Leica SF26 vs Metz Mecablitz 26AF-1???

[neonart]

Hello RFF friends!

I'm looking for a small flash for a minor even I'm shooting which might have some critical low light stuff. I love shooting flash-less with the Lux 50, but sometimes even f1.4 & ISO4000 is not enough. And there's the DOF thing too.

The new Leica SF 26 looks like a nice compact flash with bounce. However, I've noticed that the Metz Mecablitz 26 AF-1 is the same unit. Does anyone know if the Metz flash sold for Olympus/Panny/Leica will work on the Leica M240 with TTL?

The red dot on the Leica flash is not worth $250 to me if there is another option, especially considering I'll rarely use it.

Also, will an Olympus FL-36R work with the M240? I still have one of those laying around somewhere.

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

 

[ayewing]

The Leica SF26 works very well in TTL on the M and X series cameras. The Metz 26 AF-1 has a diferent arrangement of the contact pins in rhe hot shoe as it is designed for the Panasonic/Olympus flash system used in the m43 cameras which is also used by the Panasonic made Leicas like the new D-Lux typ 109. It is a pity that the Leica version costs so much more as it is the same flash but with a different hotshoe and firmware. I think most Leica users will be familiar with Leica's pricing policy.

 

[jaapv]

Hello RFF friends!

I'm looking for a small flash for a minor even I'm shooting which might have some critical low light stuff. I love shooting flash-less with the Lux 50, but sometimes even f1.4 & ISO4000 is not enough. And there's the DOF thing too.

The new Leica SF 26 looks like a nice compact flash with bounce. However, I've noticed that the Metz Mecablitz 26 AF-1 is the same unit. Does anyone know if the Metz flash sold for Olympus/Panny/Leica will work on the Leica M240 with TTL?

The red dot on the Leica flash is not worth $250 to me if there is another option, especially considering I'll rarely use it.

Also, will an Olympus FL-36R work with the M240? I still have one of those laying around somewhere.

Your thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Any flash will work in A or M.

 

[Manuel Patino]

Any flash will work in A or M.

Yes, I believe that's true. However, I did write Metz and asked them if the offered a flash for the M240, and this is what they wrote back:

Many thanks for your e-mail as of 12. Aug. 2015.

Unfortunately we don't offer a shoe mount flash unit for the TTL-flash-mode with the digital-camera Leica M (type 240) in our current product range. The only flash unit which can be used in TTL with this camera from us is the hand held flash unit mecablitz 76 MZ-5 digital. However, for connection the adapter SCA 3502 M5 is additionally necessary. Unfortunately this adapter isn't available from us anymore.

This is why we normally recommend using the Leica flash unit SF26 or the former flash unit Leica SF58 for the Leica M.

We regret that we are unable to give you a more positive reply and remain
with best regards

i.A. Roland Lämmermann
Technical support

I did find a Leica SF 20 and found that it will work in A but not in TLL... I also tried the Olympus FL 600 R and got it to work somehow (I think I blundered into the A mode). I also used a couple of old flash units I have laying around that they fired in A or M mode. The problem is that I would like the TLL function as well as the tilt and rotating head. I guess there is no recourse but to bite the bullet and pay the Leica price.... 🙄