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Troubleshooting
Why is my photo not properly exposed?
Consult the owner’s manuals for your ash and camera to understand how exposure decisions are made.
While the ControlTL system can greatly expand the operating range of Canon’s E-TTL II system, and over-
come inherent problems with an optical communication system, it does nothing with exposure decisions
made by the camera. Make certain your shooting situation allows enough direct or reected pre-ash to
be visible to the camera.
If you have more than one remote E-TTL II ash (either in basic E-TTL II mode or on one Canon group/zone
when using ratios) then it is one “piece of light.” If the camera can measure the output from one ash, but
does not see the other, it will make a calculation based on the light it sees. Both ashes will get sent the
same value from the camera and both ashes will trigger at that same value. This may not yield the results
you want. You may need to reposition the ashes to ensure the camera yields a proper exposure.
Why didn’t my remote flash trigger in the exposure?
Watch the remote ash as you trigger. If you see the small pre-ash happen, but not a 2nd ash, then
the camera decided not to use that ash in the exposure. The camera did not see enough of the pre-ash
to make a ash exposure calculation. The radios and ash are working properly. Reposition the ash or
subject so that the reected light will be more visible to the camera, or add another ash to provide more
pre-ash light for the camera to measure. If you are using a light modier on the remote ash, try adjust-
ing it to allow more light or consider removing it. Other questions to consider in your shooting scenario:
• Is the ambient light brighter than the pre-ash from the camera’s perspective?
• Is the pre-ash to subject distance too great or at too great an angle relative to the camera?
• Is the subject too small (not enough reected pre-ash reaching the camera) for the metering mode
selected in the camera?
