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M 240 flash light recommendation


leica1215

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I just got my SF54 last week and got it for last Sunday wedding. I think it is great. But I end up using only manual mode. So I am returning it and buying a Metz SCA3502 adapter to place on my 13 years 54 metz flashgun.

 

My thought TTL did not work for me. I end up using manual at 1/8 to 1/4 power and using F8 on len set for zone focusing.

 

but , the setup was heavy. I may just end up a sf24 if I really want some to travel with.

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Be careful with the SF58 on the M240. With the current FW on the 240 it will jam part of the functionality of the flash. Believe me, I have tested two M240 bodies and three M240 units. All caused the jam. Switching the flash on and off does not rectify it. Only a hard reset of the flash will solve it. I have notified Leica.

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In my experience, TTL and other auto-flash modes, and a flash mounted on the camera, aren't very helpful. More consistent with the whole Leica experience is to use a simple manual flash with easy-to-adjust power settings from full - 1/64, and a remote trigger. I got both from Scott Robert Lim, who has some great stuff on his web site about manual flash photography, as well as a nifty flash power calculator app for iOS). Inexpensive, simple to set up and use, and gives great results on any camera. It's also a LOT cheaper than an SF58...

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  • 2 weeks later...

Since I had my Leica SF58 returned. I just purchase a Nikon SB700 to try.

 

pros:

 

-smaller than the sf58

-control are easier to set

 

cons:

 

-it only work sometimes.

-the camera freeze up (how?) the shutter button locks out.

-the hot shoe is loose, but it won't fall out.

-my viewfinder line acts up crazy.

 

 

Now the question. I hear that nikon flash will work with lecia. how can i make it work. I really want to keep it. I got it for a great price. it was way less than the SF24D. :)

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Since I had my Leica SF58 returned. I just purchase a Nikon SB700 to try.

 

pros:

 

-smaller than the sf58

-control are easier to set

 

cons:

 

-it only work sometimes.

-the camera freeze up (how?) the shutter button locks out.

-the hot shoe is loose, but it won't fall out.

-my viewfinder line acts up crazy.

 

 

Now the question. I hear that nikon flash will work with lecia. how can i make it work. I really want to keep it. I got it for a great price. it was way less than the SF24D. :)

 

 

Just a guess since I have no experience with either the SB-700 or Leica M240. I do use Nikon flashes (SB-600 & SB-800) with my M9 without issue. I suggest you make sure the flash is not in TTL mode. Since Nikon TTL is not compatible with Leica TTL the flash may be confusing the M240 causing the problem you are seeing. Manual mode should work fine. I don't know if GN mode will work with the M240 since the flash needs ISO, aperture and focus distance data. I doubt it can be manually entered, but I could be wrong.

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Be careful with the SF58 on the M240. With the current FW on the 240 it will jam part of the functionality of the flash. Believe me, I have tested two M240 bodies and three M240 units. All caused the jam. Switching the flash on and off does not rectify it. Only a hard reset of the flash will solve it. I have notified Leica.

 

I used the SF 58 with my M for the whole of one evening a couple of weeks ago and aside from one or two occasions when the recycling was a little slower than ideally I would have wanted, I had no problems at all.

 

I wasn't very ambitious with the flash settings though, just using TTL. But it dealt well with some very awkward and varied lighting.

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Just a guess since I have no experience with either the SB-700 or Leica M240. I do use Nikon flashes (SB-600 & SB-800) with my M9 without issue. I suggest you make sure the flash is not in TTL mode. Since Nikon TTL is not compatible with Leica TTL the flash may be confusing the M240 causing the problem you are seeing. Manual mode should work fine. I don't know if GN mode will work with the M240 since the flash needs ISO, aperture and focus distance data. I doubt it can be manually entered, but I could be wrong.

 

 

The sb700 is set to full manual. I dont know if the M9 and M240 is different on the flash side.

 

 

Any tips or hints ... .... thanks

 

or should i just look for a SB600/800 instead.?

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You might consider getting a Nikon AS-15 (or similar) to put in your M240 hot shoe.

 

Nikon AS-15 Sync Terminal Adapter (Hot Shoe to PC) 3066 B&H

 

That would allow you to use a cord such as this one.

 

Impact Sync Cord Male PC to Hot Shoe - 1.5' (45 cm) 10032360 B&H

 

 

This setup would bypass the other flash contacts in the hot shoe which may be the source of your problem.

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The sb700 is set to full manual. I dont know if the M9 and M240 is different on the flash side.

 

 

Any tips or hints ... .... thanks

 

or should i just look for a SB600/800 instead.?

 

Why spend big bucks on an advanced flash like an SB700 if you are going to be in manual mode all the time? Unless you use it on Nikon cameras as well, get a basic manual flash - it's generally a lot easier to set the flash power on these than fiddling around with lots of menus.

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I know there are some Yongnuo flashes made for Nikon which apparently performe well, and one can get them cheap.

I believe you can get some triggers and few flashes for the price of Nikon or Leica flash only. I read someone had experience using them on forum, but not sure was it on M or M9. It shouldn't matter though.

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The sb700 is set to full manual. I dont know if the M9 and M240 is different on the flash side.

 

 

Any tips or hints ... .... thanks

 

or should i just look for a SB600/800 instead.?

 

The manufacturing tolerance for flashes is looser than it is for camera bodies and lenses. These lead to small but some times significant differences that are some times noticeable. This leads odd things like two flashes (same model) fit differently on the M series hotshoe, resulting in one working and one misbehaving or not working at all. If you do a Google search for Nikon flashes on the M9, you'll see plenty of people reporting this.

 

As some one else pointed out Nikon TTL is not the same as Leica TTL. The premium you're paying for the SB speedlite is not worth it, unless you also use Nikon cameras. Get a good manual flash. Lomopro makes a fantastic model, and the Yongnuo are no slouches either.

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One thing you might want to consider in your decision is that the SF58 supports high speed flash synchronisation on the M240. I don't think the other units mentioned support that with the M240...

The M is the only camera in the digital M series that gives you HSS-ttl in other words you can use flash up to 1/4000sec I recently found this useful at a wedding to give some fill to faces in very contrasty light. IMHO the only serious flash to get with the M is the SF58. yes it is pricey like all things leica but you get a fantastic unit with full functionality on the M. Lastly it is large but then so are all flashes (as far as I know) that have a similar power output and after a while you just get used to it

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