innerimager Posted February 18, 2007 Share #1 Posted February 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) Having never touched the M8's shoe mount with a ,gulp, flash, and before fooling around and testing myself- can you tell me about using nikon flashes (SB-800) on the M8? thanks....Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted February 18, 2007 Posted February 18, 2007 Hi innerimager, Take a look here SB-800 flash?. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Shootist Posted February 18, 2007 Share #2 Posted February 18, 2007 I wouldn't try it. I have read some reports that the Nikon Flashes don't work on a M8 and can cause some problems with the M8. Try a google search "M8 with SB 800". Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d_brown Posted February 18, 2007 Share #3 Posted February 18, 2007 I use a Nikon SB-28 in Auto mode on my M8 with good results, but I tape all except the center pin just to be safe. Don't want to fry the flash circuitry just yet. The SB-28 works just as well as my old Metz. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 18, 2007 Share #4 Posted February 18, 2007 You can use the a Nikon flash in conventional auto or manual mode. In auto mode, you set the ISO manually and the flash tells you, for a range of shooting distance which aperture to use on the camera. Works fine, but does seem a bit crude after using the flash on a Nikon dSLR and Leica's SF-24D has the Guide Number Control (GNC) which is easier to use. I think we're all waiting for Metz to come out with a flash which is better than the SF-24D, more powerful with a swivelling head but perhaps not the bulk of the big Metz flashes. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 18, 2007 Share #5 Posted February 18, 2007 BTW, reading the other posts, there is no danger of cooking the M8 electronics. I've just checked - again - the SB800 centre pin voltage - 3.67 volts. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted February 18, 2007 Share #6 Posted February 18, 2007 Mark, my research also indicates the SB-800 should be fine, but I still haven't worked up the courage to actually try it myself. Have you? Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted February 18, 2007 Author Share #7 Posted February 18, 2007 Advertisement (gone after registration) thanks all. I'm in the "haven't worked up the courage mode" still.....Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 18, 2007 Share #8 Posted February 18, 2007 Yes, I have and the Nikon flash works fine. You may be worried about the SB800 but it actually forms part of Nikon's Creative Lighting System which is just fab. I use it all the time for macro work. The Leica SF-24D provides the best functionality when used on the M8, but it's a bit of a runt when it comes to power, reach and no tilt and swivel head. Put the SB-800 on, adjust the zoom to match the focal length (allowing for crop factor) and it's an entirely different animal. Still only normal automatic and we'll have to hope that there's something better coming down the road. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 18, 2007 Share #9 Posted February 18, 2007 thanks all. I'm in the "haven't worked up the courage mode" still.....Peter Hah! If you're worried about that, you should see what I'm doing to one of the M8 battery chargers.... LOL. Voiding the warranty doesn't begin to describe it... ROTFLMAO... Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
innerimager Posted February 18, 2007 Author Share #10 Posted February 18, 2007 Hah! If you're worried about that, you should see what I'm doing to one of the M8 battery chargers.... LOL. Voiding the warranty doesn't begin to describe it... ROTFLMAO... oh boy. I'd ask you to post pictures but I guess they may be too upsetting. We need R rated for such posts!......Peter Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rpierce Posted February 18, 2007 Share #11 Posted February 18, 2007 Anyone with SB80 experience with the M8? I have used it in Manual Mode. But with only limited experimentation, I have not made it work in Auto Mode yet. The voltages should be about the same as the SB800, so I don't think it would exceed the levels acceptable to the M8...If this is incorrect, then please let me know.. Thanks, Bob Pierce Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 18, 2007 Share #12 Posted February 18, 2007 Bob, the SB80 is fine too.... Peter, just waiting for parts, then all will be revealed! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gesper Posted February 18, 2007 Share #13 Posted February 18, 2007 Mark, what do you mean by adjsut the zoom "allowing for the crop factor?" Shouldn't you set it for the nominal focal length of the lens and it will take care of itself (e.g, set at 35 for a 35mm lens)? I assumed Nikon kept it consistent this way so you could use the SB800 with film or digital cameras. (By the way, I use the SB800 on a D200 and love the whole CLS functionality. I wish we had soemthing comparable for the Leica, including remote triggering.) Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisC Posted February 18, 2007 Share #14 Posted February 18, 2007 Hah! .......you should see what I'm doing to one of the M8 battery chargers.... Mark - I bet you're using it to flatten old 20x16 prints, am I right? Your reply about SB800 and the [fantastic] Nikon remote flash system is encouraging as I intend to use the Nikon remote flash system fired by an SU 800 IR 'commander'. I too agree that frying an M8 is not a cool thing to do. ................Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 18, 2007 Share #15 Posted February 18, 2007 The focal length on the flash sets the reflector for film cameras - worse case and even on Nikon dSLRs, you can select longer if you need to. With the M8, if you've got a 35mm lens on the camera and are looking for the maximum reach, set the Nikon flash to 50mm. Dont worry about the fact the Leica EqFoV is 47mm, it's close enough. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marknorton Posted February 18, 2007 Share #16 Posted February 18, 2007 Chris, yes, fill the charger with lead and it makes a good paper-weight.... I've been trying to get the M8 to work the SU-800 (for non Nikon users, a flash master controller which can IR-trigger several slaves) but no joy so far. To be fair, it's not the sort of application I would use the M8 for but it's fun to play with it. The SB-800 on the M8 is absolutely fine... bit cumbersome on the camera though. Since it's only being used in auto mode, I'm going to look at basic IR triggering options. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted February 18, 2007 Share #17 Posted February 18, 2007 I took a deep breath and shoved an Olympus FL-50 flash into my M8 a few nights ago. Israeli houses tend to have nice white ceilings at a standard height, so setting the flash for manual, pointing it up, using the "zoom" setting to control spread and strength of the signal and using a shutter speed of about 1/60 @f/5.6 worked just great (ISO 160). The FL-50 is Olympus' version of the Canon 550, I think. It swivels, zooms, and does all sorts of neat tricks on the E-1. scott Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shootist Posted February 18, 2007 Share #18 Posted February 18, 2007 Thanks for the info guys. I just tried a SB 600 with the M8 and it works. Not that I would ever use a flash with the M8 but it's nice to know that if I ever need to I wouldn't need to run out and buy another flash just for the M8. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guy_mancuso Posted February 18, 2007 Share #19 Posted February 18, 2007 Since I have the big Metz was thinking about the SB 600 for the smaller need. The Metz is bigger than the M8 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
scott kirkpatrick Posted February 18, 2007 Share #20 Posted February 18, 2007 Since I have the big Metz was thinking about the SB 600 for the smaller need. The Metz is bigger than the M8 The FL-50 and Canon 550 are about the same size as the M8, and pretty powerful. Now how to get TTL metering? scott Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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