How to use Nikon SB-800 on M6 TTL?

[polleke]

I have both a Nikon SB-800 flash unit and a Leica M6 TTL.
Tomorrow night I will attend a party, where I would like to shoot some Kodachrome 64 slides. I expect there will be some (really) low light situations so -for a change- I will (have to) use flash on the M6, since my film is only 64 ASA.

First question: can I use the SB-800 on the M6 without damaging the electronics? (I guess so because it is a modern flash unit, but ask just to be sure)

Second, what settings on both M6 and SB-800 should I use? Would you set the SB-800 on TTL? TTL-BL? AA? or even M? And the M6, fixed shutter speed on 1/60th and aperture f/8?

Any input welcome and thanks in advance for your thoughts.

 

[gregg]

While the SB-800 seems to have the same TTL connections as the M6-TTL the internals don't work the same... You can use a Nikon extension/flex cable with Leica/Metz flashes, but that is only a conincidence of an identical wiring pattern.

I don't think the SB-800 will damage the M6-TTL or vise versa. Others may want to sound off here.

You will be best sticking with AA and M modes. I use AA mode with my other flashes - just find an f-stop you can live with at the distances you expect to shoot in and go for it. There will be some hit and miss but in my experience it is just as accurate as fiddling with M unless you really get the distances spot on...

 

[gregg]

Oh yeah, you need to set the M6-TTL to the "red arrow" setting between 1/30 and 1/60 - it is 1/50. You are likely to not have full-frame flash coverage if you set to 1/60 or higher...

 

[35mmdelux]

All I can say is good luck given the unforgiving characteristics of K64. You're suppose to expose K64 to 1/3 of a stop. I doubt that untried you may hit the mark.

Whatever the case, try bounce flash and/or bounce card to defuse to lights impact. Use 1/30 to get some of the background.

good luck -

 

[drewbarb]

35mmdelux is right about the unforgiving nature of K64 (and all chrome/positive film, really) where exposure is concerned, so you'll have to be pretty good with your technique to get good exposures. Also, I would strongly recommend that you use a diffuser of some sort over the flash head. This will generally make your light much more flattering, but might make exposure more difficult.

Another point I'd like to stress in the strongest possible terms is to NOT try to use any TTL mode on the flash unit- it will fry the electronics in the camera. Nikon and Leica's TTL flash systems use the same cable patterns, but this is coincidence, and it's where the similarities end. The electronic signals and voltage are not compatible at all. Your Leica M6TTL will only do TTL flash with a Leica unit or a Metz unit with the Leica module. This said, your Nikon SB-800 will work fine in auto aperture or manual modes. I'd suggest using the auto aperture mode for best results, especially with a diffuser in place- something like the Sto-fen Omni Bounce is a really good option. I use these a lot in wedding and event photography.

The last point I'd make is that while the fastest speed you M6TTL will sync is indeed 1/50th, I routinely shoot with flash at slower speeds- I trypically use 1/15th and 1/30th, and often even slower speeds. This will help bring up the available light in the background, so your backgrounds aren't all black. The flash will cause some blurring, so be selective, but it can be a nice effect, especially at 1/30th. I do this regularly with a flash unit that has low manual power settings, and I can shoot wide apertures and slow speeds and almost balance the flash output to the low ambient light levels, and get really good exposures that take advantage of the flash's ability to freeze action to get sharp shots. I haven't used the TTL M6 model, so I'm not sure if it will allow you to shoot flash at speeds other than the 1/50th sync speed, so that might be a limiting factor.

Anyway, be careful, and try to test your technique if you can before doing important shots, but don't believe the folks who tell you you should never use flash with your Leica. It's a great tool to help you get the shots you want- nothing more and nothing less. But like any great tool, it works best when you aply careful and correct usage. Good luck.

(edited for spelling and grammar!)

 

[35mmdelux]

"I haven't used the TTL M6 model, so I'm not sure if it will allow you to shoot flash at speeds other than the 1/50th sync speed, so that might be a limiting factor."

Only the M7 will sync faster than 1/50 TTL. The M7 syncs at 1/50 AND 1/250 thru 1/1000 with flagship Metz flash unit MZ54 with Leica adapter.

For reasons unknown to me M7 does not sync at 1/125 at all.

 

[drewbarb]

I know the M7 will allow flash sync faster than 1/50th with the right Metz unit. What I'm un-sure about is whether the M6 TTL will trigger a flash at speeds SLOWER than the 1/50th sync speed, to use the fill technique I mentioned. I seem to recall conflicting reports about this. I know it's no trick with older Leicas, but I'm not familiar with the TTL models. I think I recall that the TTL flash mode will only work at the 1/50th sync speed (aside from the HSS 35mmdelux mentions on the M7)- the real question I have is if you can shoot at slow speeds with non-TTL flash modes. Anyone familiar with this? I don't mean to hi-jack this thread- just hope it'll be helpful to polleke.