Leica and Flash Revisited

[35mmdelux]

Let's face it, sometimes no light or we just want a flash shot. What flash unit can match my Leica gear? Say with 4 batteries so it has power and compact too. I know about the Leica SF20 and the V800. What say ye?

Or should I shoot Gilden style with a semi-large flash unit via connector cable? What say ye?

Thanks -- Paul

 

[Tuolumne]

I use a Nikon SB-27 with my r-d1. No reason it shouldn't work equally well on an M-body. It's a great little flash, originally made for the FM3a, so it has a legit all-mechanical blood line. In addition to it's ttl mode, which obviously only works with certain Nikon bodies, it has Auto and Manual modes. Powered by 4 batteries it has a decent recycle and charge life-time. Certainly much more than adequate for a camera that only gets 36 shots before having to reload. It also has a nice reflector for bounce mode, which is about the only way I will use a flash.

/T

 

[Gary E]

I use a simple Nikon SB-E that is powered by 4 AAA's. The recycle time is not that fast and can manage a few rolls. It covers up to 35mm FOV and the only mode I can use is automatic mode. I only need to adjust the aperture for the distance I'm shooting. So far it works for those situations that require a flash, but I don't usually use flash with most of my Leica photos. 🙄

 

[BobPS]

I use nikon SB22 and a canon off shoe cord . The sb22 is small, uses 4 AAA baterries and recyle times is pretty quick. It has Automatic mode, a wide angle adapter for use with 28mm lens and a flash head that can be tilted (bounced). That's how I use it: bounced and a small reflector card.

Bob

 

[waileong]

Metz 54MZ-3 or 4.

 

[newsgrunt]

vivitar 2800

 

[dfoo]

I use Nikon SB26's. Great flash, and has an optical slave if you happen to have 2 (like me!) and need a double blast!

 

[timpppa]

Hi!

Has anyone tried the new Leica SF58 flash on M6-tll or M7?
I think the price is a bit on the high side, but still thinking of buying one...

 

[Erik L]

i use this little one. it takes one AAA battery but has a very fast recharge cycle.

 

[FPjohn]

I use a "Quantaray" which is not as cute as the Osram and a Metz 34 CS-2. A descendent of the latter would be a good current choice.

yours
FPJ

 

[nzhang]

I just brought a nikon SB30 for about $50, It fits Leica M very well, and it can be folded down as a shade for view finder windows when you are not using it. The flash has very low output options for fill in in low light situations. For ISO 400 film, it can fill in at f2.8 within 2 meters.

 

[Al Kaplan]

The venerable Vivitar 283 and almost as old 285 get my vote. I have an extra battery holder for it, a couple of wood "dummy" batteries in one of them with about 30 inches of regular lamp cord connecting it to a microphone plug. A small cut-out in the sliding door lets the cord come through. Years ago I bought a 4 D cell battery tray from Radio Shack and epoxied a female microphone socket to the side. It fits in a belt pouch.

D cells cost about twice as much as AA cells but have EIGHT TIME the power. What kills batteries fast is the heat resulting from rapid discharge. It's about impossible to fire a 283 even on full power fast enough to heat up the D cells.

I mostly hold the Leica in my right hand, the flash in my left, and for direct flash I try to keep the light directly over the lens to minimize side shadow. I also keep half a dozen business cards under a rubber band on top of the flash head. Want to do ceiling bounce? Pull the top card part way out and bend it forward a bit to kick some fill light towards the subject. If the subject wants a card there's no fiddling in your pocket.

 

[J J Kapsberger]

Let's face it, sometimes...we just want a flash shot.

You perhaps; not I.

What say ye?

On-camera flash: where's the vomit smiley?

 

[35mmdelux]

TKS all for your suggestions. As to J.J.K. its not the smell of stop bath, its actually vomit on your dirty sneaker.

 

[35mmdelux]

PS: I may just stay with my off camera Metz 54MZ and my SF20 when travelling lite. TKS

 

[Dralowid]

When I bought my first and only new Leica the M6TTL was the current model so that's what I have. It came as kit with the SF20 flash. It was five years before I used this anti intuitive bit of kit but when I finally did I was impressed.

Mind you, I wish it tilted.

Michael

 

[J J Kapsberger]

TKS all for your suggestions. As to J.J.K. its not the smell of stop bath, its actually vomit on your dirty sneaker.

I see: you think now that you've figured out which ND filter goes with you Noctilux you're bright enough to match wits with me.

While I don't claim to have a very highly trained nose, I can tell the difference between stop bath and the inevitable, ineluctable result of viewing photos taken with on-camera flash.

 

[Al Kaplan]

Calm down gentlemen! Insults must be carefully worded and phrased so as to give maximum impact. Otherwise you may as well be having a computer generated bunch of random words in a forign language.

There are many reasons why one might choose direct flash. It maximizes the light for a distant subject, for one. Or when the art director says she wants a photo to look like it was shot for a 1950 tabloid. It's quick 'n dirty, but more than good enough to record family happenings with everybody facing the camera sporting big happy smiles, the kids opening their Christmas presents or the girls in their Easter finery. They really DON'T care about those shadows.

 

[Leica All Day]

Hello Paul......I use a half broken 54mz-3 (the zoom is broken, I think its stuck on 24 or 28mm) but I dont really care...it works...I hardly ever use it, but sometimes I need it...I have carried the thing with me around the world for the last 5 years and it still works..I use it on my m6ttl...but, to be honest, I probably haven't taken a picture with my flash in over a year, and I never carry it in my bag around Bangkok...but I do have it, and for those rare occasions, I will mount it on the camera....here are some examples...

Calcutta....India

Saigon...Vietnam

cheers....michael

 

[KM-25]

You perhaps; not I.



On-camera flash: where's the vomit smiley?

I take it you have never really explored the work of David Alan Harvey, William Albert Allard and other great Leica shooters who indeed use on camera flash...

Correctly.