Need flash for M6 (non-TTL) suggestions

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bibimbap

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I'd been using (and now lost) a simple 2-AA battery Nikon SB-9 flash with my
M6. Now it's lost, and before I hunt for another, I'm wondering what others are using.
Small and light (like the SB-9) is essential. Is the Leica SF-20 worth it for a non-TTL camera?
Eager to hear your suggestions and experiences.
Thanks.
 
Small and light? The flash for the Hexar AF, the HX-14, fits the bill. Small enough to be carried in a jacket pocket or camera bag. If you look at the Hexar silver, it looks like a silver M. I think that's why the flash fits it so well. It's what I use on my M6 non-TTL when I don't want to carry a bounce-capable flash.
 
If they hadn't discontinued the thing, I would recommend this:

http://tinyurl.com/yfk2om

Of course, the fact that Metz was charging a shocking amount of money for it might have hastened its disappearance, but I think 34 CS 2 was a great combination of relative compactness, power, and versatility (including built-in slave-flash function). You might check either eBay or the usual photo-retail suspects for used or NOS examples. There are probably other possibilities, but this one came to mind first and foremost.

(Edit: As Nick mentions above, a Konica HX-18 will work great as well, if you can find one; they show up on the 'Bay occasionally)


- Barrett
 
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The Leica SF flashes are nice, but way too expensive, especially for use on nonTTL cameras. I use a tiny Nikon SB 30, which is about the same size as the Hexar model Nick recommends. It has manual power settings down to 1/32, which I find very useful. It also has two auto aperture settings which work fine. It runds on a CR123A lithium battery, which lasts a really long time, especially with the lower power settings I use. Not quite as convenient as AA's, but the faster battery is a trade off I happily live with. I use this on a little flash adapter with a coiled sync cord plugged into the back of the camera, and if I need to I can move it off camera quick and easy-like.
 
My new SB-30 just arrived, what a small cute thing it is. It appears to have a lot of features/possible settings. I am finding the mir.com page referenced above by Nick R. very useful in starting to learn how to use this flash. Just in case though, could someone who's used it with the M7 be kind enough to post one set of camera/flash settings that work, i.e. something more-or-less fool-proof? I normally have ISO 400 film loaded. It will probably take me a few rolls of over/underexposed film before I get the hang of the SB-30, in the meantime it would be nice to have something that works for sure. Thanks in advanca.
 
Have a look at the Sunpak 633A (I think that's the #) It is small but has a tilting head for bounce, takes two AA batteries and works really well. I also had the HX14 but this has the bounce feature which makes it more versatile and it is cirtually as compact as the Konica.
 
Have a look at the Sunpak 633A (I think that's the #) It is small but has a tilting head for bounce, takes two AA batteries and works really well. I also had the HX14 but this has the bounce feature which makes it more versatile and it is virtually as compact as the Konica.
 
What about Sanpak Auto 383 Super ? I have one, bought for my former 6x6 TLR, but now consider it for my M6 Classic. Anyone use this flash on M6 ?
 
I use the Sunpak 383 with a Nikon SP (similar size camera to an M6). It's a bit larger than some of the flashes described above, but it's my favorite flash. Shooting ISO 400, the auto setting for f/4 results in f/2.8 when used for indoor bounce flash, which allows plenty of ambient light. The tilt and swivel function is fantastic. It allows you to bounce off of walls, ceilings, floors, even the wall behind you. I know a sync-cord will allow off-camera flash with other models, but the swivel means you've always got the auto-sensor aiming at your subject for an accurate reading.
 
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