M240 Electronic Flash Advice?

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ktmrider

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I have an MP240 on the way and am looking for suggestions for electronic flash to use with it. My daughter is getting married at the end of May and the ceremony is outside but not scheduled to start until 7:00PM and I am sure it will go to after sunset. What is the best flash, something that works well TTL which I can use on auto and also that would work well for flash fill?

Any brands or models besides the rather limited offerings from Leitz?

Thanks!
 
The Leica flashes are re-branded Metz, but I believe the ONLY TTL flash that will work are the Leica branded ones. If you are going to try to operate manually, there are many choices. There are also a number of older, auto-thyristor types.
 
I don't know anything about digital flash (or modern Leicas). But if I had a need for a rangefinder flash (if your model is a rangefinder), I would want one with some form of TTL (thyristor auto would also be fine), but also and more importantly have High Speed Synch. This (HHS) gives you the unbelievable ability to do expanded fill flash outdoors in full sun. I don't know if your Leica model has the capability to do HSS but check.
 
If you know what TTL is, then the bad news is what Leica TTL is very limited and basic and only Leica flash (listed and compatible with model of your M) will works on Leica M. Leica has its own TLL. It means even if Leica flash is made by Meitz, you need Leica flash made by Meitz. Not Meitz.

Or, if you know limitations of non-TTL flash, then almost any flash will works.
 
I actually owned a M6TTL and Leitz flash back in the day. I thought it worked well. I guess I thought Leica might have made some progress in this area since the mid 1990's. Guess not although synch speeds are not limited to 1/50th second, at least on the digital cameras.
 
Yes, since I am in the wedding (have to give the bride away etc) a pro has been hired but I figure I will throw a 35f1.2 on the M240 and maybe a 50 on one of my film cameras just for fun. The ceremony is outdoors at the end of May and starts at 7pm. We should have light until 2030 or so.
 
I have both the Leica SF-24D and SF-58. While they both work on my M-240 in TTL mode I only use them that way when bouncing the flash. If I have to use direct flash I use Auto (auto-thyrister) mode. This eliminates any possibility of the TTL pre-flash causing the subject to blink. Since the Leica in-camera TTL flash metering is pretty basic it tends to grossly underexpose with bright backgrounds (virtually worthless for fill flash) or if a light source in the frame, so it is Auto in those situations as well. I could be perfectly happy with a flash that lacked TTL, which opens up a whole universe of non-Leica flashes. My Nikon flashes work fine on the M-240 in Auto mode. The only difference from my Leica flashes is that I have to manually enter both shooting aperture and ISO on the Nikon flash. while the Leica flashes receive ISO automatically.

I would not recommend the Leica SF-40 since it is manual and TTL only (its A mode is just another version of TTL)
 
Thanks for your reply.

Sounds like a plan.

Smartphone could work and you could have it handy in your pocket.

Congrats on the addition to your family.

Enjoy the day and fun!
 
Since I do very, very little flash photography I thought Leica might have improved their system since I owned the M6TTL in 1996. Guess not but I know the FujiX70 does a pretty good job with flash fill.

Thanks for the replies. I actually have a couple electronic flash units in the cabinet for use on other cameras. I guess I will see how one of the thyrister units works on the M240.
 
ktmrider said:
Since I do very, very little flash photography I thought Leica might have improved their system since I owned the M6TTL in 1996. Guess not but I know the FujiX70 does a pretty good job with flash fill.

Thanks for the replies. I actually have a couple electronic flash units in the cabinet for use on other cameras. I guess I will see how one of the thyrister units works on the M240.
Click to expand...

Be sure you check your old flash units trigger voltage: high trigger voltage can fry digital cameras.

Use this table:

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html
 
I just found a Visitor 2800 which I have not used for at least ten years. I put batteries in and it works just fine with my M2 or M5. Would it be safe to use with the M240? Don't know anything about flash voltage and digital cameras.

I just checked a flash voltage table over at Leica Forum. It says the Visitor 2800 uses between 40-180 volts and the M240 is good up to 300 volts. However, just to be on the safe side I may just use it on one of my film bodies.

Anyone have any specific experience with a Visitor 2800 on a M240?
 
ktmrider said:
I have an MP240 on the way and am looking for suggestions for electronic flash to use with it. My daughter is getting married at the end of May and the ceremony is outside but not scheduled to start until 7:00PM and I am sure it will go to after sunset. What is the best flash, something that works well TTL which I can use on auto and also that would work well for flash fill?

Any brands or models besides the rather limited offerings from Leitz?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

I have two SF24D Leica flashes. You can borrow one, send it back to me when you're done. You may want to practice with it beforehand to understand how it works. I have found that if the battery in the M camera (M240 or M9) is either a bit old and/or less than full charge, the flash results can be temperamental. Not the batteries in the flash, but the camera.
I've never experienced this with any other camera brand apart from Leica.
Anyway, if you want to give it a shot, PM me.

Personally I would use the Leicas w/o flash for your intimate shots, especially if there is going to be a hired gun there.
 
Huss said:
Personally I would use the Leicas w/o flash for your intimate shots, especially if there is going to be a hired gun there.
Click to expand...

That's what I'd do, too. You wrote it's outdoors in the evening, you're unlikely to have harsh shadows, your pictures will likely be great without flash. And you'll have a "reportage" look in addition to whatever the hired gun will do (hopefully better lighting than what you could pull off with a single flash).
 
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