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SF26 or the SF40?

ECohen

By ECohen
in Leica M (Type 240 / 262)

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ECohen

ECohen

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I'm looking for a different  flash for my M 240.

 
Its use will be simple casual family and event documentation. 
Pop it against the ceiling and reduce the base  power by 1/2 to a full stop for a more natural look.
Also I want to take full advantage of M240's  TTL
 
I have 2 choices the SF26 and the SF40.
 
Can anyone share  real experience with either of these flashes? I like the small size of the SF26 but the lack of power and recycle time is a concern. On the other hand is the SF40 over kill?  It seems like over kill because of the adjustment dial on the rear ...Which do I use the strobes adjustments or the M240 menu adjustment?  
 
Was either designed specifically to work seamlessly with the M240 ?
 
Yes I know many flashes will work on the M...I have been using my Nikon SB800. And now as I said I want to take full advantage of M240's TTL and perhaps reduce the chunkiness of my kit
 
Is it a question of the brand/build Metz vs Nissan?  Or a question of size? ....recycle time /power?
 
What are your votes  SF26 or the SF40? .......Today I'm leaning toward the SF40 but I would love to be talked into the 26.
I'm sure either will be fine but like all Leica decisions, over thinking is part of the fun.
 
Thanks in advance for your help and advice.
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Luke_Miller

Luke_Miller

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I would not use a TTL capable flash on my M240 that did not also offer auto-thyrister and manual modes.  In my experience Leica's TTL flash control is strongly influenced by bright backgrounds or a light source in the frame.  This can result in significant underexposure including the flash not firing at all.  In these situation I find auto-thyrister flash produces better results.  Also with a TTL-only flash there is no avoiding the pre-flash.  For some subjects this will trigger their blink reflex and result in closed eyes.  I've photographed a couple of subjects where it was virtually impossible to get an open-eyes shot when using  TTL. Auto-thyrister mode (no pre-flash) is the solution. Of the  Leica TTL flashes only the SF-58 and SF-64 (both Metz flashes and apparently discontinued) would meet my requirements.

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brill64

brill64

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the sf26 is very pocketable & more useable +/- ev flash output on the m-240 with the latest firmware updates in both camera & flash. it has a modest sized led modeling light useful for close-up use or help with focusing in lower light plus a built-in, flip-up wide-angle diffuser.

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ECohen

ECohen

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Thanks  I missed that thread....It doesn't look like Leica has a good solution to the simple fill in family snapshot?......I'm thinking of shooting raw,no flash, polishing in post and calling it a day...as suggested in a Jpg thread

 

I was hoping there would be at least a few more replies helping me with this "fill in" issue.....I should have expected this crowd to look down upon my wanting to use the M in this way.

 

So no one uses the M inside with either flash ...for simple snapshots? ...thats how it looks?

 

fweens...thanks for pointing me in the correct direction

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Peter Kilmister

Peter Kilmister

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I bought the SF40 flash unit a couple of months ago. It works really well ... directly or bounced. Just insert the correct type of batteries, shove it into the hot shoe, switch it on, set the M240 to A and shoot at whatever speed you want. The only thing I have learnt is that you need to have the latest firmware installed (which I already had).

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fweens

fweens

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Hi there! I tried again yesterday night and wonder if my problem doesn't have something to do with the focal length of my camera which is a 35mm. Which lens do you use Erick ?

 

When the flash is folded, it doesn't work ; when I unfold it, I hear the inside reflector moving in a certain way and it works...

 

Really weird !

 

Franck

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ECohen

ECohen

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Thanks for the advice ...I knew there had to be a few users out there

 
I went for the SL40..... because I'm expecting the TTL to be challenging . 
But with all the other features  I'm sure it will be more than usable .
I could have gotten by with my Nikon but it's big clunky and has too many buttons.
 
I'm one step closer to not shooting  with Japanese cameras ever again. 
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STB

STB

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Mark Wallace pans the TTL pretty harshly in 

aroun 10:15

 

At 13:32 and 13:55, Wallace talks about using an external power supply for, among other things, time lapse. Does anyone understand what he's referring to? As I understand it, the M 240 does not support time lapse. 

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marchyman

marchyman

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He's talking about the multi-function hand grip which also supports tethered shooting.  No reason the device the camera is tethered to can't include an intervalometer function to do time lapse.  For that matter you can buy a cable release intervalometer if you don't have the MF hand grip or if you have the 262 model.  There's even a company that makes an intervalometer that has a lever to push the shutter release button for you.

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STB

STB

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He's talking about the multi-function hand grip which also supports tethered shooting.  No reason the device the camera is tethered to can't include an intervalometer function to do time lapse.  For that matter you can buy a cable release intervalometer if you don't have the MF hand grip or if you have the 262 model.  There's even a company that makes an intervalometer that has a lever to push the shutter release button for you.

 

 

Actually, he's talking about the grip's external power supply function. Do you know what time lapse system he's talking about? There have been various discussions, including on this site, about trying to use the M9 and M 240 for time lapse, but I've yet to see someone describe a reliable method. Wallace seems to have a method in mind.

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marchyman

marchyman

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12:45 -- he introduces the MF handgrip.  For the next minute or so he's talking about the added functions you get with the handgrip: GPS and geotagging, SCA port for flash, USB port for tethered shooting, external power port, etc.  I don't think he has specific time lapse info in mind -- I believe he is channeling Leica marketing info. Leica literature mentions "time lapse" as a reason to buy the external power supply.  They never mentioning how time lapse is actually done.

 

You've probably seen this thread regarding the trials and tribulations of doing time lapse on the M: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/198776-does-image-shuttle-have-a-time-lapse-facility-for-the-m240/page-2

 

My M262 doesn't support the MF handgrip.  For time lapse I'd probably have to hack up something like this: 

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STB

STB

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12:45 -- he introduces the MF handgrip.  For the next minute or so he's talking about the added functions you get with the handgrip: GPS and geotagging, SCA port for flash, USB port for tethered shooting, external power port, etc.  I don't think he has specific time lapse info in mind -- I believe he is channeling Leica marketing info. Leica literature mentions "time lapse" as a reason to buy the external power supply.  They never mentioning how time lapse is actually done.

 

You've probably seen this thread regarding the trials and tribulations of doing time lapse on the M: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/198776-does-image-shuttle-have-a-time-lapse-facility-for-the-m240/page-2

 

My M262 doesn't support the MF handgrip.  For time lapse I'd probably have to hack up something like this: 

 

There's also this M9 thread: http://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/169205-m9-usb-remote-exposure-revisited/

 

I'm going to be at B&H tomorrow and will mention the Wallace video and ask whether they know of a clean solution. Given that Wallace was making these videos as part of a travel series, I'll be a bit surprised if he was just talking off the top of his head.

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bocaburger

bocaburger

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I mainly use the M for travel, and go with an SF24D and Sto-Fen Omni Bounce model "C" which just happens to fit at a 45-deg angle and cures the lack of a tilting head. 

I also have an older Metz 54MZ3 with the 1st-version module which communicates ISO but doesn't do TTL.  But I don't use TTL with the SF24D either.  I don't like preflashes, they slow things down and make the subject blink.  Auto-thyristor mode works perfectly. 

 

Aside from that, I have an assortment of auto-thryistor flashes from the likes of Vivitar and Sunpak, all of which get the job done and none of which cost me more than $25 apiece.  I really don't have it in my priority to spend what the current "Leica" flashes cost.  The M's TTL is pretty rudimentary compared to C/N DSLR's. 

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