairly good looking images without a lot of effort. However, occasionally the K5 will just come out with some totally random flash exposure.