hjsesq Posted January 19, 2008 Share #1 Posted January 19, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi, Recently got a SF 24D Flash and the instruction book appears to have been written before the M8 came out (or after it came out and Leica did not rush to change it). I know this flash has been a topic of many threads, but I would like to know if there is specific info on how to use it in the TTL Mode, if that is at all possible. Have played around with it but unsucessful. Leaving on a trip shortly or otherwise would write Leica for a more current instruction book (if there is one)? Can I downloat it somewhere? Or would I be better off taking my Canon 380 EX. Thanks for any assistance. Harris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted January 19, 2008 Posted January 19, 2008 Hi hjsesq, Take a look here SF 24D Flash. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
TEBnewyork Posted January 19, 2008 Share #2 Posted January 19, 2008 There is also information in the M8 users manual on using the flash. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 19, 2008 Share #3 Posted January 19, 2008 Hi, Recently got a SF 24D Flash and the instruction book appears to have been written before the M8 came out (or after it came out and Leica did not rush to change it). I know this flash has been a topic of many threads, but I would like to know if there is specific info on how to use it in the TTL Mode, if that is at all possible. Have played around with it but unsucessful. Leaving on a trip shortly or otherwise would write Leica for a more current instruction book (if there is one)? Can I downloat it somewhere? Or would I be better off taking my Canon 380 EX. Thanks for any assistance. Harris Harris, Firstly read the M8 manual paying particular attention to the menu settings for slow sync. Make sure you have the flash really properly into the flash shoe and that the locking pin is screwed down. It is easy not to have it quite fully home and the flash will behave peculiarly. Switch the flash to TTL/GNC. Switch the camera on with the speed dial on A. Switch the flash on and the distance limits should show on the SF24-D and 250 should come up in the viewfinder. If this does not work, there is either a fault in the SF24-D or the M8. I would very strongly recommend getting the Leicagoodies SFILL soft box for the SF24. It almost but not quite makes up for the inexplicable lack of a decent GNC controlled bounce flash. Finally are the batteries in the flash OK? Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjsesq Posted January 19, 2008 Author Share #4 Posted January 19, 2008 Wilson, The batteries are OK and the flash works - just not able to get it to work in TTL - will try what you recommended and let you know how I make out. Thanks, Harris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan Yoder Posted January 20, 2008 Share #5 Posted January 20, 2008 It should work in TTL/GNC mode. Sort of, meaning that there is a pre-flash first, then the actual flash/shutter release. The pre-flash is for the camera to compute how much to quench the SF24 during the actual exposure. The whole operation is pretty quick, but there is a bit of delay, so the "decisive moment" could be missed. OTOH, the pre-flash should mitigate red-eye. I concur in the recommending of the S-FILL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 20, 2008 Share #6 Posted January 20, 2008 Harris, It may be that either your M8's or SF24-D's tiny brains have become confused. I would suggest taking the batteries out of both for about 24 hours, which will allow both to reset to factory settings, then try again. As I posted above, make sure you switch the camera on first. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjsesq Posted January 20, 2008 Author Share #7 Posted January 20, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Wilson, After doing all that you recomended, what shoud be visible on the LCD screen? With me, it is constant unless I make manuel changes. Thanks, Harris:( Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 20, 2008 Share #8 Posted January 20, 2008 turn the flash & camera off unmount the flash from the camera. Set ther flash to TTL/GNC. Set the camera to A on the shutter speed dial, set the menu option for "Auto Slow Sync" to OFF (1/250s) then turn the camera OFF. Mount the flash on the camera and turn down the locking ring just enough to touch the top on the hot shoe, DO NOT TIGHTEN IT!!! The pin in the flash will go into the hole in the hot shoe locking the flash in place. Turn the camera ON then turn the flash ON. You should see on the flash LCD the distance and f/stop the flash is using. In the camera VF you should see the flash symbol (Jagged arrow) and a shutter speed of 250. Set the Aperture to what it reads on the flash LCD or set the flash to the aperture you want to use. Focus on something and take a shot. You should see a Pre-Flash followed by the real flash. Is this what you see/get?? Post back with results. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 20, 2008 Share #9 Posted January 20, 2008 Wilson, After doing all that you recomended, what shoud be visible on the LCD screen? With me, it is constant unless I make manuel changes. Thanks, Harris:( Harris, Like this. I have slow sync set to lens dependent, so the distance would recognise that I have a Summarit 75 fitted and the ISO is at 320. Wilson Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/43114-sf-24d-flash/?do=findComment&comment=456926'>More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 20, 2008 Share #10 Posted January 20, 2008 Wilson, After doing all that you recomended, what shoud be visible on the LCD screen? With me, it is constant unless I make manuel changes. Thanks, Harris:( Yes what is displayed on the flash LCD is constant unless you manually change the aperture setting on the flash or mount one of the defusers to the flash. The only time the flash will blink the LCD at you is when you have a coded lens attached that does not fit the defuser you have attached to the flash or in the case of having no defuser and you are using a coded LONG or WIDE lens. