Flash recommendation

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wwulfsohn

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I am looking for a flash for my m8. I have 24, 50 and 90mm lenses. I would prefer something compact. Any suggestions/recommendations?
 
Please tell me a bit more about the Nikon SB-30. I assume it works well with the M8. Does it work like the Leica flash (TTL)? Does it work automatically or manually with different lenses?

Thank you.

Bill
 
If you want a small TTL flash then the choice seems to be the Leica SF24D. If you don't need or want TTL, then the SB-30 or the Leica SF20 would do the trick.
 
I was going to post this exact question a couple of weeks ago and the advice about the Nikon flash is helpful. The M8 is a great avilable light camera but there are the odd occasions where a small flash would be beneficial for me.
 
TTL Flash with the M8 is not that great. The problem is the pre flash. It is very bright and your pubjects tend to be squinting a bit when the real flash goes off. Also the pre flash intoroduces some shutter delay. It has improved with some of the updates but still not that great. This means to get reliable results use 'auto flash'. This works very well but remeber as the apperture is not coupled, if you change the f stop you have to manually change the flash setting. If you accept that the TTL is not worth the effort, there is actually quite a good choice. It is just anoying paying for functions that you do not need. Go for something small that does not unballance the camera. SF20's can be had fairly cheeply but no bounce option. I have not used an SB30 but it looks about the right size!

Richard
 
Metz has a series of flashes of varying power. Look at their website. Either settle for the traditional A non-TTL auto flashes which are controlled through a photocell on the flash itself (you have to set aperture on camera and flash) or go for TTL ( in the case of M8 it's really Guide Number Control ). Metz do a range of flashes which offer this when connected to a foot / base SCA adapter in the hotshoe. The Metz 44MZ2 digital flash looks quite compact, offers bounce flash and quite a high guide number and is fully dedicated through the SCA adapter. Cost of this unit and adaptor combined comes to less than the lower powered SF24D fixed reflector compact flash unit from Leica. So in summary, take a look at the Metz site (do a Google search). Personally I am using an older Leica SF20 (fully compatible in non-TTL auto modeand recommended by Leica UK but the TTL mode is unavailable as this flash predated digital. Best wishes, Tom
 
Has anyone tried the Nikon SB-400 AF ? Seems quite small and has bounce capability -- would be interesting...

Cheers,

Jim
 
I have the Sf24D (bought it used before the M8 came out) and like it. But I use it in A mode, not TTL. I have a boatload of little auto flashes which all work nicely with the M8, either on-camera or off (with an old Contax cord). I have never used any of the Nikon flashes because I don't have any, but what I do know is that all the contacts on the Nikons line up with those in the shoe of the M8, so I would wonder if there might be any chance of damaging or draining batteries.
 
I have never seen anyone with the M8, much less held one in my hands. However, you might want to consider the Sunpak 311 or its big brother (same size I think) the 411. Here is a 311 http://cgi.ebay.com/Sunpak-Auto-311...ryZ48549QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem. The 311 isn't all that big, folds over sideways and swivels. They have long been a favorite of mine when I wanted only a small flash. There was also a really small Vivtar that took an N size battery, but I dont' recall its nomenclature. If I can find one of mine at home I will add it. It is really small but has reasonable power for its size.

Someone mentioned that the TTL on the M8 was really just aperture control. If that is so, any flash will do and you can adjust aperture yourself. The 311's slider makes that really easy. If it isn't OTF, or OTsensor, I don't see much sense in paying extra for it.
 
I think it really depends on how much you need flash. The SF24 is fine for the odd bit of fill in but clearly limited. Most of my time with the M8 I get by with available light. What is good is that the SF24 does not unballance the camera. The cheaper metz units do have bounce but often do not swivel. This means in portrait mode you can not hit the ceiling! It may sound a bit OTT but actually i bought a studio head and reflector for relatively little outlay and if you really are using flash a lot then this takes some beating.

Richard
 
I use the SF24-D for fill, where the M-TTL comes in handy and works quite well. For real flash work I prefer an old Metz Z3 with SCA adapter on A, which manages to take flash pictures that don't look like flash. It cost only a few Euro on the Bay, the adapter is more expensive.


img_20080106_0076.jpg
 
Nikon SB-400 doesn't work with other camera brands

Nikon SB-400 doesn't work with other camera brands

Broke said:
Has anyone tried the Nikon SB-400 AF ?
Click to expand...

I have the SB-400, and unfortunately, it only works with Nikon cameras. I tried it on both my Ricoh GX100 and M8, and it doesn't work.
 
maybe an sb800 is too big but works fine, as does almost any of the Nikon predecessors type shoe mount flashes, ...even my old sb24 does the job, all of them in A mode only. these maybe too big for you.....
 
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