TTL Flash with the Leica Monochrom

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mexipike

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I know many Leica owners do not like flash, but I actually own the M6ttl and a sf20 and really enjoy the TTL flash.

I just realized that my sf20 does not offer ttl flash with my new monochrom. What would you suggest for a ttl capable flash? I am aware of the sf26d and the sf58 but they both seem to be unavailable since metz went under. Should I just pick up a used one of these or does anyone know if Leica will come out with a new solution soon?

Is hss available on the monochrom with the sf58? I doubt it but that would be swee.

What do people use for digital m's , m8,9,monochrom, 240?
 
For TTL flash with my M9 and Monochrom I use the Leica SF-24D and SF-58. But I often use a small Nikon flash (SB-22s) in Auto Thyrister mode, which works well. I just have to remember to enter the aperture and ISO camera setting into the flash.
 
The SF-58 is vastly superior to the SF-20 and -24 in pretty much every way save weight, size, and cost). It's also vastly more expensive. The nice thing is that it also does high-speed sync (among other cool things) if you eventually buy an M 240 or the Monochrom equivalent.

Dante
 
I'm worries about purchasing one due to the fact they are no longer made and metz is gone. Seems like a lot of money for something that may not be serviceable. Any thoughts on this?

Hss would be awesome!
 
mexipike said:
I'm worries about purchasing one due to the fact they are no longer made and metz is gone. Seems like a lot of money for something that may not be serviceable. Any thoughts on this?

Hss would be awesome!
Click to expand...

Why would you worry about servicing it? From the point of view of a buyer, Leica is the seller and the one that has to honor the warranty, and I'm sure that if you had a real issue, they'd just replace it with one of the 10,000 they probably have in stock. Metz products rarely if ever break - and that is actually true of most flashes (absent, of course physical abuse!).

Also, chuckling a little at "seems like a lot of money" when the object is a flash for a camera that cost $8K when it came out. 🙂

D
 
If TTL is a requirement then the SF-58 is the only flash offering a head that can be tilted/rotated. I find it is a very competent flash. Since the Monochrom and M9 metering is pretty basic I find that Auto mode works very well, particularly with subjects that are back lighted, where TTL can be fooled. I often use Auto mode with the SF-58, but using Auto opens up a big list of other brand flashes. All of my Nikon flashes that have Auto mode work very nicely as well.

I normally bounce the flash and that typically eliminates the eye blink problem with some subjects. A bounced TTL pre-flash does not seem to provoke the blink reaction. If I have to use direct flash then eye blink becomes a problem with some subjects. Then I go to Auto mode (no pre-flash).
 
Dante_Stella said:
Why would you worry about servicing it? From the point of view of a buyer, Leica is the seller and the one that has to honor the warranty, and I'm sure that if you had a real issue, they'd just replace it with one of the 10,000 they probably have in stock. Metz products rarely if ever break - and that is actually true of most flashes (absent, of course physical abuse!).

Also, chuckling a little at "seems like a lot of money" when the object is a flash for a camera that cost $8K when it came out. 🙂

D
Click to expand...
I feel like they may not have 10000 units in stock seeing as BH and adorama don't have any in stock, though they could have just paused shipping.

Yes, the Monochrom is a very expensive camera, but I saved my money and shot lots of weddings other, commercial work to afford it. Just because I spent the money on the Monochrom does not mean I wish to overspend on a flash which may become obsolete or not opt to wait for leica to come out with a new solution.

That said, I do agree that if nothing new comes out soon my best option will be to pick up the sf58. For now I have been using my sf20 in non TTL and whenever I need a bigger flash I have been forcing myself to just use my einstein or alien bee. It's actually been quite nice, I nor,ally wouldn't set up the big light but using more is really fun. Small camera big light! I wish pocketwizard would make a comtrolTL unit for the leica, not really necessary but would be cool.
 
It looks like the new flashes that came out with the sl are promsing. The rebadged nissin flash with ttl capability would be really nice, if it works on the m9 monochrom. Either that or the prices on the SF58 may drop!
 
When Leica sent Jacob Aue Sobol on the Trans-Siberian Railway from Moscow to Beijing to test the MM, he shot almost every photo with the Leica SF024D flash. His images are stunning and were featured in the LFI magazine 4/2012.

Check out this video where you see him in action.

cover.jpg
 
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