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 20, 2008 Share #11 Posted January 20, 2008 Yes what is displayed on the flash LCD is constant unless you manually change the aperture setting on the flash or mount one of the defusers to the flash.The only time the flash will blink the LCD at you is when you have a coded lens attached that does not fit the defuser you have attached to the flash or in the case of having no defuser and you are using a coded LONG or WIDE lens. Ed, I have a feeling that the flashing may be dependent upon what slow sync setting you have set. For example in the pic above, I have slow sync set to "lens dependent", I have the wide angle diffuser on and a 75 Summarit fitted. I would have thought it should have been blinking due to an "unsuitable diffuser" but it wasn't. I leave the WA diffuser on all the time as the SF24 is very harsh without it. In fact for flash, I use a SFILL over 90% of the time, as well as the WA diffuser. Why do you recommend not screwing the lock pin on the flash foot into the shoe? Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 20, 2008 Share #12 Posted January 20, 2008 If one overtightens the locking screw the flash shoe contacts may malfunction. Just screwing it down lightly suffices to engage the locking pin. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted January 20, 2008 Share #13 Posted January 20, 2008 Ed, I have a feeling that the flashing may be dependent upon what slow sync setting you have set. For example in the pic above, I have slow sync set to "lens dependent", I have the wide angle diffuser on and a 75 Summarit fitted. I would have thought it should have been blinking due to an "unsuitable diffuser" but it wasn't. I leave the WA diffuser on all the time as the SF24 is very harsh without it. In fact for flash, I use a SFILL over 90% of the time, as well as the WA diffuser. Well the only time I saw the flash LCD blink was this morning when I took the wide angle defuser off, which like you I have on 99.99999% of the time, and had a 21mm Elmarit fitted to the camera. I believe that the flash can tell you have to wide of a lens attached for the normal flash pattern or with telephoto defuser attached but doesn't care if you have to long a lens attached with the wide defuser in place. You just get less flash range with the wide defuser on. Why do you recommend not screwing the lock pin on the flash foot into the shoe? Wilson Please Re-Read that part of my post. I never said NOT TO screw down the locking ring. I DID SAY to screw it down until IT JUST TOUCHES the TOP of the HOT SHOE. That in fact will move the pin into the hole on the hot shoe, AND MORE. The hole isn't that deep. Please excuse my shouting as I have not been feeling well for the last week and I'm a little touchy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 20, 2008 Share #14 Posted January 20, 2008 Please Re-Read that part of my post. I never said NOT TO screw down the locking ring. I DID SAY to screw it down until IT JUST TOUCHES the TOP of the HOT SHOE. That in fact will move the pin into the hole on the hot shoe, AND MORE. The hole isn't that deep. Please excuse my shouting as I have not been feeling well for the last week and I'm a little touchy. Ed, Apologies - also got the flu today (the only thing I ever got free from my bank manager) and I misread your post. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hjsesq Posted January 21, 2008 Author Share #15 Posted January 21, 2008 Ed, Followed your directions and it works like a charm with the 35mm Lux. Many thanks and hope you are feeling better. Have had the M8 for over a year and never had a need to use a flash but headed out to the Cowboy Poets Gathering in Nevada in a week and know I will need it there. Also, I believe it was on the photo Wilson provided I saw a red button on the shutter release. Is that one of the minature softies? Really appreciate all the assistance from everyone. Harris :) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 21, 2008 Share #16 Posted January 21, 2008 Ed, Followed your directions and it works like a charm with the 35mm Lux. Many thanks and hope you are feeling better. Have had the M8 for over a year and never had a need to use a flash but headed out to the Cowboy Poets Gathering in Nevada in a week and know I will need it there. Also, I believe it was on the photo Wilson provided I saw a red button on the shutter release. Is that one of the minature softies? Really appreciate all the assistance from everyone. Harris :) Harris. Yes that is an Abrahamsson mini-softie. It has been quite amazing, as us Leica guys must be quite shy, since only one elderly German gent in Barcelona last year, struck up a conversation about the M8 but I have had about 4 or 5 come up and ask where they can get a red shutter button. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertW Posted January 22, 2008 Share #17 Posted January 22, 2008 Thanks for the detailed instructions, Ed. I just bought my 24D second hand so it didn't come with any instructions. I followed the instructions and works like a charm in TTL mode. Just wondering if TTL works so well, under what circumstances would you use the "A mode" on the flash? If I wanted to could always "mismatch" the lens aperture (compared to the setting on the flash) if I wanted to over expose or under expose in TTL mode. Don't seem to need the "A mode" at all:confused: ? Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted January 22, 2008 Share #18 Posted January 22, 2008 On a number of cameras, especially older ones, there is no TTL. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wlaidlaw Posted January 22, 2008 Share #19 Posted January 22, 2008 Thanks for the detailed instructions, Ed. I just bought my 24D second hand so it didn't come with any instructions. I followed the instructions and works like a charm in TTL mode. Just wondering if TTL works so well, under what circumstances would you use the "A mode" on the flash? If I wanted to could always "mismatch" the lens aperture (compared to the setting on the flash) if I wanted to over expose or under expose in TTL mode. Don't seem to need the "A mode" at all:confused: ? Rob Rob, You used to be able to download a PDF file of the SF24D instructions from the Leica wesite but I can't find it now. I used to have a scanned in part copy that I could have sent to you but it is sitting on the hard drive of my lightning fried iBook. Maybe someone else has a copy. Wilson Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobertW Posted January 23, 2008 Share #20 Posted January 23, 2008 Rob, You used to be able to download a PDF file of the SF24D instructions from the Leica wesite but I can't find it now. I used to have a scanned in part copy that I could have sent to you but it is sitting on the hard drive of my lightning fried iBook. Maybe someone else has a copy. Wilson Thanks Wilson for the thought. I'm not too sure if there is anything else I need to know about the flash if I just go with TTL. Hey how did lightning fry your iBook? Best Rob Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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