Leica Q flash compatible

[Billdad]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Can anyone advise on flashes  compatible with the Q, I am advised any Panasonic/Olympus will work. The Olympus FL36 looks nice ?

[MikeTaylor]

Hi. I went with Fuji EF-X20. Having tried Canon and Metz (which were very flakey). The Fuji usually works. But in manual only. No TTL.

[jmschuh]

vor 14 Stunden schrieb Billdad:

Can anyone advise on flashes  compatible with the Q, I am advised any Panasonic/Olympus will work. The Olympus FL36 looks nice ?

Only the Leica flashes SF 26, SF 40, SF 60 and SF 64  are fully compatible with the Leica Q (TTL). The flashes of other manufacturers can only be used in manual mode.

The flashes for the PanaLeicas have a different flash protocol and do not work either.

[antigallican]

Flashes good for a Nikon will work manual - I use a couple of Nissins. If you want a small but relatively powerful ‘works in all circumstances’ solution the Leica SF40 is the one. I use it to fire the Nissins as slaves off camera. But my god the Leica flashes are expensive...

[Billdad]

Many thanks, looks identical to the nissin I40 ?

[marchyman]

Nissin I40 + Leica TTL(and red dot) = Leica SF40

 

Or so I've read on the internet.

[antigallican]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

27 minutes ago, Billdad said:

Many thanks, looks identical to the nissin I40 ?

I think it is, but with Leica software. You can’t just swap them though, because of the proprietary nature of the software. The nissin équivalent would only work if it’s a Nikon type and even then only on manual settings. The way my Leica sf40 ‘communicates’ with my Nissins is just plain old flash firing

 

Edited November 5, 2018 by antigallican

[JLS]

- I have an SF40 with the Leica Q3.  I always like to use a ‘Fill Flash’ …….. But I’ve notices that the Q3 won’t fire the SF40 if it determines the ambient light is sufficient for the photo - Or, what am I missing?

- I have the SF40 Flash ‘reduced’ in the Camera settings by -1 “F Stop” & have the SF 40 set to “TTL”.  Same issue.  It’s not always firing.  The Leica Q3 Manual doesn’t really cover any Flash.

- Any thoughts?  Thanks in advance

[nicci78]

Maybe automatic electronic shutter is getting in the way. 
Just turn it off and choose mechanical shutter only. 
Flash cannot be use with electronic shutter. Hence the erratic behaviour 

[Luke_Miller]

I see this regularly with my M bodies. So possibly the same is happening with the Q.  With my M bodies Leica TTL flash metering overreacts to a bright background or light source in the frame and underexposes the flash sometimes to the point of refusing to fire it. The only solution I've found is to use manual flash or use a flash that has Auto-Thyristor mode.  In Auto-Thyristor mode the flash controls the flash exposure (using its sensor) rather than the camera.  This is not the same as Auto mode on the SF-40.  

Edited September 3, 2024 by Luke_Miller

[JLS]

On 9/3/2024 at 5:11 AM, Luke_Miller said:

I see this regularly with my M bodies. So possibly the same is happening with the Q.  With my M bodies Leica TTL flash metering overreacts to a bright background or light source in the frame and underexposes the flash sometimes to the point of refusing to fire it. The only solution I've found is to use manual flash or use a flash that has Auto-Thyristor mode.  In Auto-Thyristor mode the flash controls the flash exposure (using its sensor) rather than the camera.  This is not the same as Auto mode on the SF-40.  

Thanks for those thoughts.  What is 'Odd' to me, is all other Non-SLR Cameras [e.g. Nikon or Fuji cameras which are Mirrorless or use Electronic/Manual Blade Shutters] allow the camera & intergrated flash to be used in multiple 'Auto' modes with TTL, and I'd simply adjusting the F Stop Reduction for the Flash in the Camera's settings. 

I am not sure if the Leica SF40 Flash is considered a "Auto-Thyristor" type flash.  Yet, your description of "why" matches my experiences, namely:  When there is a highlighted background, the Q3 with the SF40 will not fire the "Fill-Flash', but in a Non-Backlighted setting, the SF40 'fires' however, it still is NOT at the -1F Stop that I've set in the Camera with TTL - The SF40 fires without any reduction.  Moreover, I've always purchased the manufacturers flash units & left them in TTL, solely for the intergration.   This does not seem to 'work' with the Leica and/or the Leica Q3.   Thanks, again, for the reply & thoughts.  

The other reply I received to this issue suggested turning "Off" the Electronic Shutter, and only using the "M" Shutter.  I'll give a 'try', yet no other manufactuerers intergrated Flash & Camera operates in this manner.  Thanks, again.

[JLS]

To Those That Replied To The Above:

• The Solution I've Discovered for "Auto/TTL" & the use of Fill Flash:

1. Camera:  Set Manual Flash Activation 'On'.  Do not adjust the Flash Exposure Compensation in the Camera.
2. SF 40:  Set the Flash to TTL & adjust it's "-EV" Flash Output you may wish using the Dial on the Flash. 

In this manner, the SF40 will Flash every time & not be 'fooled' by excess ambient light nor by a strong backlight.

With a little more research, there is a section of the Q3 Manual [Page 133] which states the only way to obtain "Fill Flash" is by setting the Camera to Manual Flash Activation, and on the SF40 select "TTL", and adjust the flash intensity using the Manual Round Dial on the SF40.  Out of curiosity, I discovered that with the SF40 connected, and the Camera Menu selected to Flash Settings, when you move the Dial on the SF40, the "F-Stop" [or EV Setting for the Flash] correspondingly changes inside the Camera.  Hence, it is intergrated, but the only way to cause the Flash to fire regardless of the ambient light, is to Select Manual Flash Activation.  As an aside, the Fill Flash will work in all or any of the Shutter Selections  [i.e. E/M/Hybrid].  

To Be Clear:  All of the above only applies if you wish to use "Fill Flash", and not to use the SF40 for any of the other Auto or Manual modes.  Once again proving, "Ya Gotta Be Smarter Than The Camera"!  Huh!

Thanks for all of prior advice & comments.  Moreover, the Leica is different than other brands, and IMO the instructions are not that clear (or even contradictory) in different sections of the Q3's Manual(s).  Yet, issue solved!