NikonJeff Posted September 17, 2014 Share #21 Posted September 17, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) When I looked into purchasing the Metz 58-AF flash for my M9 I spoke to Metz directly and was told it would not do TTL properly and I would need the Leica SF-58. I lucked out and found a good deal on a used SF-58 with the Leica diffuser and it has worked great. The controls are menu driven which equates to annoying and slow to work with IMHO which is the only downside to me. Suppose I'm spoiled by all the wiz-bang goodness that the Nikon flash system has offered me over the years... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted September 17, 2014 Posted September 17, 2014 Hi NikonJeff, Take a look here Leica SF58 vs Metz 58 AF-2. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
dante Posted September 17, 2014 Share #22 Posted September 17, 2014 I just feel sorry Leica cannot come up with something designed for the M. Something in a size of Metz 20 C-2 or 36 or Nikon SB400, but with the tilt and swivel head, and maybe few more Auto modes plus adjustable power... Which is an SF 58. You're just unhappy with the size (and probably also the price). The flashes you rattled off in that post don't have any sophisticated features (which is why they are so small), and by the time you get to those features, no matter who makes the flash, the flash is already 90% of the size of an SF 58 if not more. Why? Because bounce and swivel require significant flash power to be usable, and that doesn't come from a pocketable flash. It requires a 4-AA unit. Size is required for heat dissipation, the big capacitors necessary to support HSS, and to move the flash head away from the lens axis. Here's a nice page that shows you how much space is wasted in a "big" flash. None. HiViz - Guidebook Activity 1 The smallest flash that currently has the equivalent to the features you want is a Nikon SB-800, which is less than an inch lower and 0.4 inches shorter (front to back) than the SF 58. The Canon Speedlite 600EX is even closer to the size of an SF-58. Anything with bounce and swivel is roughly the same size as the SF 58. And even the Nikon and Canon models that omit automatic modes (the "cheapo" flashes) are only tenths of an inch smaller. The Typ 240 - as all cameras - also benefits from more light. Dante Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mirekti Posted September 17, 2014 Share #23 Posted September 17, 2014 Which is an SF 58. You're just unhappy with the size (and probably also the price). It's the size that puts me off a bit. The price isn't an issue, it only tickles a bit when I see products like CL-360 or similar while ignoring the size obstacle. Anyhow, still very interested in purchasing SF58 as it is the only option that gives tilt, swivel and HSS in one package. Thanks for the comments. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulsydaus Posted September 22, 2014 Share #24 Posted September 22, 2014 The SF-58 is a great flash but the only disappointing thing for me is that it doesn't accept any triggering sync ports for off camera usage. The solution is a bit unwieldy if you are trying to integrate it into an external group. I use the Elinchrom SPEED transmitter and you need both a receiver as well as a Metz hot shoe adapter (for Nikon) and a 3.5mm to PC cord. A bit cumbersome really and plenty of potential points of failure... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted September 28, 2014 Share #25 Posted September 28, 2014 It's the size that puts me off a bit. The price isn't an issue, it only tickles a bit when I see products like CL-360 or similar while ignoring the size obstacle.Anyhow, still very interested in purchasing SF58 as it is the only option that gives tilt, swivel and HSS in one package. Thanks for the comments. what about the t system flash? should work on the M. does it have hss? Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kikouyou Posted September 30, 2014 Share #26 Posted September 30, 2014 I am using the sf-58 off body with full synch connected to the mf grip and Leica cable. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bab Posted September 30, 2014 Share #27 Posted September 30, 2014 Advertisement (gone after registration) I'm using an Olympus flash works perfect also bought from cowboy a wireless gizmo for cheap, that also works perfect with the Oly flash off camera. However that being said flas photography at f5.6-8 isn't the most flattering of images when it's the main light source. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wparsonsgisnet Posted October 17, 2014 Share #28 Posted October 17, 2014 I have both a Metz 54MZ-4 and a 58AF-2 that I use with my M9 and M8. I have just burned out the strobe on the 54 -- and it was REPLACED less than 6 months ago. *&^%$#@! So, I'm not gonna fix it. I'm gonna buy an SF58. The problem I am having is that I can't find the cable for a Quantum Turbo 2X2 in any online search, and the cables are different for the 54 and the 58 Metz units. (In regard to finding this kind of stuff, the Leica Camera USA website is not very helpful. An FAQ would work wonders. Since there is a significant price difference between the Metz 58 and the Leica SF58, you would think that they would be anxious to offer info.) Does anyone use the SF58 with a Turbo 2X2, and does that person know if the cable is the same? Best regards to all, Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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