AlanJW Posted July 8, 2014 Share #1 Posted July 8, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I have just ordered a MFG because I need it for a project where I need to precisely frame with the EVF on M(240) and also need to have flash off the camera to the side. I assume some here have done this and my question is what kind of connecting cord is used for this? And how long a cord will work (ideally I want to get the light about 3 feet off to the side)? (I am intending to use a SF58). I would be grateful for any and all suggestions. Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 8, 2014 Posted July 8, 2014 Hi AlanJW, Take a look here Off Camera Flash with Multi Function Grip. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
FlashGordonPhotography Posted July 8, 2014 Share #2 Posted July 8, 2014 I have this setup. You'll need the grip plus the sca set (it's a plate and cord/hotshoe). To extend the off camera distance any Nikon cord will do as the pins are in the same spots as Leicas so it works as a pass through cable. You can separate the hotshoe and baseplate if required. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 8, 2014 Share #3 Posted July 8, 2014 Hi Alan, I just got that grip too (only to find that the socket in my camera is broken!). However you don't need the grip to use the Nikon SC28/29 leads with one end in normal hotshoe. At least my Nikon flash units work fine that way (just for triggering, no TTL functionality). Some discontinued leads (SC-17?) work fine too. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted July 8, 2014 Author Share #4 Posted July 8, 2014 Hi Alan, I just got that grip too (only to find that the socket in my camera is broken!).However you don't need the grip to use the Nikon SC28/29 leads with one end in normal hotshoe. At least my Nikon flash units work fine that way (just for triggering, no TTL functionality). Some discontinued leads (SC-17?) work fine too. Thanks Geoff. My problem is that I want to use the EVF and also get the flash off the camera. If the Nikon cord you mention will connect to the MFG on one end and a hotshoe on the other, that would certainly be helpful. There is a SCA adapter that Leica sells (a bar and a cord) for something like $380. I am interested in just the cord but Leica only sells it as part of the SCA poackage. I was hoping that some Metz cord for the Metz model similar to the SF58 might work but I will also look into the Nikon to see how it connects. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted July 9, 2014 Share #5 Posted July 9, 2014 Unfortunately I found that there is no alternative to the expensive SCA adaptor. The plug at the end that goes into the grip is proprietary and no one has cloned it. The Bar is removable but you're going to have to pay for it to have external flash and the EVF in the hotshoe. On the plus side it does work as described and is beautifully made. The plug click into place with a positive click and the connector looks durable and is right angled. The plate is very heavy and seriously over engineered though. Personally, I would prefer the plate were aluminium or even carbon fibre. Then again I'll never be able to damage this plate. :-) The Nikon extension cords go from a female to male hotshoe with TTL pins. It's just a passthrough cable you put in the hotshoe of the SCA adaptor OR the camera hotshoe (with no EVF of course). Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sillbeers15 Posted July 9, 2014 Share #6 Posted July 9, 2014 I have just ordered a MFG because I need it for a project where I need to precisely frame with the EVF on M(240) and also need to have flash off the camera to the side. I assume some here have done this and my question is what kind of connecting cord is used for this? And how long a cord will work (ideally I want to get the light about 3 feet off to the side)? (I am intending to use a SF58). I would be grateful for any and all suggestions. Thanks. There is no other way to connect to TTL/SF58 but through cord (Nikon for same pin contact) to SF58 when you wish to use SF58 for off camera flash. Otherwise use the SCA adapter for SF58 and the PC cord to connect to a wireless triger to manually fire off camera flashes for TTL + manual off camera flash effect. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted July 9, 2014 Share #7 Posted July 9, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) There are two flash plugs on the MFHG, one SCA and one PC X. If you don't need TTL you have several options. If you need TTL, then the only option is to get the SCA adapter an one or more Nikon SC cables. But test the cables first as spec tolerance may cause a cable to not work on the Leica SF58. Non-TTL can include PocketWizard or just a PC cable and a hot-shoe adapter. