SF 24D any good?

[Hans Roggen]

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I hardly ever use a flash with my Canons. Only when there's really no other way or when I need a little fill light, So, I presume I won't be using a flash on my M8 very often. Still, I was wondering about the SF24D flash. Is it any good or is it a waste of 200something euro?

 

Regards

 

Hans

[Guest guy_mancuso]

It's actually a nice little flash and does a nice job on the M8 and it is small. The only issue that I would like to see a change is making the head moveable so you can bounce with it. Now there maybe a extension cord you can use for it but i doubt you can retain the new flash TTL setup in the M8 . That part i am not sure about.

[jscottyk]

This topic (discussions of the SF24D, SF20, TTL, sync cords, etc.) has been covered extensively.

 

A quick search returns...

 

M8 with flash -- 2 questions

 

SF24D & SF20 Flash

 

SF 24D or SF 20 for M8?

[marknorton]

I'm hoping Metz are going to come out with something better...

[wstotler]

I use the SF 24D on my Digilux 2 and it does a fine job provided that you watch your distance to subjects and are cognizant of the background. It's got better throw than the Digilux 2 flash in the full upward position and I, too, originally thought a rotating head would be better so I could bounce light.

 

However, after 700+ shots with it, I've learned its sweetspots and best uses--so the flash's light doesn't overly look like you've used a flash. It's a distance-to-foreground-subject-background thing, largely. Which is probably true with mostly any flash. (The LCD on the rear provides information to help with this, which is nice.)

 

You can get upwards of 300 shots out of it without needing a new battery.

 

It also feels pretty solid. (It's plastic but certainly built more solidly than the other flashes I looked at in this pricepoint. Although I didn't look *that* hard.) I have the black one, BTW, and I'm pretty happy. Not so sure about the silver one.

 

One would hope that with the high ISOs available on the M8 one could ditch the flash completely for mostly everything--I got it to be able to use 100 ISO (to keep the images clean) on the Digilux 2 indoors when the ambient light was restricting me to f2.0 and 1/30 or slower speeds (pretty common conditions).

 

The pros will weigh in--but as a learning amateur I can say that it hasn't *lost* any photos for me. And has helped.

 

Will

 

P.S. With the Digilux 2, BTW, I sometimes do get red eye from the built-in flash in the full-up position but because of the mounting/positioning of the SF 24D I rarely get red eye.

[tom0511]

I purchased the sf24d 4 weeks ago and have to say I would not get it again.

Regarding exposure accurancy I dont see any advantage in the ttl-metering compared to the auto-mode of my old flashes.

 

For me its still the same: take an image with the flash and decide afterwrds how much exposure comp you have to choose.

 

The only advantage of ttl I see compared to auto-flash-mode is that you can use the flash with all f-stops.

 

The biggest problem with the sf24 is that you can not bounce it.

Alsoif you use TTL-metering you get a remarkable shutter delay between the pre-flash and the mainflash+image. Really bad IMO.

 

I didnt get the metz54 because of size, but after all I have to say that direct flash still to my eye is so ugly that I rarly use the sf24d.

 

I have used a Metz 32ct8 with automode with my film-Ms and also DMR and I like the result much better.

 

My conclusion:

- TTl-flash metering does not help much compared to a flash with good auto mode

- I really miss bouncing/indirect flash

- the sf24d is overpriced. you can get the same images/lightning with a small auto-mode flash for 30 Euros

 

I would compare it to the built in flash in SLRs. However the flash metering of the built in flash of my d200 seeems to deliever more consistent results.

 

Better to invest money in a fast lens for the M8

[Eoin]

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I have a couple of comments to make about the SF24D, If your coming from Canon speedlights this is a whole step backward in terms of auto control and user interface. Firstly the fully auto TTL (GNC) mode emits a pre flash (no surprise here) but the timing between the metering flash and the actual exposure flash is such that subjects seem to "blink" from the initial flash and have their eyes closed for the main picture. I suspect it's the time lag at play here as I never had a problem like this using Canons before.

 

No bounce or tilt flash but by addition of a Nikon SC17 flash cable you are free to move the flash around while maintaining TTL.

 

This flash also emits a lot of IR in the light, so much so that many male subjects tend to look like garden gnomes with red noses and red cheeks. This is even with a UV/IR CUT filter in in place. Women tend not to suffer this indignity due to the makeup used. but plain Jane will look like Mrs Gnome if your not careful.

 

Also turn off the Shutter speed dependent on lens option in your M8 menu if you don't want to be shooting at 1/30sec while the shutter speed dial is set to A on the M8, it reads the lens data and sets shutter speeds close to the lens focal lenghts, I prefer to switch this option off and control the shutter speed with the dial anywhere from 1/250 or slower.

 

The A mode seems to be the best compromise, but you have to keep an eye on the sync range to ensure proper exposure.

 

Oh yea, the batteries CR123's (I think), are outrageously expensive here in Ireland, like €12 each. I found a good supply when I was in Thailand at €1.80 each so I stocked up. I don't know what price they are in your country.

 

As for if it's worth €200, I'd wait until metz release one which should have better features, but if you need one now and you can live with the short comings I have listed and you can work around them, then it gives good results and better than not getting the picture at all.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Couple quick shots using it last week at a 50th BD party, not mine but a friends. i shot it at ISO 640 wth a 28 cron at 5.6 and 1/30 in the TTL mode. It is what it is