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Flash to M8


roshuu

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Hey.

 

What do you recommend flash to the M8? There is a nice variety of manual flash on the market, but I would like to buy something certain, proven. What do you recommend? Oh necessarily control the burner in different directions. Nissin, Metz, Sunpak?I

I would imagine that your choice of unit might depend upon your application? You will definitely need to consider purchasing a Wein Safe Sync Hot Shoe (which you can easily get from B & H and others) to ensure that you do not stress the electronics on the M8 with the high trigger voltages common with older flash units. 

 

I rarely use flash myself. When I do, I use a hand-held Vivitar 283 unit with a trigger voltage of something in the neighborhood of 200+ volts) along with a Wein Safe Sync Hot Shoe. But, again, I do this rarely --usually when I want to create "flash" photographs (i.e., photographs where the use of a flash is obvious and integral to the image).

 

I'm sure that plenty of "pro" users will reply to this with more interesting recommendations.

 

TR

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I would imagine that your choice of unit might depend upon your application? You will definitely need to consider purchasing a Wein Safe Sync Hot Shoe (which you can easily get from B & H and others) to ensure that you do not stress the electronics on the M8 with the high trigger voltages common with older flash units. 

 

I rarely use flash myself. When I do, I use a hand-held Vivitar 283 unit with a trigger voltage of something in the neighborhood of 200+ volts) along with a Wein Safe Sync Hot Shoe. But, again, I do this rarely --usually when I want to create "flash" photographs (i.e., photographs where the use of a flash is obvious and integral to the image).

 

I'm sure that plenty of "pro" users will reply to this with more interesting recommendations.

 

TR

There's no Wein Safe Sync Hot Shoe, do you think it's dangerous?

 

See: https://youtu.be/d5Z7paC3fDE?t=367

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The choice depends on how you intend to control the flash.  Most flashes will work in manual and Auto (auto-thyrister) modes, but only Leica branded ones will work in TTL mode.  So if TTL flash exposure control is important you need a Leica brand flash that is compatible with the digital M bodies.  My understanding is the Leica flash shoe is good for 250 volts so a Safe Sync is not normally needed.

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There's no Wein Safe Sync Hot Shoe, do you think it's dangerous?

 

See: https://youtu.be/d5Z7paC3fDE?t=367

It all depends on what flash the guy in the video is using, and more specifically the trigger voltage of the flash he is using.

 

Like Luke said, M8 can take up to 250 volts, so if the flash you intend to use on your M8 has a trigger voltage of no more than 250 volt you do not need to invest in a Wein Safe-Sync.

 

There are a couple of places on the internet that provide trigger voltage information such as http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html and http://dpanswers.com/roztr/volt_finder.php. Like anything internet use that information with caution. I always do my own measurement with a multi-meter. If a flash gets too close to the limit I'd place safe and not use it (or with a Wein Safe-sync).

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Use the Safe Sync to be safe.   I use mine with Nikon SB910`s and various Nikon bodies.  The safe sync has a screw in connector and so does the sb910 so I use a male to male coiled cord in a stroboframe so the coiled cord is screwed in both ends.  

 

With Leica I just use it in auto mode or manual, not ttl, It bounces and swivels and comes with two diffusers.  

 

Using the double screw in cord,  unit can be used off camera and never worry over it pulling out.  

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According to Leica the maximum voltage on the hot shoe is 600 Volts with the digital M cameras. I do not think that there is any flash that gets that high.

There has not been a single report of Leica M electronics being damaged by trigger voltage over the last ten years.

 

Let's  not create  any myths

 

 

It all depends on what flash the guy in the video is using, and more specifically the trigger voltage of the flash he is using.

Like Luke said, M8 can take up to 250 volts, so if the flash you intend to use on your M8 has a trigger voltage of no more than 250 volt you do not need to invest in a Wein Safe-Sync.

There are a couple of places on the internet that provide trigger voltage information such as http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html and http://dpanswers.com/roztr/volt_finder.php. Like anything internet use that information with caution. I always do my own measurement with a multi-meter. If a flash gets too close to the limit I'd place safe and not use it (or with a Wein Safe-sync).

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.... I do not think that there is any flash that gets that high.....

Not any modern ones, in any event. I wouldn't bet on the the flashes from the first decade or so having low voltage triggers. However, I don't think anyone here is likely to use one of those, and those who do presumably know what they're doing. Hopefully.

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Well, yes, you must be careful not to get any burning Magnesium on your lens either. :ph34r::D

In  the flash list linked to the highest voltage is 325 V with one rumoured 600 V.

I'm sure Leica's 600V safety limit has a bit of reserve in it ;)

Btw, Mark Norton did indeed report high-voltage components  in the hotshoe electronics in his Anatomy thread.

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  • 2 months later...

None of them supports TTL from M8. If you want TTL - you need flash which works with M8, M9 TTL, not just any Leica flash, but flash with digital M compatibility. If you are using non-Leica flash it is in Manual or it might still works in Auto (by flash).

The only one I'm aware of to be working without issues on M8, M9 and to be less expensive is Leica SF-26. I purchased it as ex-demo from Italian Leica dealer. They say, SF-24D also works with M8, M9 but I don't know about TTL.

http://en.leica-camera.com/Photography/Leica-M/Technical-Equipment/Flash-Units/SF24D-Flash

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