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Leica Q SF40 Flash Questions

Nepenthe

By Nepenthe
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Nepenthe

Nepenthe

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I usually shoot natural light but have recently purchased the SF40 to help with outdoor situations photographing pups that require some additional exposure. Having never used speed lights, I would love some visual operation instructions if anyone knows of a how-to video for the SF40 being used with the Leica Q. Or perhaps a really good cheat sheet exists? 

 

Also, I would like to find a lightweight bracket to hold the flash off camera and would love some suggestions. One that is adjustable would be preferred. Would love to hear what other folks are using. 

 

How do you operate the SF40 remotely? ie on a stand or tripod? Is a cable connecting to the camera required, if so which ones are recommended?

 

Lastly, in terms of basic use, how do I start? If I tend to photograph a pup with an aperture of 2.8 and want to expose for the background and flash for the foreground, what's the secret? Sorry if this is a super green question but I am super green when it comes to speed lights.

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zakzavada

zakzavada

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Best source of lighting info I've ever encountered: Strobist: Lighting 101: Introduction

 

Applies to SF40, any off-brand speed light, studio lights, whatever....

 

Read it, re-read it, practice, read it again, practice more, repeat :)

 

I usually shoot natural light but have recently purchased the SF40 to help with outdoor situations photographing pups that require some additional exposure. Having never used speed lights, I would love some visual operation instructions if anyone knows of a how-to video for the SF40 being used with the Leica Q. Or perhaps a really good cheat sheet exists? 

 

Also, I would like to find a lightweight bracket to hold the flash off camera and would love some suggestions. One that is adjustable would be preferred. Would love to hear what other folks are using. 

 

How do you operate the SF40 remotely? ie on a stand or tripod? Is a cable connecting to the camera required, if so which ones are recommended?

 

Lastly, in terms of basic use, how do I start? If I tend to photograph a pup with an aperture of 2.8 and want to expose for the background and flash for the foreground, what's the secret? Sorry if this is a super green question but I am super green when it comes to speed lights.

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Louis

Louis

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It seems the same flash is compatible with both Q and CL. In the CL manual, it says third party flash with “ positive center connection” are compatible with CL. Therefore, for those of us who are looking for a third party flash, we should see which flash or adapter/converter have a positive center connection....

 

I am sure many of us would be grateful if someone tells us about it. :)

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uffehagen

uffehagen

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It seems the same flash is compatible with both Q and CL. In the CL manual, it says third party flash with “ positive center connection” are compatible with CL. Therefore, for those of us who are looking for a third party flash, we should see which flash or adapter/converter have a positive center connection....

 

I am sure many of us would be grateful if someone tells us about it. :)

 

I have Nikon SB800 and SB900, and they both work in Q. No TTL but they will fire as manual flashs

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zakzavada

zakzavada

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positive center connection means nearly any flash with a central firing pin. off-brand flashes may work best (metz, sun pack, etc). If it is a flash oriented towards a certain brand, Nikon seems to work the best. I tried several canon flashes with q/m and they seem to work ok enough in manual mode but gets a bit screwy when any ttl or auto mode interacts with the settings.

 

It seems the same flash is compatible with both Q and CL. In the CL manual, it says third party flash with “ positive center connection” are compatible with CL. Therefore, for those of us who are looking for a third party flash, we should see which flash or adapter/converter have a positive center connection....

I am sure many of us would be grateful if someone tells us about it. :)

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uffehagen

uffehagen

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positive center connection means nearly any flash with a central firing pin. off-brand flashes may work best (metz, sun pack, etc). If it is a flash oriented towards a certain brand, Nikon seems to work the best. I tried several canon flashes with q/m and they seem to work ok enough in manual mode but gets a bit screwy when any ttl or auto mode interacts with the settings.

I usually set my Nikon SB800 or SB900 on A and an appropriate aperture for the job, and then set the Q on the same specific aperture. The working distance can be read at the flash. If I have use flash for a backlit situation I will set flashcompensation on the flash. Takes some time to learn, but I started in photography before TTL was in every flash

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marchyman

marchyman

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positive center connection means nearly any flash with a central firing pin.

 

 

 

Yes, but.... I have not seen a spec for how high of a trigger voltage the Q can handle.  Does anyone know?  The M can supposedly handle up to 300 volts. 

