Vangoghs_Ear
Knock Knock
I was wondering if anyone had anything helpful to say about the use of the SF-20 flash with an M6. I have tried using an SB28 with a hotshoe adapter but it seems very clumsy and unwieldy. Any suggestions?
SF-20 - any good?
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zanydave
zanydave
Been using the SF20 om an M7 for a few weeks now. Exposures are spot on m8
TEZillman
Well-known
I use the more current model, SF-24, with my M7. It's a great pocketable flash, but not really a tool to use for creative flash photography. The flash cannot be tilted or rotated when in the hotshoe. I think there is an off camera cord available for it, but I do not have one. It came with an adapter for use with 28mm and wider lens and one for 135mm lenses. I've never used either of them. It has enough guts for most situations when the light is just too low to hand hold the camera. At f2 and 1/50 it is rated to 42 feet and I've used it to it's fullest in TTL mode a couple times with slide film and received very acceptable results. I'd recommend it for use when available light is insufficient.
Yup, no bounce but you can dial in flash exposure compensatoin for fill. A good simple flash, TTL works well.
There is the SFill diffuser for it too.
http://www.leicagoodies.com/
There is the SFill diffuser for it too.
http://www.leicagoodies.com/
peter_n
Veteran
What rover said. Best used for fill as you can't tilt it. Very small and light and doesn't overbalance the camera. I use mine on an M6TTL and its great for what it does.
T
Treb
Guest
boilerdoc2
Well-known
I like it because it sits higher and is small. Less chance of red eye with it higher. It balances very nicely and it does fill flash. Note it requires lithium (read $) batteries of the Cr 123 type. They should last a long time tho. I bought an SCA adapter for my Metz 43 flash for it but big mistake. Huge and flopped over all the time. Just my .02 worth.
ywenz
Veteran
Why didn't Leica come out with a flash that has tilt/bounce head? This is an absolute requirement for any external flash IMO, especially for a camera range as expensive and professional as the M..
T
Treb
Guest
ywenz said:
Such a flash would have been even more expensive.
Grober
Well-known
Here's another vote for a tilting head on a Leica flash unit.
I don't have either the SF20 or SF24 just because of that lack. I take very few flash shots without the light being modified in some way...
I don't have either the SF20 or SF24 just because of that lack. I take very few flash shots without the light being modified in some way...
T
Treb
Guest
The problem with a flash for M is size. Most flashes are designed with SLR's in mind. Mount such a flash on a Leica M and the whole thing becomes top heavy.
I did look at the Metz mecablitz 36 C-2 as a flash for my M6 but thought it was too big. It offers tilt and a manual zoom reflector, no swivel though.
I did look at the Metz mecablitz 36 C-2 as a flash for my M6 but thought it was too big. It offers tilt and a manual zoom reflector, no swivel though.
Andrew Touchon
Well-known
I have used the SF20 in ttl mode on my M6TTL and have had excellent results. I have also used it in auto mode on some other non ttl flash cameras with equally excellent results.
M
mad_boy
Guest
ywenz said:
I had the same question and found a possible solution.
With the flash come a few adapters (freshnell lenses) that make the angle of light
smaller or larger (for tele/wide angel lenses).
It is possible to make a similare freshnell lens that would re-direct all (or part of) the light upwards under a 45 degree angle.
Production costs: only a few cents.
I have send this suggestion to leica suggesting they make some and sell then.
I would gladly pay some money for this.
The reply was that they thought there was not enough interest.
(with their financial position, they should sell whatever they can).
Maybe all of you can suggest the same suggestion.
Alternatively we can start a joint 'do it yourself' project to develop one.
Any one has a 45 degree freshnell lens available? I guess they can be had from car-utility shops. they sell them to glue to the windscreen to view the trafic lights above the car.
mad_boy
ghost
Well-known
how many photojournalists use bounce flash?
SDK
Exposing since 1969.
For straightforward moderate power flash the SF 20 is fine. If you want power and bounce, look into the Metz flashes with the SCA-3502 adapter. The 54MZ3 or 54MZ4 are great big bounce flashes, but not straigntforward.
Grober
Well-known
Are you kidding?
Are you kidding?
Better question: how many PJs DON'T modify their flash light in some way? All have at least their business card rubber-banded to a tilted flash head to provide a diffused light. NO one uses a direct, un-modified beam of flash these days.
I second mad_dog's idea of a 45 degree fresnel lens as the simple way to modify the beam from the SF20 or SF24 flashes. (I've tried the same on my only digital camera, a $400 SONY point & shoot with a Zeiss lens. No success to date only because the flash is so very tiny on this already small camera.)
Of course, directing a beam of light upwards works as long as there is an eight foot ceiling avaiable to further diffuse and return the light. Duh...
Are you kidding?
ghost said:
Better question: how many PJs DON'T modify their flash light in some way? All have at least their business card rubber-banded to a tilted flash head to provide a diffused light. NO one uses a direct, un-modified beam of flash these days.
I second mad_dog's idea of a 45 degree fresnel lens as the simple way to modify the beam from the SF20 or SF24 flashes. (I've tried the same on my only digital camera, a $400 SONY point & shoot with a Zeiss lens. No success to date only because the flash is so very tiny on this already small camera.)
Of course, directing a beam of light upwards works as long as there is an eight foot ceiling avaiable to further diffuse and return the light. Duh...
Grober
Well-known
Oops...
That should have been "mad_boy" not "mad_dog" in my earlier post.
(I was having an insanely canine moment for a spilt second when I wrote that...)
I may be going to the Leica foundry this fall. If so, I'll surely bring up the issue of their flash units lacking a tilt head to their product management folks in Solms.
That should have been "mad_boy" not "mad_dog" in my earlier post.
(I was having an insanely canine moment for a spilt second when I wrote that...)
I may be going to the Leica foundry this fall. If so, I'll surely bring up the issue of their flash units lacking a tilt head to their product management folks in Solms.
ywenz
Veteran
ghost said:
The cookie cutter type dont, but the good ones will use the bounce if it will improve the image.
ghost
Well-known
any examples to check out? i just don't remember having seen much bounce flash or whatever.
M
mad_boy
Guest
ghost said:
I have just made 3 with the Digilux 2 (one of the few digicams with build in inderect flash).
All from a lamp suspended from the ceiling.
Camera was tilted to the left (i.e. flash on the left side).
This shows typical flash effects.
Pic 1 is without flash, just the light from the lamp giving redisch glow.
Pic 2 is is direct flash. Picture becomes '2-D' and shows dark shadow to the right
(opposite side of the flash).
Pic 3 is indirect flash (via white wall on left and some light straight ahead).
Gives more narural light, no shaddows and a more 3D immage.
YEEEEE my 100th post !!!!
mad_boy the centenial!
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