Leica M240 and flash?

[Tonkatsu-Dog]

All,

I have been asked to photograph a work event. Usually I prefer natural light but this time I need to capture drunk people on a boat at night so a flash might come handy!

What flashes are there out there that works with the m240? Any other makers than Leica that are compatible? I don't want to spend 300-500$ on a Leica branded flash I will use 3 times!

Roughly speaking the requirements is bottom dollar cost and if possible directional so I can bounce it!

Anything else to consider?

Thanks

 

[noisycheese]

My flash set up for my M-P 240 is an ancient Nikon SB-25 coupled with a Phottix Ares wireless flash trigger set: http://www.amazon.com/Phottix-PH892...8&qid=1440512447&sr=8-1&keywords=phottix+ares

With the Ares, any flash made is compatible with the M240/M-P. You get the added benefit of off camera flash, which does away with red eye and it lets you move the shadows where you want to put them, avoiding the "Phantom of the Opera" shadows that come with camera mounted flash. Since your flash will be off camera with this setup, you can use any surface you want to bounce the light. You can hold the flash in one hand or set it on a flat surface, or you can ask a friend to serve as your self propelled flash stand and show them where to aim the flash unit. That way, you have both hands free to operate the camera.

You could use the Vivitar 283 flash http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/600856-REG/Vivitar_DF_283_SON_DF_283_Series_1.html with the Ares, which would give you a capable and affordable ($107.00) flash set to use with your M240.

 

[bobby_novatron]

I bought a "Yongnou" TTL flash last year, it's a Chinese-made knock-off of the Canon 580 Speedlite. Ridiculously inexpensive, especially considering the performance. It has TTL metering (not applicable for the M 240) but the flash also works well in AUTO mode. You just set the focal length and the flash reads the ambient light. It also has SLAVE mode for remote triggering. It use the Yongnuo in tandem with my Canon Speedlite for a cheap wireless set-up.

There are several Yongnuo flash models, all various "copies" of Canon flashes to an extent. Many of the models have tilt and swivel heads for bounce flash -- very handy. I also find the refresh time of the Yongnuo to be very fast. Just make sure you have a good set of AA batteries, they can get used up quickly. FWIW I use high-capacity NiMH batteries and they work well.

What noisycheese said is true, it's nice to get the off-axis flash so the images look more natural. With the Leica M 240 it would be a good idea to try out some off-axis flash placement (with wireless trigger) BEFORE the event so you get the right settings / distance for the flash + camera.

Here's a pic of the Yongnuo. Not the easiest name to pronounce, but hey -- for $69 brand-new, you can't go wrong.

 

[Godfrey]

I use an el cheapo Cactus V2 RF trigger (transmit on the camera, receiver on the flash) and any one of the several generic flash units.

It's helpful to bring along a cheap, simple light stand, suction cup device, etc, so you can have the flash held off camera and have both hands on your camera ... Or use a willing passerby as a human light stand. A fold-up 15" diffuser/reflector is also nice to have.

Like you, I use a flash so infrequently when I'm not in my home when I'm doing table top work that I see no point to buying an expensive, dedicated one.

G

 

[jaapv]

All,

I have been asked to photograph a work event. Usually I prefer natural light but this time I need to capture drunk people on a boat at night so a flash might come handy!

What flashes are there out there that works with the m240? Any other makers than Leica that are compatible? I don't want to spend 300-500$ on a Leica branded flash I will use 3 times!

Roughly speaking the requirements is bottom dollar cost and if possible directional so I can bounce it!

Anything else to consider?

Thanks

Basically any flash with a hot shoe and auto function is fine. I really like old Metz flashes with an SCA 3502 adapter, as they will communicate with the camera and set flash sync speed and will do confirmation in the viewfinder. Some of the later models will even zoom the flash reflector automatically.

BTW, you do not have to worry about high trigger voltages on Leica M cameras. They are rated for 600 V.

 

[Tonkatsu-Dog]

Thanks for the kind replies all. Ideally I would like to have the off camera flash set up suggested by noisycheese. Then I could scare the heck out of ppl Bruce Gilden style!

But I am not a flash shooter so I am not too keen on throwing any money at it. I had a nice flash for my old Nikon kit but ended up only using it 2-3 times over 6 years.

