Small flash for M9

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witzansky

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Hello everybody!

I got my Leica M9 a few weeks ago, and I love the camera!

I know some find it a sin to use flash on Leica, but I do need one for some fill light.

- I want a very small flash (smaller than Canon 430 ect.)
- Tilt head
- Manual control of the power
- I don't care about ttl
- On camera, so no need for wireless stuff.

I know about the Leica sf 24D, but it does not have the tilt head.
Flashes like the Leica sf 58 are way to big.
I see many use the Metz 20 c-2 but there is no manual control?

I was wondering if these flashes could fire/work on Leica M9?
I really like the look and size of the Samsung NX ED-SEF220A, but would it fire?
Or are there a flash I don't know of?


Samsung NX ED-SEF220A:
http://www.samsung.com/us/photography/digital-cameras-accessories/ED-SEF220A

Samsung GN20:
http://www.samsung.com/uk/consumer/smart-camera-camcorder/cameras/nx-accessories/ED-SEF20A

Nissin DI446:
http://www.nissindigital.com/Di466.html


Thank you! :)
 
I use a Metz 32 MZ-3 with Stofen diffuser. It works very well but may be a little larger than you want.
 
It all depends on the hotshoe plate. Leica's have that weird corner that sometime prevents non leica branded flashes from fitting correctly. If it were a cheap flash I would say to just file down the corner in question or built up the front edge and give it a go, but since youre looking at expensive ones, I would do some googling to see if anyone else has tried it. That said, Ive only had to file down one of my flashes to fit on my leicas. I currently have 2 modern tilting flashes: an Olympus FL-36 (which is smaller then the average tilt flash) and a Yongnuo YN460. Both work just fine on my M8 without any modification. The FL-36 even gives me some limited TTL if I have a coded lens on it :)

There are smaller tilting flashes on the market that should work. Look on ebay and amazon, here are a couple off the top of my head:

- YINTAN CY-20 Mini Flash (around $12US)
- Fujifilm EF-20 (about 90US)
- Olympus fl-300 (about 140US)

If you dont care about TTL, a cheap one is really all you need.
 
http://www.rangefinderworkshop.com/?p=346

There is no perfect flash for Leica that offers control, automation, bounce and balances well on the camera . You have to pick what's more important. Some of the new Nikon low end flashes would be amazing if only they had manual controls. But most modern hot shots flashes are all controlled via the camera.
 
Thanks!

I have to check the suggested flashes.

Really no perfect flash then? :-(

- If we skip the "small flash" part, what do I buy?
One for Nikon or Canon?
If I use wireless or cable, should I then buy Canon or Nikon?
I had a Yongnuo 560 III flash for my Fuji x-pro1, a great flash but it was made for Canon, and I read somewhere that I need a Nikon, for Leica?

- How does a Leica sf 24D work with a caple? How do you control the power?
Is it always full power, and then adjust the apature if it makes too much light?
 
You can run the 24D in manual, auto, and ttl on the M9. The nikon hot shoe cable - SC17 I think it is - gets it off the camera and still supports manual, auto, ttl.
 
I use a Nikon SB-30 fitted to a Cactus V2 receiver, and fit the transmitter to the camera. That way I can position the flash any way I want and it has four power output settings in Manual, or an auto flash built in sensor.

G
 
Bruce Gilden uses a Vivitar 285hv (the hv, and double check this -- is for digital cameras that must avoid higher flash trigger voltages to safeguard their circuitry). It's only about $79 http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/61441-REG/Vivitar_233965_285HV_Flash.html. Hopefully it will work on your hot shoe. You could also buy the sensor extension cord and put that on your hot shoe and hold the flash off camera like Bruce does and get a much more dimensional light. This would be my choice. There's nothing sacrosanct about using flash when you need the light or want that look.
 
This is also something I've wondered about. It seems 10 years ago, or more, it was pretty easy to find a small bounce flash with manual controls. Now everything is TTL and/or with manual control done via the camera (thinking of some of Canon's smaller flashes).

Since I'm also a Canon shooter, I've given up on finding something small and use the 600RT. I was pleasantly surprised to find it has an auto-thyristor mode as well (regulates flash output via its own sensor, therefore not camera dependent), which I use a fair amount with the M9 to good effect.

Here's hoping Canon release a 430-like flash with the same features...
 
The Nikon SB-27 is not too big but supports tilt and bounce. Lesser GN than the SB-25 and SB-26 but then it was meant to be a very slim, portable flash for use on the F4 and F5 in more social situations, so it's not the uber-full featured model like the SB-26.

The SB-27 has full manual control as well and does a great job for most shots where you don't need a lot of reach with the flash.

You could do the same with a Nikon SB-15 but not have the focal length zoom function of the SB-27.

In a nutshell, there is no perfect flash for the Leica, especially the Leica digitals. A CEYOO is great for the film cameras as nothing really beats flashbulbs but the current from a big capacitor in a CEYOO fan flash is something to make you think about how much juice you want to shoot through the Leica digital.

Phil Forrest
 
I wonder how well a small unit will work as a fill flash, when you're planning to tilt/bounce it, too?

My solution is to avoid flash at all costs – but if unavoidable, use the clumsy SF58 with plenty of diffusion.
 
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