Leica M6 non-TTL with SF-24D Flash

[omar_munoz]

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Hello everyone! I wanna preface this post by saying I’m still very unfamiliar with flash photography as a whole so please be a little patient with me. I purchased an SF-24D to use with my Leica M6 Classic a few months back but have been weary of using it as I’d hate to waste multiple frames on shots that might ultimately be blown out. I will be shooting an indoor event at a friend’s home with some friends and family and would like a little guidance on how I’d go about using the flash. If this helps, I will be using a 28mm Elmarit-M and Portra 800.
 

From what I’ve understood, my initial thought would be that I would set the M6’s shutter speed to 1/50th. From there, I would like to set my aperture to something between f5.6 or 8. I would then turn on the flash but am stuck as to where I would set it to: would I go with A or M? TTL is out of the questions, I believe since the classic does not have TTL metering. Next step would be setting the aperture on the flash to f5.6 or 8 and ISO to 800. Would I need to change any of the EV settings at all? Again, very much a beginner when it comes to this and any help would be super appreciated.

[madNbad]

First, make sure you have the wide angle diffuser attached. This will help disperse the light and cover the angle of the 28. You are correct about the 1/50th shutter speed for flash sync. Set the flash to A (Auto) enter your ISO and selected aperture. There will be a readout of the effective distance of the flash. With such a high speed fill an aperture of f11 would be more appropriate and allow you to move closer to your subject. There are several good references on the web. Welcome to the forum.

[omar_munoz]

2 minutes ago, madNbad said:

First, make sure you have the wide angle diffuser attached. This will help disperse the light and cover the angle of the 28. You are correct about the 1/50th shutter speed for flash sync. Set the flash to A (Auto) enter your ISO and selected aperture. There will be a readout of the effective distance of the flash. With such a high speed fill an aperture of f11 would be more appropriate and allow you to move closer to your subject. There are several good references on the web. Welcome to the forum.

Thanks a ton for the information you provided! You mention entering my ISO and selected aperture into the flash. Should I be using an external light meter or the built in one in my M6 to measure the light in the scene or would I be okay selecting an exposure of f11, 1/50th and ISO 800 and zone focusing with the depth of field maxing out at the flash’s effective distance covered? I’m not sure if what I’m saying makes sense so feel free to ask for clarification of what I am asking!

[jaapv]

No - you do not meter the scene as such when you use flash (unless you are doing fill flash and then you have to dial the flash output  down according to the desired effect) - you just enter the ISO and aperture with the buttons on the flash.