Post by USM on Nov 23, 2006 17:06:06 GMT 8
Canon introduced the E-TTL II in 2004 with the launched of EOS 1D mk II and EOS 30v. There are 2 key areas of improvement over the E-TTL.
Firstly, the improved flash metering algorithms. The E-TTL II examines all evaluative metering zones both before and after the pre-flash goes off. Those areas with relatively small changes in brightness are then weighted for flash metering. E-TTL II uses evaluative algorithms for its flash metering.
Secondly, E-TTL II uses distance data when it’s available. Many EF lenses (even though not all) contain rotary encoders that can detect the current focus distance. For example, if your camera is focused on an object 5m away then the lens will send this approximate focus distance data to the camera body. Under certain conditions the distance data is factored into the calculations for determining proper flash output. This is particularly useful if you use the focus and recompose method without setting FEL - the new system can help minimize flash metering errors under these conditions.
However, distance data is not always used by E-TTL II. There are 3 situations in which distance data is not used, aside from the lens doesn’t provide it. These three conditions are bounce flash, macro flash and wireless E-TTL flash.
Why is that so? When you bounce your flash upwards or tilted downwards, there is no way for the camera to know the distance the light took to reach the subject from the flash. Light will be scattered off from the object that you used to bounce such as walls, ceilings, reflectors, and thus it would not travel straight to the subject.
For macro flash, you are too close to the subject for the lens to determine the useful information.
Lastly, the camera has no idea where is the flash unit placed in relation to the subject when you are using wireless E-TTL II flash.
These are the EOS camera bodies supporting E-TTL II :
EOS 1D mk II
EOS 20D / 20a
EOS 350D
EOS 1Ds mk II
EOS 1D mk II N
EOS 5D
EOS 30D
EOS 400D
EOS 30v
All EX series speedlites support E-TTL II :
220EX
380EX
550EX
420EX
580EX
430EX
MR-14EX
MT-24EX
These are the lenses capable of providing distance data :
EF 14mm 2.8L USM
EF 20mm 2.8 USM
EF 24mm 1.4L USM
EF 28mm 1.8 USM
EF 35mm 1.4L USM
MP-E 65mm 2.8 1-5x Macro
EF 85mm 1.2 II L
EF 85mm 1.8 USM
EF 100mm 2 USM
EF 100mm 2.8 Macro USM
EF 100mm 2.8 Macro (discontinued)
EF 135mm 2L USM
EF 180mm 3.5L Macro USM
EF 200mm 2.8L II USM
EF 200mm 2.8L USM (discontinued)
EF 300mm 2.8L IS USM
EF 300mm 4L IS USM
EF 300mm 4L USM (discontinued)
EF 400mm 2.8L IS USM
EF 400mm 4 DO IS USM
EF 400mm 5.6L USM
EF 500mm 4L IS USM
EF 600mm 4L IS USM
EF 1200mm 5.6L USM
EF 16-35mm 2.8L USM
EF 17-35mm 2.8L USM (discontinued)
EF 17-40mm 4L USM
EF 20-35mm 3.5-4.5 USM
EF 24-70mm 2.8L USM
EF 24-85mm 3.5-4.5 USM
EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM
EF 28-70mm 2.8L USM (discontinued)
EF 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 USM (discontinued)
EF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 USM (discontinued)
EF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 II USM
EF 28-105mm 4-5.6 USM
EF 28-105mm 4-5.6
EF 28-135mm 3.5-5.6 IS USM
EF 28-200mm 3.5-5.6 USM
EF 28-200mm 3.5-5.6 (discontinued)
EF 28-300mm 3.5-5.6L IS USM
EF 35-135mm 4-5.6 USM (discontinued)
EF 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM
EF 70-200mm 2.8L USM
EF 70-200mm 4L USM
EF 70-210mm 3.5-4.5 USM (discontinued)
EF 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
EF 90-300mm 4.5-5.6 USM
EF 90-300mm 4.5-5.6
EF 100-300mm 4.5-5.6 USM
EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM
EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 USM (Japan only)
EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6
EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 II
EF-S 60mm 2.8 USM macro
EF-S 17-55mm 2.8 IS USM
EF-S 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS USM
EF-S 10-22mm 3.5-4.5 USM
Firstly, the improved flash metering algorithms. The E-TTL II examines all evaluative metering zones both before and after the pre-flash goes off. Those areas with relatively small changes in brightness are then weighted for flash metering. E-TTL II uses evaluative algorithms for its flash metering.
