bit of a silly flash question

[johntobias]

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I have a nikon sb700 which is a great flash (if you use a nikon!) could I use it on the CL (obviously not in ttl mode but in plain old auto mode without doing any damage to the camera.....   I seldom use flash but it would be nice to know it were safe to use ......or do I flog it and buy a sf26?

 

once again...thanks for all your combined experience and knowledge....I love this forum !

 

[earleygallery]

Is the flash designed to be used on digital cameras? Older flash units can have very high voltage levels which can damage some digital cameras. If you've used it on digital cameras already then it's almost certainly safe to use on the CL.

 

Many digital cameras also have safety circuits built in to avoid damage from flashguns but I don't know if the CL does or doesn't. Ideally, check the voltage specs for the flash and the CL (does it mention this in the manual?).

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[johntobias]

as it was designed for the nikon DSLR range, I think it is modern enough to try it out...Thanks

[ayewing]

The Nikon SB-700 has a specified trigger voltage of <5 volts so should be perfectly safe on the CL as regards the centre pin triggering the flash.  Although the hot shoe pin layout of the Nikon is similar to Leica the control circuits for TTL will be incompatible.

[jaapv]

You should check with Leica. It is confirmed that the flash circuits on the M series are designed for  a  limit of 600 Volts. I suppose that will be the case for CL and SL as well, but it is better to be certain.

[mikbau]

I've used my Nikon flashes on the Fuji series without any issues. I've not tried them on the CL yet, but I suspect there won't be an issue

 

Doing a quick look around, Metz has a version of the SF 26 that is considerably cheaper  than the Leica version (looks like Leica is re branding) - but I'm seeing conflicting reports of whether or not it works on the CL. Leica may or may not be modifying the shoe layout as part of the re brand. Something to research if you're looking to save a little money.

 

Michael

[jaapv]

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The Metz SF 26 will not work on the CL. It is brand-specific and the "Leica" version is suitable for Panaleicas only. As it has no manual controls its usability on "real" Leicas is severely limited to nil.

Yes - it is a rebrand, by with a different digital set.

[IkarusJohn]

For what it’s worth, I bought the SF40 for use with my TL2 (fill-in mostly), and after an odd initial glitch it works fine.

 

I’m rubbish with flash (laziness on my part), but the SF40 has a built in diffuser, a click out bounce reflector and it comes with one of those opaque white plastic diffusers you clip on the head, and it has a little stand (which I assume is for remote firing - not sure how that works). In use you just set TTL, and then exposure compensation on the back of the flash - “Auto” in camera, except for fill-in, where you also have the option of “On”.

 

Like all things Leica, I can’t remember what I paid for it; but ease of use makes up for it in spades (I have battled with Nikon and Full sized Metz flash guns in the past - never again.

Edited August 19, 2018 by IkarusJohn

[ramarren]

I plan on buying the SF40 once I'm back from my travels. In the meantime, I'm not carrying any flash on the trip (never have in the past, why start now?) and here at home I've occasionally used my old faithful Nikon SB-30 mini flash fitted on an RF transceiver, using its own Auto or Manual power output controls. Works fine for my needs.

 

I paid $50 for it about a dozen years ago, so it's paid for itself about a dozen times over in usefulness over the years. 

Edited August 19, 2018 by ramarren