Any information on the New SF 26D flash?

[Dikaiosune01]

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I haven't been able to find anything about this. But I'm interested because my current flash has caused me to make a few mistakes when i forgot to change the settings and ruined the image i was creating. Really embarrassing when i lose a picture due to my inablility to change the proper settings. So i'm in the market for a new flash to put on the M-240 and a few other analogue film cameras.

 

Should I choose the Leica SF24D or leica SF26D? As a result, i've been flooded with a bunch of questions about the Leica sf26D...

(1) What kind of batteries does it use? recycle time?

(2) Pc sync?

(3) Menu system? Or does it need to be controlled in camera?

(4) Power output?

(5) Tilt and swivel is an attractive feature

(6) Manual, Automatic and TTL modes

[wattsy]

I think the SF 26 is designed for use with the T system.

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[FlashGordonPhotography]

It is for the T system. But as far as I can tell it uses the same flash protocols as the M and S series. I'm probably going to get one to travel with my M when I dont need a biggr gun.

 

Gordon

[wlaidlaw]

See my thread today - Metz, who makes the SF26 and other Leica branded flashes, files for insolvency. http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-forum/other-leica-products/354391-metz-maker-leica-branded-flashes-files.html#post2826901

 

Wilson

[rramesh]

It's really their television business that's pulled them down. Quite possible that the flash and lighting business may be carved out and up for sale.

[rtst610]

There was a question in the german forum asking if the SF-26-flash works on the M9. I checked this and - at least for me - it works fine.

Flash modes according to the manual are TTL, Slave & LED.

 

The LED continuous light is activated by a button on the flash. By pressing the "LED" button again it can be switched between two brightness modes. By pressing the "TTL" button the video LED turns off.

I saw something interesting when reading the instructions. You can reduce the flash power for the slave mode by pressing the "slave" button again:

 

Pressing the Slave button 1 more time

= Half power (the blue LED of the slave flashes slowly)

 

Pressing the Slave button 2 more times

= Quarter-power (the blue LED on the slave button flashes fast)

 

That made me curious. So I just tried to fire the flash in "slave" mode in these settings. That works, and I have to say, I think I can control the flash intensity manually this way!

 

Otherwise I do not think there is much more worth mentioning. The wide-angle diffuser is built into the flash. If it is not used it can be moved inside the the flash body (right under the reflector). The tele conversion adaptor is a separate item and can be placed onto the reflector if necessary.

After 10 minutes the Flash will go to standby mode. It then flashes with the red status LED to make you aware.

 

According to the manual: "the wide-angle diffuser can be used for up to 24mm." ... "the tele conversion adaptor can be used for focal lengths of 85mm and more ..."

Theres a footnote indicating that this focal lengths are calculated based on the full frame format.

 

Here is a little picture of the setup showing the wide angle-diffusor on the flash and the tele conversion adapter on the front:

(hope this helps)

 

Best Regards

Oliver

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Edited January 31, 2015 by rtst610

[bocaburger]

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Maybe I'm missing something or just plain nuts but I can't see the value in paying that much for a low-power flash that doesn't even have an auto-thyristor mode let alone TTL/GNC compatibility with an M body.

[rtst610]

Perhaps i did not mention this clear enough in my first post. TTL-Mode seems to work as well on the M9.

I just wanted to explain how manual control can be achieved wih the flash.

 

And yes, i was (and i am still) quite unhappy with the pricing, but to my knowledge this is one of the smallest TTL-solutions for Leica with a bouncing head.

I just do not want to carry the big SF-58 around all the time.

 

Have a nice day.