triggering SF 58 from the X-contact port on an MP

[jbl]

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Hi,

 

I'm interested in getting a flash for my MP for some indoor work. Since I use a Thumbs-Up on my MP, the flash shoe isn't hot which means I either have to remove the Thumbs-Up or use the contact port. My preference would be to keep the Thumbs-Up in place, so that means a sync cable.

 

I've not been able to figure out if the Leica SF 58 can by triggered off the x-contact port on an MP. I figure it must be able to, but I can't seem to find anything in the documentation that says that and I can't seem to find what the cable would be.

 

I think the Metz definitely can be triggered that way though.

 

Can anyone tell me for sure?

 

-jbl

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[budrichard]

The X port will fire your SF 58 on your MP but you must set the correct shutter speed on the MP and enter the ASA, f stop on the SF58 and put the SF 58 into AUTO mode. Any synch cord that fits the ports will do. I don't have an SF 58 yet but do have Metz unit that I mostly use off camera on a handle mount. You must find the synch contact on your SF58.

Do you know how you are going to mount the SF 58 with your MP? I don't know if that unit has provisions for off camera mounting. You best bet and probably the simplest is to remove the accessory and just mount the SF 58 directly to the MP which I believe you will still have to use in AUTO as the MP does not have TTL flash capability.-As you haven't made a purchase yet, I would suggest an SF24 unit mounted on the hot shoe. Much smaller than the SF58, its only problem is that it can only handle 24mm lens withe Wide Angle diffuser and does not rotate for bounce flash. I have an SF24 and use it for most of my work with 35mm to 90mm lenses. When I use my 21mm, I then use the Metz unit which will handle up to 21mm. I believe the SF 58 will handle an 18mm lens and of course bounce any which way but its big. Dick

[dpattinson]

I have the SF58 and there doesn't appear to be an x-synch socket on the flash. I guess you would need to buy an adapter that fits onto the shoe of the flash and has a socket to attach the cable.

 

I use a Nikon SC-28 cable to attach my SF58 to my M8/M7, won't work for you though because it requires a hot shoe connection (and it's really designed for off-camera flash).

 

I thought there was a thumbs-up version that retained the hot-shoe?

 

(as an aside, if you don't intend to use the flash on a Leica camera with TTL function - then you would likely save quite a bit by just buying the equivalent Metz unit)

[jbl]

Thanks for the information.

 

Since I won't be doing TTL, are the Metz and the Leica SF58 roughly equivalent? I know they both have auto mode, is that reasonably usable or do you need to everything on manual?

 

I'm sure there's a simple answer to this, but I just can't get my head around why shutter speed doesn't matter for flash exposure. It would seem that if I shoot at 1/50 or 1/8, the flash exposure would be the same (based on distance, guide number and aperture), but the amount of light let in the lens by the scene itself would be more than 4x as much. I've never really done flash photography, so I'm sure I'm just missing something here.

 

Thanks.

 

-jbl

[budrichard]

Just read through the SF58 manual whiich I had previously downloaded because I was thinking of purchasing one. As Posted, there is no synch port on the SF 58, just like the SF24, so its really not to useful for the MP and because you have no electronic flash experience, probably has too many options also. Now I know why I didn't purchase one but continue to use my Metz 40-Mz unit because it both mounts on camera with the 3502 M4 adapater for Leica cameras and mounts on a handle unit which has a port for X synch. I don't know if the equivalent Metz unit has a port either. you may be better served by one of thier handle units but its a bit of overkill. what you really need is as I already suggested is a simple unit mounted on your existing hot shoe on the MP. Good luck -Dick

BTW, the lumens supplied by the electronic flash usually are much higher than the lumens attained from the shutter speed, therfore it doesn't matter what the shutter speed as long as the shutter is full open when the flash fires. There are other modes such as HSS That fire a sequence of flashes as the shutter slit traverses the frame but only used in Manual which renders them an oddity, not very useful.

Any flash that has an AUTO Mode works quite well these days and that's all there was before TTL flash or you can go further back and there was only Manual.

I use my Metz unit with an M6 and 21mm ASPH in AUTO, synch cord to the handle mount because the finder must mount to the hotshoe. Works quite well.

[jbl]

Thanks, Dick.

 

Do you happen to have any examples online I can see of your flash work?

 

-jbl

[budrichard]

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Low res scans taken for Elaine Dame, Chicago jazz singer and until recently on her website but website redone and I can't find them so will Post here.

Leica M7, 35mm Lux ASPH, K64 and SF24D in TTL Mode. Cavernous hall so bounce flash won't work and only direct flash usable.-Dick

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