Looking for a pocketable tiny electronic flash gun to fit on my M10-R

[wlaidlaw]

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I am looking for a tiny pocketable flash gun to fit on my M10-R for occasional use. I already have the SF24, 40 and 60 full size flashes but they are much too big to fit comfortably in a pocket. I do have a very small Minox electronic flash, made for the 8 x 11 "Spy" cameras but it is wholly manual and I would really like to have aperture priority thyristor control. The Minox is also vertically laid out and I would prefer a horizontal layout so that it does not stick out much above the accessory shoe on the camera and would fit under my Leica Neoprene stretchy water resistant camera cover. There was one which would have been perfect on Kickstarter and Indiegogo called the Moon Tiny Flash but I don't think its funding took off. See photograph below of the Moon posted originally on Hamish's 35MMC website to give folks an idea of what I am looking for. I am sure there was something similar offered by another company but I cannot trace it. 

Wilson

 

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Edited October 31, 2023 by wlaidlaw

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[Guest]

Probably not exactly the form factor you were looking for, but have a look at the SF26. It is certainly small and stays close to the camera in transport position. TTL only. I use mine a lot for macro (but with the CL).

[wlaidlaw]

16 minutes ago, Studienkamera said:

Probably not exactly the form factor you were looking for, but have a look at the SF26. It is certainly small and stays close to the camera in transport position. TTL only. I use mine a lot for macro (but with the CL).

I thought of that but a) it is a bit on the pricey side but b) more importantly, new is sold out and none currently available S/H in the UK. I suspect I am going to use my SF24D and just keep taking it off and on again. As long as you leave the wide angle diffusor on, it is an OK flash. I normally only use it with a pearl plastic diffusor to soften it but that makes it bigger than an SF40. One reason I don't like the SF40 is the very weak detents on the control dials, where it is extremely easy to knock them onto the wrong setting. I sometimes lock them in place with a couple of narrow strips of orthopaedic sticky tape. I often wonder if product testers actually use their products in the field, before signing them off to be tested and found lacking by customers. The other one I have looked at is the Godox Junior but unlike what they claim in their advertising, it is not actually an automatic flash, as it has no thryristor window. 

Wilson

[dugby]

On 1/30/2023 at 10:05 PM, dugby said:

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.

 

On 2/12/2023 at 11:56 AM, dugby said:

Edited October 31, 2023 by dugby

[dugby]

In my early searches, I too found that failed kick starter “Moon flash” and was very disappointed that it never made it to market.

[wlaidlaw]

I have just been trying my SF24-D on both my M10-R and Q3. It will work in both TTL Mode and A Mode (plus of course Manual Mode) on the M10-R using pre-flash but will not work TTL on the Q3, I presume because of the Q3's metering off the sensor not the CdS cell taking the reading off the shutter blind as on the M10-R. It does not even show up as an active flash on the information bar in A or TTL Mode and A mode metering of the SF24 on the Q3 was less than spectacular. My guess is that the SF26 as another Metz protocol product, will also not work on the Q3 in TTL Mode. Both the SF40 and 60 work perfectly on both cameras in TTL Mode just as you would expect, even when I took a couple of deliberately difficult shots, of the front of my huge Philips Studio tape recorder, which is all bright satin chrome with shiny chrome knobs and glass over the VU meters.

I am somewhat undecided which camera to take to Dieppe for the Herring and Scallop festival later this month, where my wife and I and two old friends are spending three days. On the basis of its slightly better high ISO performance and better waterproofing, I am leaning towards the Q3. I do have fast f1.4 35mm and 28mm lenses for the M10-R but focusing in low light with a flash on the shoe, occupying where I would otherwise mount a Visoflex 2, gives my old eyes a challenge. I particularly notice this when using my 0.95 Noctilux in low light, where focus peaking on the Visoflex 2 is a great boon. If I take the Q3, I will take my SF40 flash or the SF24-D for the M10-R. 

Wilson

[Olaf_ZG]

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I got the godox lux junior, use it manual only, both for the m as my rolleiflex. Perfect little flash for around 70€ new.

[bherman01545]

Metz 34 CS-2 Digital. 

Three Auto F/Stops, Full Manual and optical slave. I love it

[mujk]

I don't usually use flash on my Ms, but for the occasional need I have a small Metz 20 C-2. Two auto F stops and manual. Reflector can be tilted upwards 90 degrees. Runs on two AA cells.

