Flash TTL with the M9: Special settings for Metz?

[larrylgreenhill]

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Fellow Leica M9 Users:

I have been using my M9 indoors for a wedding, and have been using a variety of flash units, including the SF 24 and a Metz Mecabliz 54 MZ04i with a Metz 53502 SCA 3502 Lecia adapter.

 

The SF 24 works just fine in TTL mode with the M9, producing a flash symbol in the M9 viewfinder and triggering a flash when the shutter is fired. However, the Metz 54 MZ-4i, with its Leica 3502 adapter, works just fine in TTL mode on my M7 film camera, but not on the M9 - no flash symbol and no flash firing. However, this Metz unit works fine on the M9 with in both automatic ("A") and manual ("M") modes.

 

Are there any special settings for Metz flash units?

 

Best,

Larry Greenhill

[haroldp]

Fellow Leica M9 Users:

I have been using my M9 indoors for a wedding, and have been using a variety of flash units, including the SF 24 and a Metz Mecabliz 54 MZ04i with a Metz 53502 SCA 3502 Lecia adapter.

 

The SF 24 works just fine in TTL mode with the M9, producing a flash symbol in the M9 viewfinder and triggering a flash when the shutter is fired. However, the Metz 54 MZ-4i, with its Leica 3502 adapter, works just fine in TTL mode on my M7 film camera, but not on the M9 - no flash symbol and no flash firing. However, this Metz unit works fine on the M9 with in both automatic ("A") and manual ("M") modes.

 

Are there any special settings for Metz flash units?

 

Best,

Larry Greenhill

 

My Metz 54 MZ-4i, with its Leica 3502 adapter, works just fine in TTL mode on my M9,( and both M8's) but the mode set for the M9 is 'gnc' on the Metz. It then works in pre-flash TTL mode.

 

The shoe is a tight fit and sometimes the contacts are shaky.

 

I hope this is helpful.

 

Regards .. Harold

[ho_co]

Larry--

You are using the latest (version 5) SCA 3502 adapter, aren't you?

 

I'm sure you've checked the Metz flash page SCA-Adapter: Metz, where I retrieved this chart.

 

Harold's suggestion to be sure the flash is set to GNC is probably the trick, since the M7 actually does true TTL flash control, but the M9 uses pre-flash instead. (I don't think there's a digital camera made that can use light reflected off the sensor for flash exposure control, since its reflectivity is so different from that of film.)

 

Good luck!

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[amedick]

To get the Metz into GNC mode on the mz54i with 3502 mod 4+ you need to set the mode on flash to M and then follow by rotating the small selector wheel clockwise, at which point you will see the GNC symbol on display, click the wheel inward to store setting.

 

You will notice a short preflash in this mode before the main flash goes.

 

I also have tight hotshoe with M9, and remeber to tap shutter release every once in a while half way or squeeze slowly to keep camera and flash awake and in sync.

 

Regards

 

John

[jsjxyz]

But the gnc mode can't do flash exposure compensation value if I am not mistaken. I'd been tried that with my M8, havent tried with my M9.

 

JSJ

[haroldp]

Larry--

You are using the latest (version 5) SCA 3502 adapter, aren't you?

 

I'm sure you've checked the Metz flash page SCA-Adapter: Metz, where I retrieved this chart.

 

Harold's suggestion to be sure the flash is set to GNC is probably the trick, since the M7 actually does true TTL flash control, but the M9 uses pre-flash instead. (I don't think there's a digital camera made that can use light reflected off the sensor for flash exposure control, since its reflectivity is so different from that of film.)

 

Good luck!

 

Howard is correct, Nikon had to change all of it's TTL flash to pre-flash mode when it produced DSLR's because of the extreme reflectivity of digital sensors.

 

I now have a pile of Nikon SB-28 flash units in my basement that worked as TTL with film Nikons but would not work with digital Nikon's.

 

It was replaced with SB-800's which use pre-flash ( Nikon i-TTL ) on DSLR's and film reflection ( Nikon d-TTL ) on film SLR's.

 

Nikon's pre-flash interval is so short that very few notice it as other than a single flash.

 

Leica / Metz intervals have improved with firmware, 1204 on the M8 significantly shortened the interval from prior releases.

 

On M8's you must use IR cut filtters in GNC mode or exposures will be way off. I think this might be because the Metz has significant IR emissions but I am not certain. M9 works fine without it.

 

Regards .... Harold

 

I believe Canon did the same, but I am a Nikon / Leica user.

[angusbeare]

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I just bought a used Metz 54 MZ 4i with the Leica adapter SCA 3502 to use on my M9.

 

I have not been able to make it work in TTL mode at all. But it works fine in A or M modes.

 

I can only assume that it will never work with the flash in TTL mode, am I wrong?

 

For ages I couldn't get the flash into GNC mode. Nothing was said in the instructions that you could only enter this mode with the flash attached to the camera! Also, annoyingly you have to set the mode every time you put the flash on and take it off.

 

I wanted a flash I could use off camera on a tripod or with the head turned away from the subject for bounced flash. I have never had much success with direct flash. Generally i find it horrible. But I have come to the conlusion that despite the intrusiveness of flash it can be very effective when used properly. I never used it properly in the past but with digital it's so much easier to experiment until you get a desirable effect.

 

I got the Metz because it was a fraction of the cost of the Leica equivalent. I couldn't see the point in buying another flash unit which only points at the subject. It's a real shame noone makes a very compact flash head that rotates.

 

Metz have discontinued the system though which is a shame. Although given how confusing it all is I'm not surprised. They probably spent zillions of man hours on customer support. The instructions really are crap.

[jaapv]

well, to be fair, it has been widely publicized the the only flashes that give 100% functionality on the M8 and M9 are the SF24D and SF58D. Having said that, the advantage of TTL over A is quite limited.