Question about using Nikon flash on M6 TTL

[PhotoGog]

Apologies for the noob question, but flash photography is something I know very little about. I recently bought a Nikon SB-23 speedlight flash for my FM3A. Using it in TTL flash mode on this body is easy. Can I use the same flash in TTL flash mode on my M6 TTL in the same way (except of course using 1/60 synch speed)? Or will only Leica brand TTL flash units work in TTL flash mode? I have read both manuals but still unclear to me ...

 

[madNbad]

Nikon and Leica have the same contact point footprint so the SB-17 and SB-28 off camera cords will send the information from flashes like the SF-20 of SF-24d to the camera but I'm not sure if Nikons' TTL will communicate with the M6. You know it will work in auto and manual and if Phillipus wanders on to this thread he has both flashes and a M6 TTL, maybe he's tried it.

 

[Robert Lai]

As MadNBad noted, the pin layouts are the same between Leica and Nikon. Hence Nikon TTL flash cords work with Leica cameras.

The flashes themselves are likely to work differently between Nikon and Leica. Most likely the programming is completely different. With any flash, the "Auto" and "Manual" modes should work, as they rely only on the central pin to fire the flash.

Metz makes "universal" flash units in that you adapt the flash to the camera using SCA adapters that go on the foot of the flash.

My M7 (and M6 TTL) use Metz SCA 3502 (also the 3501 may work).
Nikon F5, for example, uses the SCA 5581.
If they were completely compatible, you would just use one SCA module for either brand of camera instead of making two different ones.

 

[PhotoGog]

OK, thanks. That makes sense. So I guess I will check what kind of SCA configuration the SB-23 and the M6 TTL use. If they are different I will just have to use the flash in manual mode on the Leica. Thank you gentlemen.

 

[rfaspen]

I've never checked to see if Leica TTL works with one of my Nikon TTL flashes. For some reason, I doubt it very much. I would have heard or read that by now if it were possible.