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted July 9, 2014 Share #8 Posted July 9, 2014 But test the cables first as spec tolerance may cause a cable to not work on the Leica SF58. Good advice. I use the SF-58 with my M9 and Monochrom. I use bounced flash exclusively, so I am using the flash's tilt and swivel features. I prefer to mount the flash on a light-weight flash bracket so I can keep the flash above the lens when shooting in portrait orientation. After trying a half dozen Nikon and generic sync cords I have given up and use the SF-58 only in the camera's hot shoe. While the Leica hotshoe/SF-58 contacts are close to those of Nikon, they are not identical. Also the fit of the SF-58 in the sync cord's hotshoe tends to be a bit looser than when mounted in the camera's hotshoe. So if torque is applied to the flash such as when when rotating the bracket or tilting/swiveling the head, the SF-58's foot will shift slightly in the sync cord's hotshoe and eventually communication with the body is lost. I suspect that if no torque is applied to the flash it would work fine with all of the cords I tried. If I really need to use my flash bracket I will use one of my Nikon flashes in auto mode. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share #9 Posted July 9, 2014 I have gone ahead and ordered the very expensive SCA adapter from Leica. It would have been better if Leica had chosen a standard kind of plug for flash use. Because I do want this for TTL/fill purposes I am stuck with the Leica solution and Leica expense. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbl Posted July 9, 2014 Share #10 Posted July 9, 2014 Where is the PCX socket on the MFG? I'm interested in hooking up a Pocket Wizard without having to take my Thumbs Up off. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
swamiji Posted July 9, 2014 Share #11 Posted July 9, 2014 Where is the PCX socket on the MFG? I'm interested in hooking up a Pocket Wizard without having to take my Thumbs Up off. Right next to the SCA socket, under the same cover. Power and USB on one side and flash on the other, marked with a lightning bolt. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted July 9, 2014 Share #12 Posted July 9, 2014 Thanks Geoff. My problem is that I want to use the EVF and also get the flash off the camera. If the Nikon cord you mention will connect to the MFG on one end and a hotshoe on the other, that would certainly be helpful. There is a SCA adapter that Leica sells (a bar and a cord) for something like $380. I am interested in just the cord but Leica only sells it as part of the SCA poackage. I was hoping that some Metz cord for the Metz model similar to the SF58 might work but I will also look into the Nikon to see how it connects. aah yes I understand Alan. I had in my head that you were using the Liveview on the LCD, not the add on EVF. There are (or were) various Nikon SC options that would use the old standard PC socket which the MFG has too. However this is just for dumb triggering of course. That suits the way I use flash (in studio with manual everything) but won't be any help with any TTL functions. I actually got the MFG partly so I could tether.....we shall see ;-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted July 9, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted July 9, 2014 aah yes I understand Alan. I had in my head that you were using the Liveview on the LCD, not the add on EVF.There are (or were) various Nikon SC options that would use the old standard PC socket which the MFG has too. However this is just for dumb triggering of course. That suits the way I use flash (in studio with manual everything) but won't be any help with any TTL functions. I actually got the MFG partly so I could tether.....we shall see ;-) I thought of the old style PC socket but this project is going to be outdoors over two days, with the flash for fill and perhaps for some contrast from the side and a need for very precise framing from waist level height (hence the need for the EVF so I can look down) and to repeat the results about 150 times. The Leica SCA adapter will do it -- at a cost. And since I am not at all sure that anything else will, I am stuck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted September 2, 2014 Share #14 Posted September 2, 2014 I am just passing through Hong Kong and visited two Leica stores. The one in the international airport had a local price list which shows a couple of items new to me. There is a new SF26 flash about which I know nothing as yet. But of interest is 'Leica TTL flash connection cable' the order number is 14624. The local list price is HKD 600. It was not in stock as 'it is too new' however I was told it was the SCA connection. It sounds like the SCA adapter set minus the rail. If so this sounds very attractive to me. By the way I happened to notice that significant discounts were on offer for the S system and I think some lenses too Also saw the new M-P in black finish. Perhaps it will placate those unhappy with the size of the screw in place of the red dot. Hardly noticeable at all to me! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted September 2, 2014 Share #15 Posted September 2, 2014 I am just passing through Hong Kong and visited two Leica stores. The one in the international airport had a local price list which shows a couple of items new to me. There is a new SF26 flash about which I know nothing as yet. But of interest is 'Leica TTL flash connection cable' the order number is 14624. The local list price is HKD 600. It was not in stock as 'it is too new' however I was told it was the SCA connection. It sounds like the SCA adapter set minus the rail. If so this sounds very attractive to me. By the way I happened to notice that significant discounts were on offer for the S system and I think some lenses too Also saw the new M-P in black finish. Perhaps it will placate those unhappy with the size of the screw in place of the red dot. Hardly noticeable at all to me! All the M-P's that came to Oz last week were black. That's what I picked up last Thursday. The SF26 is the flash that is part of the T system. I might pick one up for travel use but I have yet to hear if it is 100% compatible with the M. Interesting about the SCA set. It would be nice if one with a really long cable existed so we didn't need a Nikon cord as well. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted September 2, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 2, 2014 Now I have time to look a little more at that price list. The same part number for the TTL lead (and the SF26) is listed for the X Vario as well so I think this cannot be an SCA cable but more like the Nikon leads? On reflection that price in AUD would be less than 100 too. Seems too cheap for part of the SCA adapter set. Shall have to find out more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanJW Posted September 2, 2014 Author Share #17 Posted September 2, 2014 Now I have time to look a little more at that price list. The same part number for the TTL lead (and the SF26) is listed for the X Vario as well so I think this cannot be an SCA cable but more like the Nikon leads? On reflection that price in AUD would be less than 100 too. Seems too cheap for part of the SCA adapter set.Shall have to find out more. The TTL lead for the MFG bears the same number as the extension bar: It has no separate part number from the extension. It is stamped 14498 "SCA-Adapter-Set". Its camera-side plug looks to me to be very different from a Nikon plug, but I will check on this later when I am back home. I seriously doubt Leica just adopted a Nikon configuration. If anything they would have used Metz who makes the SF58, which is what triggered my original question in this thread. So far there appear to be no options to the Leica set, at least if you want to use the EVF. p.s. Leica part 14624 is the R adapter M so the price list you saw could not have been accurate. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted September 2, 2014 Share #18 Posted September 2, 2014 I think Geoff is just referring to the look of the cable, not who actually made it. I have an evilbay extension cable that is a clone of a Nikon SC17 with a hotshoe at one end and a male version at the other. I've yet to see one that's Leica branded. I would like to add that I've found my grip/sca set very useful since I got it. I use it often. I put a very small Sunway Photo brand "arca Swiss" quick release plate under the flash hotshoe so I can easily get it on and off the bracket and it works a treat. Heavy though. I'd still like a lightweight version of that baseplate. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jbl Posted September 2, 2014 Share #19 Posted September 2, 2014 I’m interested in getting one of these grips mostly to enable off-camera flash via a Pocket Wizard. The hot shoe for me is taken with a thumbs up grip that I don’t want to have to remove (it has a cold shoe). How many people get these grips? Do they like them? Any suggestions for sizing for the finger loop? -jbl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hoppyman Posted September 2, 2014 Share #20 Posted September 2, 2014 I think Geoff is just referring to the look of the cable, not who actually made it. I have an evilbay extension cable that is a clone of a Nikon SC17 with a hotshoe at one end and a male version at the other. I've yet to see one that's Leica branded. I would like to add that I've found my grip/sca set very useful since I got it. I use it often. I put a very small Sunway Photo brand "arca Swiss" quick release plate under the flash hotshoe so I can easily get it on and off the bracket and it works a treat. Heavy though. I'd still like a lightweight version of that baseplate. Gordon Yes, thanks Gordon, that is what I was thinking. If it works like the sc17 etc it could be useful anyway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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