Flash for off-camera use on m8?

[Sputty]

Hi all,

Looking for affordable options for an off-camera flash setup for use with my M8 and Mamiya 6.

I'm completely new to the world of flash. What equipment do I need to use the flash off-camera, preferably cable-less, hand-held. Are there remote triggering attachments I can buy?

Thanks for any and all advice.

~jonathon

 

[Vince Lupo]

Pocket Wizard would be something worth looking into -- it's infinitely expandable, wireless, and utterly reliable. Not the cheapest solution however!

 

[bolohead]

strobist.com has a wealth of knowledge on the use of off camera flash.

 

[kzphoto]

I've been shooting off-camera with a TTL cable for the last year or so, with really great results. Cable in use is a Nikon SC-17 with a Leica SF-20 flash.

Things to be aware of -
1-You're taking up the hot shoe, so you can't use an external VF when shooting an M camera. Even with a double shoe adapter, there is no way (to my knowledge) to use a TTL cable and an external VF
2-Shadows - lots and lots of shadows will become present in your image(s). Learn to love them.
3- TTL vs "A" (automatic) mode - Work about the same when the flash is on the cable. Pictures presented here are shot with a mixture of A mode / TTL.

Here's a few from NYE 2010.

 

[dfoo]

There doesn't have to be such obvious shadows if you bounce the flash (judicious use of a bounce card also helps).

 

[kzphoto]

There doesn't have to be such obvious shadows if you bounce the flash (judicious use of a bounce card also helps).

I use the flash on a TTL cable in my hand, so the shadows are always changing. I am aware the visible shadows can be eliminated with a 2nd light source (on camera) but I really don't see the point. I like the look.

 

[Luke_Miller]

I use the flash on a TTL cable in my hand, so the shadows are always changing. I am aware the visible shadows can be eliminated with a 2nd light source (on camera) but I really don't see the point. I like the look.

I use a similar setup. I only find the shadow on the wall in the shot on the right distracting and I try to avoid that if possible. But (of course) what constitutes "good" or interesting lighting is in the eye of the photographer.

 

[MCTuomey]

I've done both the cable+handheld flash and the Pocket Wizard+handheld flash. The PW is so flexible - you can put the flash on sideboards, cabinets, etc set to bounce - and just shoot unencumbered. But it's expensive: PW 2x plus a flash (I use one of the Viv 285s I've got sitting around).

The corded flash works nice set to ttl with about -2 flash compensation - gives pleasing fill vs the hard shadow look.

 

[Renzsu]

I can vaguely remember a story about how you can't just use old flashes on the M8 or M9 or you'll risk frying the camera internals.. of course I found out about that AFTER I had fired some test shots with an old Olympus flash on my M8 (nothing bad happened btw). Is there some truth to this story?

 

[afineman]

I use the same old sunpak 383 super that I have been using for years. with a simple pc cord and a hot shoe to pc adapter (that allows me to use an external viewfinder). Mind you I never could figure out any of that so called auto ttl flash stuff, manual mode works fine for me.

(this was taken with a M8)