dem331 Posted March 24, 2016 Share #21 Posted March 24, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Which M are you using? M240-P Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 24, 2016 Posted March 24, 2016 Hi dem331, Take a look here Leica M + Flash SF 40. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
Aliturk Posted March 24, 2016 Share #22 Posted March 24, 2016 (edited) M240-P Sorry that was a dumb question of mine, this being the M240 forum Edited March 24, 2016 by Aliturk Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aliturk Posted March 24, 2016 Share #23 Posted March 24, 2016 I was having similar problems to the O/P until I updated the camera's firmware to the latest. This adds a flash exp compensation to the menu, but is greyed out when using the SF40 as flash comp is done on the flash unit. However, since the firmware upgrade it works perfectly - not sure why but it seems the upgrade enables the camera to communicate with the SF40 properly. It takes nicely balanced indoor and outdoor fill shots. I set both flash and camera to A. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/258431-leica-m-flash-sf-40/?do=findComment&comment=3013506'>More sharing options...
Peter Kilmister Posted March 24, 2016 Share #24 Posted March 24, 2016 There you go! Always a good idea to have the latest firmware. Welcome to the working SF40 club, Aliturk. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cirke Posted March 24, 2016 Share #25 Posted March 24, 2016 (edited) last firmware = 2.0.2.5 http://us.leica-camera.com/Service-Support/Support/Downloads?category=93710&subcategory=&type=108942&language=93871 Edited March 24, 2016 by erick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted March 24, 2016 Author Share #26 Posted March 24, 2016 (edited) Hey! I've tried that tonight and took my time before releasing but it doesn't work :-( My camera is also updated to the last firmware update... Franck Ok I have a different theory, just been doing some more tests. First I also got failures using the lens on uncoded and TTL. Then I realized that if you pressed the shutter release half way and waited for about 1/2 sec then fired it worked perfectly on all settings. I took about 30 shots on differnt settings coded/automatic /uncoded and TTL /A and it works perfectly. Maybe this is the solution. If it is why did Leica not just say? Edited March 24, 2016 by fweens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 24, 2016 Share #27 Posted March 24, 2016 Advertisement (gone after registration) Sorry to hear that. I will continue experimenting. At the very least Leica's instructions are deficient, maybe the whole flash is.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share #28 Posted March 25, 2016 I tried TTL on the flash and A mode on the camera. Was it the same for you ? Which ISO parameter? Best, Franck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted March 25, 2016 Share #29 Posted March 25, 2016 I think either your camera or flash is faulty. Mine works perfectly on my M. I have tested it extensively on the M and on the SL. Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share #30 Posted March 25, 2016 (edited) Thanks Gordon ! The manager of the shop I went to couldn't make it work neither in the low light conditions. I think either your camera or flash is faulty. Mine works perfectly on my M. I have tested it extensively on the M and on the SL. Gordon Edited March 25, 2016 by fweens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FMB Posted March 25, 2016 Share #31 Posted March 25, 2016 May I tell something? And if it is a silly thing excuse me. I've had issues on poor conditions of light with "small" flashes (SF 24 for instance) when sometimes I've shot the camera quicker than the tester light (preflash) of the flash has done its job. The flash did not fire. Try to shoot slower, in that poor conditions. Francisco. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share #32 Posted March 25, 2016 Yes that's what Enrique also told but doesn't work for me. May I tell something? And if it is a silly thing excuse me. I've had issues on poor conditions of light with "small" flashes (SF 24 for instance) when sometimes I've shot the camera quicker than the tester light (preflash) of the flash has done its job. The flash did not fire. Try to shoot slower, in that poor conditions. Francisco. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dem331 Posted March 25, 2016 Share #33 Posted March 25, 2016 Franck, I was shooting manual and fixed ISO - probably about 800 ISO. Shutter speed 1/125. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke_Miller Posted March 25, 2016 Share #34 Posted March 25, 2016 I my M240 flash is the SF-58, so my experience may not apply to the SF-40. It appears to me that when the shutter speed is set to any setting lower than X-Sync (lightning bolt on the shutter speed dial) the camera uses auto slow sync. That is - it tries to balance the flash output with the ambient light. This can produce very nice results when that is what I am trying to achieve, but the metering is easily fooled and the camera may severely limit flash output (to zero in some cases) if there is a bright element in the scene. My M9 did this as well, but the M240 with its higher ISO performance seems much more aggressive in this regard. For those experiencing problems with the SF-40 I suggest trying the X-Sync shutter speed. At this setting the camera seems to ignore the ambient light. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share #35 Posted March 25, 2016 (edited) Thanks Luke! I'll try at X-sync speed to see if I notice a difference :-) Franck I my M240 flash is the SF-58, so my experience may not apply to the SF-40. It appears to me that when the shutter speed is set to any setting lower than X-Sync (lightning bolt on the shutter speed dial) the camera uses auto slow sync. That is - it tries to balance the flash output with the ambient light. This can produce very nice results when that is what I am trying to achieve, but the metering is easily fooled and the camera may severely limit flash output (to zero in some cases) if there is a bright element in the scene. My M9 did this as well, but the M240 with its higher ISO performance seems much more aggressive in this regard. For those experiencing problems with the SF-40 I suggest trying the X-Sync shutter speed. At this setting the camera seems to ignore the ambient light. Edited March 25, 2016 by fweens Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share #36 Posted March 25, 2016 OK at X-sync speed as Luke... I'll try that... Franck Franck, I was shooting manual and fixed ISO - probably about 800 ISO. Shutter speed 1/125. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aliturk Posted March 25, 2016 Share #37 Posted March 25, 2016 I tried TTL on the flash and A mode on the camera. Was it the same for you ? Which ISO parameter? Best, Franck Hey! I've tried that tonight and took my time before releasing but it doesn't work :-( My camera is also updated to the last firmware update... Franck I think you ought to ask for an exchange with another flash unit. Did the dealer try the flash on a different M240? It's a shame you're having such bad luck, as the M240 and SF40 make a great pair Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted March 25, 2016 Author Share #38 Posted March 25, 2016 As said earlier the dealer tried with a different flash and camera and found the same results as I did :-( Franck I think you ought to ask for an exchange with another flash unit. Did the dealer try the flash on a different M240? It's a shame you're having such bad luck, as the M240 and SF40 make a great pair Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Weissman Posted August 17, 2016 Share #39 Posted August 17, 2016 I tried the SF 40 flash on the M240 tonight (latest firmware). I rarely shoot flash at the zero degree (flash head pointing at subject). Normally use bounce flash, which works fine on my other Leicas (SL, T). On the M240 all I got was significant underexposure when bouncing in a less than brightly lit room, but perfect exposure with flash in zero degree (non bounce) position in the same room. To remedy this, I tried all of the suggestions made so far in this forum. The flash itself is not underpowered for the dark room and the other settings I was using. Switching to manual flash and 1/32 or 1/16 power (with all other settings remaining constant) resulted in beautiful, well-lit shots in the darkened room. Surprisingly, I did find one setting that worked in TTL mode with bounce flash: switching the shutter speed to 1/250. Using the supposed top sync speed of 1/180 (the red lightning bolt setting on the shutter speed dial) resulted in the typical underexposure of the other settings. But setting the shutter speed to 1/250 yielded a well exposed picture. Other settings were F4 (using the brightest aperture on a 35mm or 28mm or 50mm MATE--tried them all) and auto ISO (max 3200). This has me quite puzzled since max sync speed is supposed to be 1/180. Max sync yielded terrible results with bounce flash but fine results at 1/250. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fweens Posted August 17, 2016 Author Share #40 Posted August 17, 2016 Hi Ron, Thanks for your post :-) I'll try the 1/250 speed... However in my case, the flash in zero degree position didn't work for me but it worked bounced in other than zero degree positions... Best, Franck Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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