I managed to borrow a lens from a work buddy, its not a leica lens so I assume the TTL won't work but it should be good enough for a night!

 

[Tonkatsu-Dog]

So the event is tomorrow and I am sitting here with the flash my buddy was kind enough to lend me and it won't trigger in manual mode. Its a Sony N50 set to manual, camera is set all manually 1/60. Seems camera doesn't recognise the flash.

Any ideas? Am I missing something? I read the manual but doesn't mention any other set ups needed as I can see.

Yes I know I should had checked the functionality of the camera/flash earlier and not the night before the event!

 

[Robert Lai]

Any flash should work through the hot shoe. Otherwise, get a PC cord and use that. The flash can then be set to "auto" mode, or by the use of good old fashioned guide numbers in manual mode.

 

[jaapv]

The hot shoe can be a bit awkward. try pushing the flash in further.

 

[Jason Sprenger]

Borrow another flash NOW!!! If you can.

Sony and Minolta flashes may have a proprietary flash shoe that may not work with the hot shoe on the M240 as most other flash units.

Even if it is supposed to work, if you can't get it to work, it's just as useless.

And if you borrow another flash, check to be sure it has a NON-DEDICATED manual mode. I remember a Canon 420EX flash that didn't which was a problem.

 

[jaapv]

My favorites are the classic Metz flashes for SCA 300 and SCA 3000. And of those the 32CT7 is the perfect match for the M. The user interface is brilliant and even the design mimics the M. Either adapter 351 (Leica R) or 343(Nikon) will work to set sync speed.

 

[Ben Z]

My favorite flash with the M240 is the Leica SF24D used in AUTO (not TTL) mode. Camera sets the ISO, I set the aperture on the flash and lens. By using a smaller aperture on the lens than is set on the flash I can do fill. A Stofen Omnibounce "C" (made originally for Canon 380EX, Metz 40MZ2 and 54MZ3 and 4 among others) fits over the flash head and provides softened light which I find as effective as bounce.

My next favorite is the Metz 54MZ3 (which are pretty cheap these days) used in AUTO-sensor mode. Wth the Leica R8 module (any version) it receives ISO info from the camera.

After that come a host of really cheap old bounce-head Vivitar and Sunpak flashes.

Finally I have a couple Olympus S20 flashes, which are clones of the Leica CF (for Minilux) and Konica (for Hexar RF). Very tiny, 2 AA batts last forever, has 2 AUTO aperture settings.

A Nikon SC17 cord is also in my bag for taking them off-camera.

The biggest prob with flash on the M240 is (unless you get the obnoxiously expensive and to me bulky multi-function grip) it precludes using the EVF. As I almost never use mine, it's not a big drawback, but for some people it might be.

I have a Nikon SB24 lying around somewhere, which would work in AUTO mode also, however I prefer the Metz 54MZ3 due to the ISO info exchange. Both those flashes are to me rather unweildy on the M240 though.

 

[Tonkatsu-Dog]

All,

Thank you very much for the advice on this. I ended up shooting without a flash as I just didn't have time to source a new one.

The event was over two working days with night activities and really the first time I shot something like this.

I made some observations : ( a bit offtopic)
1. A camera, actually any camera really stands out in a corporate setting and will generate lots of comments. Me and another guy was shooting the event with him using a canon kiss, we both got approached a lot about the cameras as ppl wasn't expecting that.
2. Then there are the few people who actually knows Leica and they wanted to touch it a lot, they where also happy to tell everyone willing to listen how expensive it is and sometimes it got a bit embarrassing to be honest.
3. Most people where happy to be photographed but there was a couple who didn't want their photo taken. It was a bit surprising who they where as I wasn't expecting it from what I know of them. When someone is reluctant to have their photo taken it tells something about their personalities I think, I am not sure what but something.
4. By the second day people where used to the idea of cameras being around
5. No flash usually worked but at the night events I was limited as I couldn't control light. Sometimes it worked, sometimes not

All in all it was very funny and I got a few decent shots plus I learned tons of stuff.

 

[giganova]

I need to capture drunk people on a boat at night so a flash might come handy!

You want to bring your Leica on a boat with drunk people at night? 😱 I hope you have your camera insured!