Out to Lunch
Ventor
I'd like to buy a flash for use with the Leica M6 TTL. Saw on BHPhoto the Leica SF 26 and the Metz. Any advice on either? Also where can I find general tips on shooting with a flash on the M6? Many thanks for your feedback. Peter
madNbad
Well-known
The SF-20 and SF-24D are designed to work with the flash circuit in the M6 TTL. The ISO reader on the back of the camera will set the ISO on the flash and there is a lightning bolt indicator in the viewfinder that flashes when a proper amount of light has reached the sensor in the camera. The disadvantage to both of these flashes is a fixed flash reflector so the only way you can bounce the flash is to use an off camera cord such as a Nikon SB-28 which will transmit the TTL signal. The Metz 54 series and the newer 58 will both work with the TTL in your M6 but they are almost as large as the camera itself. 54 MZ-3/4 with the Leica foot can be found for bargain prices and they work quite well, have plenty of power and use standard AA batteries. Unlike the M7 and other cameras with TTL flash, the M6 is not capable of High Speed Sync (HSS) and it simply shuts the flash off when enough light has reached the sensor, there is no pre flash. When you look at the contacts in the hot shoe, the bottom two and the upper left are live. The other upper right is not live on the M6 TTL. I'm not sure about the SF-26 which was designed for the Leica T. It looks like a nice size but I'm not sure if it's compatible with the M6 mostly because it relays information through the screen on the back of a digital camera and there is no way to enter any setting on the flash itself. I hope this helps and if you need any more information just send a PM. Good luck and have fun.