M8 and SoftBox options?

[gareth_c]

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OK, so I was looking in to buying a midsize softbox for some home shooting but am unclear on how I can connect and operate from the M8 as the leica has no sync port.

 

Any ideas/suggestions much appreciated.

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[jaapv]

A Nikon cable.

[stunsworth]

Or a hot shoe adaptor with a sync socket?

[gareth_c]

Thanks. Are there any limitations to using the hot shoe adaptor and will any one do the job?

 

The Nikon cable? Can you tell me more?

[jaapv]

The contacts on (older) Nikon cables connect correctly to the M8 hotshoe for off-camera sync, provided, of course, that the flash connects correctly. If you use an older unit it is a good idea to make sure the synchronisation does not throw too high a voltage across the contacts, to avoid frying the M8 electronics. There is a gadget called Wein SafeSync one can use to make sure.

[cocker]

Pocket Wizards are what i have used - a bit expensive but no cables to trip over!

 

POCKETWIZARD

[wparsonsgisnet]

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Gareth, as you can fry your digital camera (even ones that are not an M8) with a voltage dump, you might like to get either the SafeSync that Jaap mentioned or the Wein HSHS adapter. I carry a pair of these, which you can obtain online in the US$55 range.

 

This is inexpensive insurance against owning a Leica omelet.

[gareth_c]

Thanks all.

 

I'm assuming that a hot shoe adaptor with a sync socket will bypass the problem of the possible M8 omelette? Or am I assuming too much (as usual)?

 

Also, can I use a Nikon SB600 or 800 on the M8 safely?

[jaapv]

Thanks all.

 

I'm assuming that a hot shoe adaptor with a sync socket will bypass the problem of the possible M8 omelette? Or am I assuming too much (as usual)?

 

Also, can I use a Nikon SB600 or 800 on the M8 safely?

 

Just an adapter and cable will not block too high a voltage. You either need to know the specs of the flash unit, measure them or use a safety gadget. Modern flashes are generally safe.

[Cindy Flood]

The Wein HSHSB will offer you a pc socket and a hot shoe. It fits in the M8 hot shoe. It is lightweight and offers protection for the M8 electronics. I got mine at B&H.

[gareth_c]

Thanks again everyone, Wein HSHSB HSBBHSSHBBBHSSSH now ordered!

[geoff]

Gareth,

 

The specific Wein Safe Sync adapters regulate and maintain trigger voltage to less than 6 volts and therefore provide a safe solution for the use of older flash devices which output much higher and harmful voltage that would damage the circuitry on modern digital cameras such as the Digilux 2 and potentially the M8.

 

The Safe Sync offers a combination of protection and solutions for both hot shoe mounted and off camera flash devices including an threaded PC sync socket for cameras without such as the Digilux 2 and M8.

 

However, it is important to note that there are a number of similar Wein Safe Sync models being sold. Additionally, Wein labels a number of very different products under the Safe Sync banner and unfortunately their website is less than helpful in both listing and clarifying the differences when it comes to the specific product(s) related to this thread.

 

The standard Wein Safe Sync HSHS, model #990-560, offers both a protected passthrough hot shoe mount and threaded PC sync socket. To further confusion, some vendors list the HSHS model as the SSHSHS, which simply means afe ync HSHS.

 

The Wein Safe Sync HSHSB, model number unknown (990-500?), provides the same features as the HSHS, above, with the addition of a useful trigger test button.

 

However, after much searching and experimenting with various products, including Wein Safe Sync adapters and PocketWizard Plus IIs, I have currently settled on the MicroSync Digital wireless strobe system as a component for my personalized style and technique for candid handheld flash photography.

 

I found that a wireless solution was the best way to go, for my needs, as it eliminated the wear and tear that physical sync cables were placing on my flash sync sockets and enabled much more needed flexibility and movement in the very active and extremely close environments that I work in.

 

The advantages of the MicroSync Digital wireless strobe system are it’s very compact size, long battery life, and half the cost of the PocketWizard Plus II. Additionally, with my handheld flash units, I can work at the maximum Leica M8 sync shutter speed of 1/250th/second.

 

The next addition to my setup will be to have Michael Bass, modify a Voigtlander Double Shoe Adapter Type A (4mm height), which will provide hot sync throughput and enable the simultaneous use of both the a MicroSync Digital hot shoe mounted transmitter and shoe mounted external viewfinder.

 

 

Geoff

myspace.com/geoffotos