SF64 Flash newbie

[hirohhhh]

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I bought this flash 4 years ago, but literals never used it. I was then new in the photography and I was enough confused without flash so I put it in the drawer and never ever took it out. Now, for years I'm using Profoto strobes in my studio and I'm quite good with lights, but I never tried this flash. I just took it out of the drawer, charged the batteries and put it on my SL to test it out, but I'm still confused as I were 4 years ago. There's nothing even similar I have on my other lights.

Would someone be so kind and try to explain me in just a few sentences how to use this thing, so I can continue exploring and researching on my own. There's nothing on YouTube regarding this flash. So, I put it in M mode, I have some distance in meters and that's pretty much it? Is this how every on-camera flash works? I never had one, so pardon me on this dumb questions.

Edited March 7, 2020 by hirohhhh

[FlashGordonPhotography]

This could go for 10 pages but in its simplest form......The main three modes:

TTL: An auto mode that reads ISO and aperture from the camera and then the flash duration (exposure) is controlled by the camera, reading off the sensor. You can add or subtract exposure using the compensation function on the flash (FEC). Think of it like the Program mode on the camera. Full auto with exposure compensation available.

Auto: Same as above for the SF64, except the output is read by a sensor on the flash not the cameras sensor. No FEC (flash exposure compensation) available. My preferred use for the SF64, if I don’t need FEC. Think of it like the green square mode on some low end DSLRs.

Manual: As you described above. ISO sent from the camera and you set the power manually.

The SF64 also has a stroboscopic function which I never used.

If you use the HSS function you can sync above 1/250 sec but with reduced power output.

The SF64 is a rebadged Metz unit sold exclusively through Leica. There are Canon, Nikon etc versions with a Metz badge and finding info on those might be easier. Most modern flashes have TTL and manual so it’s generic and they all work in a similar way. The Auto mode on the SF64 is, however, different to the Auto mode on some other flashes.

Gordon

[hirohhhh]

2 hours ago, FlashGordonPhotography said:

This could go for 10 pages but in its simplest form......The main three modes:

TTL: An auto mode that reads ISO and aperture from the camera and then the flash duration (exposure) is controlled by the camera, reading off the sensor. You can add or subtract exposure using the compensation function on the flash (FEC). Think of it like the Program mode on the camera. Full auto with exposure compensation available.

Auto: Same as above for the SF64, except the output is read by a sensor on the flash not the cameras sensor. No FEC (flash exposure compensation) available. My preferred use for the SF64, if I don’t need FEC. Think of it like the green square mode on some low end DSLRs.

Manual: As you described above. ISO sent from the camera and you set the power manually.

The SF64 also has a stroboscopic function which I never used.

If you use the HSS function you can sync above 1/250 sec but with reduced power output.

The SF64 is a rebadged Metz unit sold exclusively through Leica. There are Canon, Nikon etc versions with a Metz badge and finding info on those might be easier. Most modern flashes have TTL and manual so it’s generic and they all work in a similar way. The Auto mode on the SF64 is, however, different to the Auto mode on some other flashes.

Gordon

Wow thank you, this was quick and so kind of you!

Everything is perfectly clear and I'll now be able to easier continue on my own.

[hirohhhh]

Is there a firmware update for SF64? I can't find anything online and I though there might be something new since I last time used it.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

13 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

Is there a firmware update for SF64? I can't find anything online and I though there might be something new since I last time used it.

No. Leica has never offered an update for it’s hotshoe flashes.

Before the SF64 was the SF58. Leica advertised that one as USB updatable but when they started shipping one with firmware 2.0 you couldn’t upgrade the older ones with 1.1.

Now we have the SF40 and SF60. Both rebadged Nissin units. Originally advertised as being compatible with other Nissin flashes but aren’t (except for one large gun). You can expect exactly ZERO firmware updates to the SF64.

It’s an OK flash. Just missing wireless TTL that the i60 has. Other than that it does OK.

Gordon

[FMB]

I can use my SF 58 in "A" Mode (automatic self metering system) as a second flash, I think you can do the same with your SF 64 putting under it, for instance, an external servo-flash trigger Kaiser 1503 because you can't make shoot it with its own servo flash: You need to set Mode "A" not compatible with setting servo optic Mode of your flash at the same time...

Sorry if all said is not to much well understandable or is it too much obvious?

 

[hirohhhh]

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Is there a way to pair this or any other flash with SL via infrared or wireless, instead cable? I have AirRemote to pair my Profoto lights and that's super convenient as I can move them around the space. I have a longer flash cable, but still, it's cable and it's annoying

Edited March 19, 2020 by hirohhhh

[FlashGordonPhotography]

3 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

Is there a way to pair this or any other flash with SL via infrared or wireless, instead cable? I have AirRemote to pair my Profoto lights and that's super convenient as I can move them around the space. I have a longer flash cable, but still, it's cable and it's annoying

Only as a manual flash triggered by another unit. Not very convenient. You could use a wireless trigger like a Pocket Wizard for radio. Manual only. No HSS. For TTL off camera you’ll need the Leica SF60 or Nissin MG10 with the Leica remote.

Leica is well behind the curve for wireless flash because they won’t give out their protocols and there’s not a big enough market to reverse engineer it. This is a stupid move. Offering Profoto and Godox free licence to make remotes would go a long way to helping market penetration, especially for the SL2 and the S3.

Gordon

[LocalHero1953]

The SF64 is an OK flash for on-camera use in A or TTL mode. For M mode, or off-camera use with wireless triggers, which also means M mode, I found it a total PITA because of the interface. It has no dials to quickly access power or other settings - all these are buried layers down in an insensitive touchscreen interface. No firmware upgrade could have solved these issues. I sold mine.

Edited March 19, 2020 by LocalHero1953

[hirohhhh]

So, it's not possible without additional devices such as Pocket Wizard or Leica remote, with any Leica flash? And it's also not possible with any other non-Leica flash, because Leica blocked the protocols and no other flashes are compatible? Sweet

[sillbeers15]

2 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

So, it's not possible without additional devices such as Pocket Wizard or Leica remote, with any Leica flash? And it's also not possible with any other non-Leica flash, because Leica blocked the protocols and no other flashes are compatible? Sweet

Yes you can use pocketeizard to trigger SF64 as a off camera flash but only in manual flash mode, so no TTL & HSS.

[Photoworks]

3 hours ago, hirohhhh said:

So, it's not possible without additional devices such as Pocket Wizard or Leica remote, with any Leica flash? And it's also not possible with any other non-Leica flash, because Leica blocked the protocols and no other flashes are compatible? Sweet

you can use many flashes and trigger in Manual flash mode. I use canon flashes and good on all my Leica.

Sometime you have to tape one the contacts and just have the middle one exposed. The middle one is responsible for a trigger.