Secondly, E-TTL II uses distance data when it’s available. Many EF lenses (even though not all) contain rotary encoders that can detect the current focus distance. For example, if your camera is focused on an object 5m away then the lens will send this approximate focus distance data to the camera body. Under certain conditions the distance data is factored into the calculations for determining proper flash output. This is particularly useful if you use the focus and recompose method without setting FEL - the new system can help minimize flash metering errors under these conditions.
However, distance data is not always used by E-TTL II. There are 3 situations in which distance data is not used, aside from the lens doesn’t provide it. These three conditions are bounce flash, macro flash and wireless E-TTL flash.
Why is that so? When you bounce your flash upwards or tilted downwards, there is no way for the camera to know the distance the light took to reach the subject from the flash. Light will be scattered off from the object that you used to bounce such as walls, ceilings, reflectors, and thus it would not travel straight to the subject.
For macro flash, you are too close to the subject for the lens to determine the useful information.
Lastly, the camera has no idea where is the flash unit placed in relation to the subject when you are using wireless E-TTL II flash.
These are the EOS camera bodies supporting E-TTL II :
EOS 1D mk II
EOS 20D / 20a
EOS 350D
EOS 1Ds mk II
EOS 1D mk II N
EOS 5D
EOS 30D
EOS 400D
EOS 30v
All EX series speedlites support E-TTL II :
220EX
380EX
550EX
420EX
580EX
430EX
MR-14EX
MT-24EX
These are the lenses capable of providing distance data :
EF 14mm 2.8L USM
EF 20mm 2.8 USM
EF 24mm 1.4L USM
EF 28mm 1.8 USM
EF 35mm 1.4L USM
MP-E 65mm 2.8 1-5x Macro
EF 85mm 1.2 II L
EF 85mm 1.8 USM
EF 100mm 2 USM
EF 100mm 2.8 Macro USM
EF 100mm 2.8 Macro (discontinued)
EF 135mm 2L USM
EF 180mm 3.5L Macro USM
EF 200mm 2.8L II USM
EF 200mm 2.8L USM (discontinued)
EF 300mm 2.8L IS USM
EF 300mm 4L IS USM
EF 300mm 4L USM (discontinued)
EF 400mm 2.8L IS USM
EF 400mm 4 DO IS USM
EF 400mm 5.6L USM
EF 500mm 4L IS USM
EF 600mm 4L IS USM
EF 1200mm 5.6L USM
EF 16-35mm 2.8L USM
EF 17-35mm 2.8L USM (discontinued)
EF 17-40mm 4L USM
EF 20-35mm 3.5-4.5 USM
EF 24-70mm 2.8L USM
EF 24-85mm 3.5-4.5 USM
EF 24-105mm 4L IS USM
EF 28-70mm 2.8L USM (discontinued)
EF 28-80mm 3.5-5.6 USM (discontinued)
EF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 USM (discontinued)
EF 28-105mm 3.5-4.5 II USM
EF 28-105mm 4-5.6 USM
EF 28-105mm 4-5.6
EF 28-135mm 3.5-5.6 IS USM
EF 28-200mm 3.5-5.6 USM
EF 28-200mm 3.5-5.6 (discontinued)
EF 28-300mm 3.5-5.6L IS USM
EF 35-135mm 4-5.6 USM (discontinued)
EF 70-200mm 2.8L IS USM
EF 70-200mm 2.8L USM
EF 70-200mm 4L USM
EF 70-210mm 3.5-4.5 USM (discontinued)
EF 70-300mm 4.5-5.6 DO IS USM
EF 90-300mm 4.5-5.6 USM
EF 90-300mm 4.5-5.6
EF 100-300mm 4.5-5.6 USM
EF 100-400mm 4.5-5.6L IS USM
EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 USM (Japan only)
EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6
EF-S 18-55mm 3.5-5.6 II
EF-S 60mm 2.8 USM macro
EF-S 17-55mm 2.8 IS USM
EF-S 17-85mm 4-5.6 IS USM
EF-S 10-22mm 3.5-4.5 USM