Using a flash with a 21mm viewfinder on Leica M4-P

[pushto1600]

Hi y'all, new user here. Have been using my leica for a couple of months now and love it. I love using flash as well. I want to buy a 21mm lens and finder and realized I can't mount my SF-20 with the finder in. Any suggestions?

 

[EarlJam]

The simplest solution is to use a bracket/grip with cold shoe for the flash, with a PC cord connection to the camera; and mount the VF on the camera shoe. The M4-P is notorious for a weak sync port board, which can crack under less than gentle use, so care must be taken with this method.

 

[WJJ3]

Hi y'all, new user here. Have been using my leica for a couple of months now and love it. I love using flash as well. I just bought a 21mm lens and finder and realized I can't mount my SF-20 with the finder in. Any suggestions?

21mm and flash! Sounds like fun. One way is to connect your flash to the camera's PC socket and hold it in your left hand, a la B. Gilden. Or, you could just put the flash in the hotshoe and guestimate your framing.

 

[Phil_F_NM]

Stick your finder to the top of the camera with some good double sided tape.
Phil Forrest

 

[charjohncarter]

You will have some fall off with that wide of a lens, but that isn't all bad:

Kodak Gold 400 expired by John Carter, on Flickr

 

[WJJ3]

You will have some fall off with that wide of a lens, but that isn't all bad:

Kodak Gold 400 expired by John Carter, on Flickr

That's a nice example of flash with a 21mm. I have shot a few times like this with mixed results. All in all pretty fun though!

21mm with flash

21mm with flash

 

[ruby.monkey]

Try something like a Metz Mecablitz 45 CL-4. Discreetness is for wimps.


MD2_12_Ortho25_Scan-130325-0014 by Jean-Yves, on Flickr
(12mm f/5.6 LTM on an MDa)

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Try something like a Metz Mecablitz 45 CL-4. Discreetness is for wimps.

MD2_12_Ortho25_Scan-130325-0014 by Jean-Yves, on Flickr
(12mm f/5.6 LTM on an MDa)

Picture of kid at home? I’ll take you seriously then you show me street photography taken with flash and close.

 

[charjohncarter]

That's a nice example of flash with a 21mm. I have shot a few times like this with mixed results. All in all pretty fun though!

21mm with flash

21mm with flash

They look good to me, in fact, they add the 'how did he do that' factor. So they are interesting. I even use my flash with a 28mm still a little fall off but I like it:

EliteChrome by John Carter, on Flickr

 

[presspass]

Leica made a very nice flash bracket in the bulb era. The base fits the base of the camera and screws into the tripod thread. There's an arm on the finder end of the camera that swivels. The shoe is slightly above the top of the camera. It works just fine with any flash with a pc cord. I bought a couple of them several years ago when I found them cheap (at least for Leica). Maybe someone else can show a photo and come up with the nifty Leica code name.

 

[v0sh]

My preferred option is not using a finder and guess framing. CV 21mm f/4 + SB-24

 

[pushto1600]

My preferred option is not using a finder and guess framing. CV 21mm f/4 + SB-24

great IG! just dropped a follow

 

[pushto1600]

Leica made a very nice flash bracket in the bulb era. The base fits the base of the camera and screws into the tripod thread. There's an arm on the finder end of the camera that swivels. The shoe is slightly above the top of the camera. It works just fine with any flash with a pc cord. I bought a couple of them several years ago when I found them cheap (at least for Leica). Maybe someone else can show a photo and come up with the nifty Leica code name.

I think you're talking about the CTOOM? And yes I'm thinking about buying one! $25 is the average price

 

[presspass]

Yes, that's it. Works well. It's also the only bracket that stays in place and won't swing around no matter how you hold the camera.

 

[ruby.monkey]

Picture of kid at home? I’ll take you seriously then you show me street photography taken with flash and close.

Meh. Bruce Gilden is a hack.

 

[WJJ3]

I was the one who referred to Gilden, not Ko.Fe.

Saying discreetness is for wimps while posting, as was pointed out, a kid in the living room, and saying B. Gilden, an accomplished and recognized photographer, is a hack makes your comments look a bit condescending and negative. Are you just trolling this thread looking for a negative reaction? Just your type of online sarcasm? Or do you actually have some striking photos or an opinion that are worth exploring?

 

[ruby.monkey]

I was the one who referred to Gilden, not Ko.Fe.

Saying discreetness is for wimps while posting, as was pointed out, a kid in the living room, and saying B. Gilden, an accomplished and recognized photographer, is a hack makes your comments look a bit condescending and negative. Are you just trolling this thread looking for a negative reaction? Just your type of online sarcasm? Or do you actually have some striking photos or an opinion that are worth exploring?

Are you totally unfamiliar with the use of hyperbole to make a joke?

The photo was used to illustrate the look of a Metz 45 CL-4 with a wide-angle lens; the quip about discreetness was obviously (or not, for you) a joke (the CL-4 is a bloody great lump of a flash); and the comment about Gilden was a direct response to Ko.Fe. and his reference to sticking a wide-angle lens and flash up strangers' noses.

 

[B-9]

Try something like a Metz Mecablitz 45 CL-4. Discreetness is for wimps.


MD2_12_Ortho25_Scan-130325-0014 by Jean-Yves, on Flickr
(12mm f/5.6 LTM on an MDa)

I like this photo. A good one for the family album! lol

That Metz couldnt be any bigger than my Sunpak 544!

As for the OP. Sorry nothing of value to contribute other than Happy Shooting~!

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Meh. Bruce Gilden is a hack.

It doesn't have to be face flashed. Here is good and recent example of street photography with flash.
https://www.rangefinderforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=169460

I would like to use 21mm and flash on the street at coming dark time of the year, but been light sensitive eyes person, I think, someone else might be the same on the street. Our youngest daughter was very disturbed by flash photography then she was toddler.
I purchased lens with IS to have no flash on her.

 

[giganova]

I do 21mm with flash a lot. Since you don't need to focus, you can hold the flash in your left hand. Just what Gilden does (who is not a hack in my book but one of the most significant and influential photographers alive).