Reds Posted July 9, 2017 Share #1  Posted July 9, 2017 Advertisement (gone after registration) I like to use my SL (&M) at events sometimes; They're less 'in your face' and back-breaking than lugging around a large Nikon with flash. Particularly at more intimate gigs. Always used to work fine, but I got caught out at a recent shoot with the SL. I've used various Nikon flashes and currently use an SB-910 (in manual mode).  With firmware 2.2 and below, the only oddity I saw was when changing ISO or white bal - the reading would jump around as you turned the dial, however it would make the change ok. Not a deal breaker, just an inconvenience as you had to double check on the info screen where you were, to be safe.  However, with firmware 3, things have changed. I used to have exposure preview on, so I could see my ambient exposure and then use the flash to light the foreground subjects (for parties and that kind of thing - people shots typically with bounce flash where poss, or direct).  If exposure preview is on now - the LCD & VF displays both toggle on & off repeatedly between exp preview going on and off - so the screen flashes between dark & light which makes focusing hard / nigh-on guess work.  Trying to find the issue, I tried reverting firmware back, but you can't do that, so next, switched exposure preview off and the screen becomes stable again. It's usable like this, but obviously, you lose real time view of your ambient exposure.  Another tweak that I found worked is to ever so slightly pull the flash forward out of the hotshoe. Then the problem stops happening even with exposure preview on, but the flash is not secure.  I know Nikon flashes probably aren't officially supported, but as I say - never had problems before in manual power settings mode and didn't want to lay out for a dedicated Leica flash, when I have all these others. I'm also now wondering if my Profoto (Nikon version) Air Remote will work ok. Something I love using in the studio, or on location with various F-mount glass.  Anyone else using the SL in this way / seeing a problem? It's such a versatile camera, hopefully it can be sorted, as the option to choose your flash / triggering system, especially if you already own something else is fantastic. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted July 9, 2017 Posted July 9, 2017 Hi Reds, Take a look here Changed behaviour with Nikon Flash & Firmware 3. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
FlashGordonPhotography Posted July 9, 2017 Share #2 Â Posted July 9, 2017 Tape the flash pins... Â The SL has the same pin layout as a Nikon but different protocols. With a regular Leica branded flash two things happen. Firstly exposure preview is disabled. This is the stupidest idea ever but they do it any way. Secondly the SL and TTL flashes communicate ISO and other data. Â You Nikon flash is confusing the camera and it's trying to work out why the flash isn't responding to it properly. There's nothing to be "sorted" as there's nothing wrong with the camera. It a result of an improvement in operation with a Leica flash in fw 3.0. Â Taping the TTL pins will solve your problem. Or old could use a single pin pass through shoe like we did in the good old days. Â Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reds Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share #3 Â Posted July 10, 2017 Cheers for the explanation Gordon. I did try crudely taping up the pins in a hurry, then couldn't get the flash on the hotshoe! It does seem a step backwards to not be able to choose whether you want exposure preview on or off yourself. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
FlashGordonPhotography Posted July 10, 2017 Share #4  Posted July 10, 2017 Leica has never allowed Exposure Preview in M mode with TTL flash so it's not a step backwards. Just a step never made.  Try plumbers tape. It's much thinner. Or the pass through shoe. You can get one of those off Ebay for a few dollars.  Gordon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reds Posted July 10, 2017 Author Share #5 Â Posted July 10, 2017 I might have a shoe banging around in a box some place! I'll take a look Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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