TTL flash shooting at full blast

[k0diak]

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Hi,

 

A first timer here and a happy M user for a while. I started using flash recently on the M body (with a bit of previous digital experience) but I'm a little baffled. I'm using an M6 TTL (with perfectly functional ambient light meter) and an SF58 mounted to the hot shoe and also experimenting off shoe with a Nikon cable but ignore that for the sake of the question as it might influence things.

 

So when I'm setting up the flash I'm using fairly common settings of F4-8 at ISO400. I set this in the flash manually including a matching focal length, shooting with a 50mm from about 3 meters at a human size test object.

 

For some reason, the TTL flash always seems to go off full blast (judging by the lengthy recycling) and more often than not (unless I put some modifiers that swallow light) I get an overexposed image. I've tried to compensate +/- but it doesn't quite seem to relate and the long recycle period still persist.

 

If I shoot the same scene(s) in Auto, I can get decent exposure with minimal recycle time even with various small light modifiers.

 

So the question:

 

1, Is this the way film TTL supposed to work? On digital, there is a preflash and the exposure flash is set up using that. From what I understand on film there is no preflash and measuring an accumulated exposure then cuts off as needed. So I assume the TTL always starts with aiming for full power. Is this correct?

 

2, If this is true and the cutoff happens a lot earlier than full power (1/150s), surely the recycle time would be a lot shorter (like I put the flash in M P1/16 and practically can keep shooting continously).

 

3, Is it possible that my flash meter on the body is not functioning? How to test it?

 

Thank you!

[madNbad]

Just a question, are you setting the flash to TTL mode? I haven't used an SF-58 but with my Metz 54 MZ-4 I'll set to TTL mode and it works just fine with my M6 TTL. With a proper exposure there is a confirmation tone from the flash and the "lightning bolt" in the viewfinder will blink rapidly. Welcome to the forum.

[k0diak]

Thank you!

 

Yes it's in TTL mode and more often than not I don't get the confirmation beep. Under same circumstances I do get it with Auto.

[madNbad]

Unlike digital, the ancient circuitry in your M6 shuts off the flash when it has received enough light. No pre-flash to set things up before the actual exposure. Check the battery in the camera. Even if it's giving you accurate readings in meter mode it may not have enough juice to keep up with the TTL work. It is kind of frustrating at times and hard to diagnose where the problem lies. The circuit board in the M6 is not noted for causing problems but there may be a loose connection beneath the hot shoe. If you have a way to bypass the cameras' hot shoe and use the PC socket it may give you an answer. Good luck.

[k0diak]

Problem solved with new batteries, thanks a lot!

[madNbad]

Glad it was a simple fix! Enjoy your M6 TTL they are great cameras.

[too old to care]

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Moving from 6x6 (Mamiya TLR) to my M6 TTL a few years ago to do a wedding, I learned a valuable lesson. if the battery is really low the flash will not even fire. I do not use the TTL feature either, just the flash socket. I now carry a spare set if I am using flash.