 

A list of flash trigger voltages is at http://dpanswers.com/roztr/volt_finder.php

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wlaidlaw

wlaidlaw

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It seems the same flash is compatible with both Q and CL. In the CL manual, it says third party flash with “ positive center connection” are compatible with CL. Therefore, for those of us who are looking for a third party flash, we should see which flash or adapter/converter have a positive center connection....

 

I am sure many of us would be grateful if someone tells us about it. :)

 

The SF40 is also compatible with any Leica film camera that used to talk to the Metz SCA 3502 TTL module for Mecablitz SCA system flashes. Examples of this would be M6TTL, M7 and various of the later R models. It might also work with some of the later compact Leica film cameras but I have no idea which ones. It will be compatible with all digital M, X and T cameras with a Nikon pattern 4 contact hot shoe. It works very well with the M7, as I have been using it over the last few weeks with mine. The SF40 has a built in SCA3502 emulator, which is an excellent idea, so well done Leica and Nissin. 

 

Wilson

 

PS I should have added that as there is no reflected light sensor/photon counter on the SF40 (unlike for example the SF24D or SF58D), its "Auto" mode is not a traditional auto mode, where on non-TTL cameras, you set an advised aperture on the camera and the flash will provide the appropriate amount of light. It will not work in Auto mode for example, on earlier non-TTL M6 cameras or my film CL, where you have to use it in fully manual mode. This means setting the appropriate aperture for ISO and subject distance, calculated from the flash number for a particular focal length of lens (SF40 metric distance Flash Number for a 50mm lens and ISO 100 is 36). 

Edited by wlaidlaw
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Louis

Louis

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The SF40 is also compatible with any Leica film camera that used to talk to the Metz SCA 3502 TTL module for Mecablitz SCA system flashes. Examples of this would be M6TTL, M7 and various of the later R models. It might also work with some of the later compact Leica film cameras but I have no idea which ones. It will be compatible with all digital M, X and T cameras with a Nikon pattern 4 contact hot shoe. It works very well with the M7, as I have been using it over the last few weeks with mine. The SF40 has a built in SCA3502 emulator, which is an excellent idea, so well done Leica and Nissin. 

 

Wilson

 

PS I should have added that as there is no reflected light sensor/photon counter on the SF40 (unlike for example the SF24D or SF58D), its "Auto" mode is not a traditional auto mode, where on non-TTL cameras, you set an advised aperture on the camera and the flash will provide the appropriate amount of light. It will not work in Auto mode for example, on earlier non-TTL M6 cameras or my film CL, where you have to use it in fully manual mode. This means setting the appropriate aperture for ISO and subject distance, calculated from the flash number for a particular focal length of lens (SF40 metric distance Flash Number for a 50mm lens and ISO 100 is 36). 

 

Then, I suppose SF24D would be compatible with CL and Q in A mode? ... As well Nissin i40? ( I am using flash very occasionally for some specific situations only )

Edited by Louis
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antigallican

antigallican

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I have a Nissin di700 I use with the Q and my SL. It's a 'Nikon' one and it works just fine, rated GN54. I've only ever used it manually. I had it originally with Nikon kit and simply kept it when I went all Leica. I used to calculate flash in my head - you know 6 feet to the ceiling, a stop off for the ceiling and 6 feet down again, but with modern digital cameras I can't be bothered - I just take a shot then adjust and take another shot. I think I'd need to know I wasn't going to get into menu hell before I bought a branded Leica flash and used it on an auto setting. 

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jaapv

jaapv

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I usually shoot natural light but have recently purchased the SF40 to help with outdoor situations photographing pups that require some additional exposure. Having never used speed lights, I would love some visual operation instructions if anyone knows of a how-to video for the SF40 being used with the Leica Q. Or perhaps a really good cheat sheet exists? 

 

Also, I would like to find a lightweight bracket to hold the flash off camera and would love some suggestions. One that is adjustable would be preferred. Would love to hear what other folks are using. 

 

How do you operate the SF40 remotely? ie on a stand or tripod? Is a cable connecting to the camera required, if so which ones are recommended?

 

Lastly, in terms of basic use, how do I start? If I tend to photograph a pup with an aperture of 2.8 and want to expose for the background and flash for the foreground, what's the secret? Sorry if this is a super green question but I am super green when it comes to speed lights.

If you want to use the flash off-camera by cable you can use a fully-wired Nikon cable.

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