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A manual triggering system has two main advantages over a TTL system...

1. Control- A manual system has FOUR ways to control your flash output a TTL system has only ONE and is controlled by the computer on your camera. When you allow the camera to compute light it is very much like forcing yourself to shoot in P mode all the time. Most of us use M mode on our cameras because most of the time the camera does a terrible job of computing exposure according to our artistic taste and style. This will also be true with a TTL flash system. I find that when controlling multiple flashes for sophisticated lighting set ups, a Manual system is far more accurate and less frustrating. Once you lock in your manual settings, the exposures are rock solid and consistent so batch editing becomes consisted too. When shooting in TTL mode, exposures tend to bounce around from shot to shot just like shooting in P mode on your camera. Consistency is the key to control and that is what Manual does for you.

2. Cost! TTL flashes can cost you up to $500 each!!! A three flash system when using TTL can be very expensive, up to $2,500 or more. That same set up in a manual system can be had for around $500. So you can buy three flashes and a triggering system for the same cost of one Canon 580EXii or a Nikon SB900. Many photographers don't experiment and refine their multi-flash skills simply because it can cost too much if on a TTL system, however with a manual system it is so affordable, photographers can now start to integrate multi-strobe set ups and start to separate themselves from the competition creating work "Uncle Bill" or "Holly Hobby" will never create.

Most TTL enthusiasts will argue for high speed sync capability but I find that 99.9% of the time there is an easy work around using a Manual flash system.

Obviously many world class photographers use a manual system and many use a TTL system therefore both systems are very usable BUT if one system can create the same imagery for a fraction of the price and give me complete control- I'm gonna prefer a MANUAL system.

The manual vs. TTL debate kinda reminds me of the old Nikon vs Canon debates we use to have! In the end BOTH systems are adequate- that is why it makes an interesting topic!