Nikon flash for M8/9?

[Stephen.s1]

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Has anyone, braver than I, tried using the SB800, or its kin on this camera?? And if you had one of those flash units, would you try?

 

(signed) cowardly in Connecticut.

 

S

[Nicoleica]

It works fine in Auto or manual mode. A bit of a beast to balance on top of an 'M' though.

[MikeMyers]

I did this last year, but I never got the feeling it was going to do fill-flash as well as it did on the Nikon. At a recent photo expo, I was told if I really wanted the automated fill flash (ttl) I should get one of the Leica flash units. However, I do so little flash work, I've never done this. I guess the SB800 is better than nothing, especially so since I already have one.

[Vilsonius]

I have tried both SB800 and SB900 on the M8, they work fine on A and M mode but as Nicoleica also stated, they are huge and uncomfortable on M8 body. I also used them with a Nikon cord off camera for bounce . Personally I prefer the SF24D flash on the M8, it's size is more appropriate for the M8

[wentbackward]

SB800 is a wonderful piece of equipment. I've taken some lovely portraits with it in A mode, on it's little stand, bounced off something Just need a cheap radio trigger or sync cord. It's so powerful I've even done full length portraits in smallish rooms with a CV 21/4 lens using a wall as a softbox!

[Stephen.s1]

Many thanks for the positive reenforcement.

 

I may search around for a smaller unit... I don't really need a flash on the m8, but thought it'd be nice to have tucked away.

[daleeman]

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I used my SB800 flash on the 8.2 in A with great success. The issue I had was the Nikon flash would go into sleep mode and you would have to wake it up with pushing the interface buttons on the flash. Not something I would want to do as I waited for the perfect moment for the shot.

 

In that respect the Leica 58 is better but wakes up slow on top of the 8.2. I've wondered about a quantum battery and cable into the 58 for always hot situations... but then 4 packs of NIMH 2500 batteries are cheaper.

 

Lee

[hoppyman]

I've used the earlier SB28 on both M8 and M9. Don't attempt to use the TTL functions just revert to the traditional A setting. These flashes synchronised and worked fine for me both on camera (Manual flash sync speed set) both from the hotshoe and via Nikon's off camera attachment( SC17?) and the Contax (Kyocera) version of that.

[bocaburger]

The nice thing about Nikon flashes is they do have an auto setting w/external sensor. My Canon flashes don't. I happen to have an older Metz 54MZ3 which I haven't bothered to update the SCA module so it works in TTL with the M8, but it works very well in AUTO, and even knows the ISO (and focal length w/ coded lenses) from the camera.

[nzav]

I used my SB800 flash on the 8.2 in A with great success. The issue I had was the Nikon flash would go into sleep mode and you would have to wake it up with pushing the interface buttons on the flash. Not something I would want to do as I waited for the perfect moment for the shot.

 

In that respect the Leica 58 is better but wakes up slow on top of the 8.2. I've wondered about a quantum battery and cable into the 58 for always hot situations... but then 4 packs of NIMH 2500 batteries are cheaper.

 

Lee

 

Have you tried the standby "- - -" mode in the SB800 preference settings? This may be what you need...

[pgk]

I don't know how relevant this is but anyway.....

 

I have a couple of old Nikon SB24 flash units which were designed for film TTL so obviously I don't want them to operate in TTL mode at all. In fact I only ever use them in manual mode.To ensure that the multiple contacts don't cause any trouble (by shorting or whatever) I simply unscrewed the hots shoe section and removed all the sprung loaded contacts except the two required to trigger the flash. They seem to work fine (except on my 5D2 which can't sense the flash's existence) on my M8s. These remain reliable despite being old, and are very cheap these days.

[ndjambrose]

Any flash from any manufacturer will work with any M. Just not with TTL.

 

I use Nikon SB-28 on my M8, M7 and MP. They're easy to use, controllable, smaller than the SB-800 which helps with balance, and offer what I consider are the only two important features in a flash unit -- a choice between auto / manual modes and a rotating head.

 

Flash units are sold on TTL compatibility but I consider it a pointless feature. If you know how to use a flash (and, more importantly, why to use a flash) you'll realise that TTL control is about as useful as a chocolate teapot.