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Dear friends, I'm looking for a small fill-in flash for the M10 R, which also allows indirect flashing. Occasionally I need a fill-in flash at a distance of approx. 1m to 7m for portraits / full-body shots in backlight or poorly lit interiors. If possible automatic / TTL. It doesn't have to be a Leica flash.
It should be as small as possible.
On my Sony I have the HVL-F20M, which was perfect.
Could this also be used on the M10 R?
I ask for your advice!

Thank you, greetings Klaus

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Unfortunately, if you want indirect (bounce flash capable) and TTL, this is the cheapest option.  However, if you just want a fill flash that can operate in Auto mode (set aperture and use the light sensor on the flash itself), there will be many options. 
 

I use a Nikon SB-30 on film M and it is perfectly adequate to about 3m or so. It won’t fill at 7m. You would need a GN of at least 45 for that. You may find it secondhand on eBay or a local camera shop. 
 

Good luck!

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 2 weeks later...

I like these, they have a wireless transmitter that the flash unit sits on top of for on-camera flash. But with the press of a button you can remove it from the camera and hold it out at arms length for some quick off-camera flash. The transmitter part in the hotshoe has two buttons to adjust the flash power on the remote unit too.

No TTL for Leica but their newest version the M20 might have or end up with support in a future firmware update maybe.

https://www.lightpixlabs.com/pages/m20

This is pretty cheesy and her results aren't great but it does show how the flash works quite well.

 

Edited by Henners
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I just went through a similar exercise for my M10-R for which I use a Mecablitz 40MZ-3i with SCA3502M5 for big shoots.

 

I wanted an additional flash for travel and short listed candidates to models which are small and lightweight and suitable for an M10-R. The final list :

Leica CF (minilux) same as Olympus S20 and Konica HX-18W

Nikon SB-30

Leica SF24D

Leica SF26

Metz 34 CS-2

There were probably 10 others including Godox, LightPix that were scratched from the above short list.

 

I’ll spare you the fuzzy (and probably flawed) logic , so I bought a Leica SF26 (fw1.1) which arrived today and I’m delighted with it’s form and function on my M10-R. Ultimately TTL and bounce became my deciding features with the size/weight desire.

 

If I had not found an SF26, then the Nikon SB-30 with it's 1/32 power feature is my next desirable model.

 

Edited by dugby
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I found that my spare Leica Leather Case (for Ultravid 8x20) which has a belt loop, comfortable stores the SF26 with one spare M10 battery and remaining space (equivalent to 6x AAA batteries). Which now completes a very light weight carrying kit for day excursions.

 

Edited by dugby
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The SF 26 has arrived. It looks like new, never used, that's how it was offered on ebay. The first "quick tests" with the M10 R in the interior, with little lighting, look well exposed in TTL mode (at f 8 1/125 ). I test backlit shots if it ever gets sunny again in Berlin.

It has a slight play, a few tenths of a millimeter, on the flash shoe, but it still sits reassuringly tight. Is it the same with you?

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My SF26 fits snuggly into my M10-R hot shoe with no wriggle room.

 

You may want to check that you SF26 firmware is at the latest v1.1by following these instructions:

1: Switch off the flash unit.
2: Press and hold TTL button and switch on the flash unit.
3: Release the TTL button.


First, the LED in the TTL button will flash. Then after a few moments the LED in
the SLAVE button will also flash. The number of flashes indicates the firmware version.


For firmware version 1.0, the TTL button flashes once and the SLAVE button does not.

For firmware version 1.1, both the TTL and the SLAVE buttons flash once.


After the indication of the firmware, either the TTL button or the SLAVE button
lights up permanently according to the operation mode.


Please contact Leica Customer care to arrange a firmware update for your flash unit.
Info@leica-camera.com
+49 (0) 6441/2080-111

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The OP and I both wanted the smallest TTL bounce and fill-in speedlights for the M10-R.

If one does volumetric calculations,

SF26 is 100mm x 63mm x 25mm = 157,500mm3  (weighs 140g with batteries).

SF40 is 85mm x 61mm x 85mm = 440,725mm3 (weighs 303g with batteries).

 

Nissin i40 doesn't meet the above technical criteria.

 

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The v1.1 firmware upgrade for the SF26 was released in 2015, and the documentation stated -

“To use the new menu item "Flash exposure compensation" with the M/M-P (Typ 240), you need to make sure that the SF26 flash unit has firmware 1.1 or higher.”

As found in this web link

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Simply register for free here – We are always happy to welcome new members!

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  • 2 weeks later...
Am 12.2.2023 um 16:26 schrieb dugby:

The v1.1 firmware upgrade for the SF26 was released in 2015, and the documentation stated -

“To use the new menu item "Flash exposure compensation" with the M/M-P (Typ 240), you need to make sure that the SF26 flash unit has firmware 1.1 or higher.”

As found in this web link

I have good news: Leica sent me the information and exe files. This makes it possible to update the SF 26 yourself at home with a Win PC.
If you are interested, please send a private message with e-mail, as it will be sent with WETrancefare.

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