RikkiD Posted March 17, 2022 Share #1  Posted March 17, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hi friends! I'm new to this forum and was wondering what everyone's thoughts were as far as using a flash system for the Q2. I haven't heard great things about Leica flash systems so I'm very curious about your thoughts about it. If you do like it and use one, what model do you have? SF20? SF40? Non-Leica perhaps? Thanks! Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 17, 2022 Posted March 17, 2022 Hi RikkiD, Take a look here To Flash or Not to Flash. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
clasami Posted March 17, 2022 Share #2 Â Posted March 17, 2022 You may want to look at this little flash: FlashQ Q20 II Flitser Midnight Black . You need to use it in manual mode, but it is small and you will soon find the right settings. It can be detached form the camera, too. I find the Leica flashes too big for the Q2, and the one that is small can't be used for indirect light. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jaapv Posted March 17, 2022 Share #3 Â Posted March 17, 2022 Leica SF 26? It is far too expensive but it is a small, does bounce flash and works TTL. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clasami Posted March 18, 2022 Share #4  Posted March 18, 2022 (edited) Beginner question: The Leica SF26 seems to be a Metz 26AF. Does the Metz for L work TTL on Leica? Edit: Found the answer and was able to get Leica version at a "reasonable" price of €199 used. Edited March 18, 2022 by clasami Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RikkiD Posted March 18, 2022 Author Share #5 Â Posted March 18, 2022 I happen to come across an SF20 at a very inexpensive price. I only paid $175 and it works well and is in excellent condition. Does anyone use this model? Thanks! Â Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicci78 Posted March 21, 2022 Share #6  Posted March 21, 2022 (edited) If you want to stay small. Just get SF-24D (for TTL) it works well with Q2. However SF-26 is one of the worst flash ever made. Don’t even bother. Its tiny thyristor is more akin to pop up flash than external one. Its recycle time is too long. Its TTL exposure is totally unreliable : either overblown or pitch black. Edited March 21, 2022 by nicci78 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RikkiD Posted March 21, 2022 Author Share #7  Posted March 21, 2022 Advertisement (gone after registration) It really appears that Leica just isn;'t built for flash  Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicci78 Posted March 21, 2022 Share #8  Posted March 21, 2022 According to former Leica store Beaumarchais manager : the last good flash from Leica is SF-24D with their film cameras ! After that, it was all gloom and doom. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
double00 Posted March 21, 2022 Share #9  Posted March 21, 2022 51 minutes ago, nicci78 said: According to former Leica store Beaumarchais manager : the last good flash from Leica is SF-24D with their film cameras ! After that, it was all gloom and doom. So, based on your statement above, the SF40 is also not a good flash? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicci78 Posted March 21, 2022 Share #10  Posted March 21, 2022 Also. It is the same without TTL. However Auto Flash works better with film cameras Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
clasami Posted March 22, 2022 Share #11  Posted March 22, 2022 Received the SF26 today which I found at ebay for €190 (it hurts). But it does work well with the Q2 as a fill flash. Cycle time is slow, but that is okay. My Fuji EF-X200 is even worse. The good thing about the Monochrome is that I won't need flash often. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vedivv Posted March 25, 2022 Share #12  Posted March 25, 2022 I borrowed a few Leica flashes to try (SF20 and SF60). The TTL did not expose well. Could be user problem attribute to my poor skills. I had easier time using my old Canon flash on Q2 in manual mode, and had much better results. Perhaps try a cheap full manual flash first? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelu2010 Posted April 3, 2022 Share #13  Posted April 3, 2022 On 3/21/2022 at 6:05 PM, RikkiD said: It really appears that Leica just isn;'t built for flash  You can do anything with these cameras.  https://www.l-camera-forum.com/attachments/?page=2  just need to tweak a little bit.  i use Godox without ttl. if I flash, I make a test, then use those settings. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted April 3, 2022 Share #14  Posted April 3, 2022 (edited) I bit the $560 USD bullet got the SF-40 flash for my Q2. I have not used it a lot up to this point, but I have had no issues or complaints when I have used it. Quote It really appears that Leica just isn;'t built for flash I would not agree with that statement in the least. I have gotten very good results with my M-P 240 using a Nikon SB-25 flash with an older Phottix Ares off camera flash trigger set. This was a "dumb" flash setup (no TTL) but I was willing to trade TTL flash metering for being able to get the flash off the camera; it worked very well for rear curtain synced 1/4 to 1 second shots handheld at night. It's all about knowing how to use flash with an M or Q camera. Edited April 3, 2022 by Herr Barnack Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelu2010 Posted April 4, 2022 Share #15  Posted April 4, 2022 These pictures are all made with the Godox strobes. Welcome, dear visitor! As registered member you'd see an image here… Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! 9 Quote Link to post Share on other sites Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members! ' data-webShareUrl='https://www.l-camera-forum.com/topic/330761-to-flash-or-not-to-flash/?do=findComment&comment=4412255'>More sharing options...
Herr Barnack Posted April 4, 2022 Share #16 Â Posted April 4, 2022 Nice images, @Pelu2010 - as you have shown us, it's all about technique. Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pelu2010 Posted April 4, 2022 Share #17  Posted April 4, 2022 Thanxs …. what is your purpose  and where is the light , uhh I forgot the sd cards …. 😉  1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhotoCruiser Posted April 4, 2022 Share #18 Â Posted April 4, 2022 I used a lot the Nikon Speedlite strobes, mostly for macro work but sometimes for special conditions too. They (and other brands too) offer what I consider to be a good and useful strobe for my use. I almost never use/d a camera mounted strobe, either ambient light or no photos. I have to admit that I bought a old Metz LZ 60 strobe and it works in manual, but it's just a useless weight in my photo bag. BUT, this is my way and style of photography, the excellent photos from Pelu2010 show how much a fill-in light can be useful. Chris Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
viramati Posted April 5, 2022 Share #19  Posted April 5, 2022 (edited) hardly ever use flash but when I need them I use either my old Olympus or T20 or T32 flash units. The T20 is really small and light and with a bit of lens cleaning tissue taped over the bulb gives a nice soft light. The T32 is bigger, more powerful, has more power options and has a tilting head. Both can be picked up cheaply on ebay  Edited April 5, 2022 by viramati Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mexy Posted April 9, 2022 Share #20  Posted April 9, 2022 Flash is a big system. It's not a simple question: to be or not to be.😬 Tell us why you want a flash, it that because 'you think a camera should equipped with a flash', or 'you need a flash in some shooting scenarios'? Quote Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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