Flash recommendations for M2/M3

[Riccis]

Hello:

I am using more and more M2s and M3s (instead of M7/MP) for my work and wanted to hear opinions/recommendations on what small flash and plug to get.

Please keep in mind that 98% of my work is available light so I just need something that is portable and reliable.

Here is some of my latest work shot only with M3s and Tri-X...

I'm also looking to buy a couple of more M2 and M3 bodies, so please contact me if you have any you want to sell.

Thanks!

 

[Jason Sprenger]

With an M2/M3, there's no hot shoe and worse the flash port is not a standard PC flash port. This means that you'll need at least an adapter or a repairman to change out the Leica port to a PC port and a piece of tape in the shoe so the flash doesn't short.

For a small flash on an RF, I like the Sunpak DS-20. It's a little flash with tilt, an auto mode, slave capability, with both hot shoe and PC cord triggering. The auto mode is designed for f4@ISO100, but I use it f8@ISO400. It takes 2-AA batteries.

ISO400 film helps extend the range of the flash to something reasonable (GN 59 @ ISO 100). It also lets me use the tilt and slip a business card as a bounce-card behind the tilting head as doing this I might need to open the aperture a bit to gather more light. But better to do that starting from f8 than f4.

The DS-20 is nicely small and compact. I carry one with each of my RF rigs, a 3 lens (35/2.5-50/2.5-90/3.5) system in a Domke F-5xa and a 3 lens (35/2-50/2-85/2) system in a Domke F-5xb. Adorama has them under "Slave Flash" for less than $40.

 

[telenous]

Hi Riccis,

Have a look on Vivitar 283/285. They are thyristor flashes with four auto settings, both powerful with tilt head movements - no swivel though. I use my 283 with a PC flash lead, however you do need a PC adapter on your M2/3 to use it. I sourced two of those on Eboy, they are fairly cheap, I bought the last one for $12 from the US. The Vivitars are/were very popular so there are all sorts of accessories, like a Varipower if you want to use them manually or an extension cord in you can plug in the sensor and use the flash off camera. I think I will buy another 283 or a 285 eventually, I just like them a lot. The only bad thing is that they don't balance very well - the M tends to turn upside down when hung from the strap.

I also have a Sunpak 383, it's smaller, still reasonably powerful, it tilts and swivels, balances a bit better on Ms, has also in-built variable power (instead of the distinct varipower unit for the Vivitars). On the downside it has only three auto settings (still sufficient I think) and it's a bit more difficult to find, and when you do it tends to be more expensive. You will also need a PC flash lead, again not entirely easy to find one, as they are generally rarer flashes (at least here in Europe) than the much more widespread Vivitars.

Last, there are all the huge thyristor hammerhead flash guns (I have a Sunpak 3600 which I bought for a song) with all the usual pros but one distinct con - you have to unscrew the bracket, to take out the bottom plate in order to change film.

Hope this helps,

 

[Riccis]

Cool... Thanks!

 

[Ronald_H]

I use the Nikon SB-30. Very small and has its own light sensor so using it is a breeze on all my manual cameras, including an M2, a Canonet and my stable of F-mount Nikons. It even works on my D200!

You need a hotshoe adapter and a sync plug, I both got them on eBay for next to nothing. Highly recommended.

 

[Vincenzo Maielli]

With my M2 and M3 i use a Rowi 924 adapter, in order to use the standard flash connecting cables with the not standard M2/M3 flash socket. Work very fine.
Ciao.
Vincenzo Maielli