[wlaidlaw]

I am really looking for something the size of the Godox Junior but with auto thyristor control. Manual is OK-ish on the M, where you will know your distance but I want a flash that will also work on my Q3 and auto-focus cameras either need good auto (which the SF-24D isn't on the Q3) or TTL. Manual flash also does not work well for street photography, where by the time you have checked the focus barrel for distance and then mentally divided that into the guide number and set the correct aperture, the moment will have long passed. Realistically, I think I will have to compromise on the size aspect and take my SF-40, which apart from the weak dial detents issue, is a very good little TTL flash. I can solve the dial issue with some strips of orthopaedic tape to lock them in place. 

Wilson

[romualdo]

Wilson

I've been using this very small Leica flash (CF) for a few years now - has manual & two auto settings - originally made to accompany the Leica minilux zoom (see specs below)

bought mine second hand from Japan (online)

Extract from Rockwell

https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/minilux-zoom.htm

Leica Compact Flash CF 18 541.

The CF flash itself is excellent. It's tiny, efficient and works well. I'd use the flash in its Auto modes on other cameras. It recycles very fast in either Auto mode.

It runs on 2 AA cells. Be careful: the battery cover can get lost because it is not tethered to the flash.

Recycling, from a full-power manual blast, takes just under 5 seconds with fresh alkaline cells. With alkaline cells testing at 40% on the MBT-1, the ready light takes 30s to come on, but the flash still works well even if the light isn't on yet.

Recycling is faster in Auto mode at less than full power, in fact, recycling is often instant.

Ni-MH cells testing at 100% take 6.5s to recycle, while other Ni-MH cells testing at 80% take 10-13s to recycle from a full-power dump.

I measure GN 40 feet (12 meters) at ISO 100.

It weighs 4.220 oz (119.7g) with two alkaline AA cells, or only 2.505 oz. (71.0g) empty as manufacturers usually specify things.

 

[Chuck Albertson]

I've been using a Nikon SB-30 with the M cameras since forever. I don't think Nikon make it anymore, but you can probably find one used for not much. Use it mostly for fill flash, or to trip studio flashes when I don't want to be bothered setting up the Pocket Wizard triggers.

Edited November 2, 2023 by Chuck Albertson

[wlaidlaw]

4 hours ago, romualdo said:

Wilson

I've been using this very small Leica flash (CF) for a few years now - has manual & two auto settings - originally made to accompany the Leica minilux zoom (see specs below)

bought mine second hand from Japan (online)

Extract from Rockwell

https://www.kenrockwell.com/leica/minilux-zoom.htm

Leica Compact Flash CF 18 541.

The CF flash itself is excellent. It's tiny, efficient and works well. I'd use the flash in its Auto modes on other cameras. It recycles very fast in either Auto mode.

It runs on 2 AA cells. Be careful: the battery cover can get lost because it is not tethered to the flash.

Recycling, from a full-power manual blast, takes just under 5 seconds with fresh alkaline cells. With alkaline cells testing at 40% on the MBT-1, the ready light takes 30s to come on, but the flash still works well even if the light isn't on yet.

Recycling is faster in Auto mode at less than full power, in fact, recycling is often instant.

Ni-MH cells testing at 100% take 6.5s to recycle, while other Ni-MH cells testing at 80% take 10-13s to recycle from a full-power dump.

I measure GN 40 feet (12 meters) at ISO 100.

It weighs 4.220 oz (119.7g) with two alkaline AA cells, or only 2.505 oz. (71.0g) empty as manufacturers usually specify things.

 

Unfortunately a lot of other folk seem to be seeking the CF flash from the price they fetch. Most come from Japan and by the time I have paid import duties and all the associated charges and fees I would be looking at around £160 for one of these flashes and I just would not be prepared to pay that for a near 30 year old flash. Given I have two alternatives sitting on my shelves, the SF-24D and the SF40, I will just live with their size shortcomings for the three days I will be using the flash in Dieppe. The CF flash with its vertical format is not a whole lot smaller on the camera than my SF-24D. I think the nearest flash to fit all my requirements of a small horizontal format auto thyristor controlled flash is a Rollei 121BC but all the ones I have found seem to be "untested" - which is eBay-ese for broken or defective in some way - been there and been caught by this before. Given the age of these flashes and their original low price, no surprise there. 

Wilson

[romualdo]

1 hour ago, wlaidlaw said:

Unfortunately a lot of other folk seem to be seeking the CF flash from the price they fetch. Most come from Japan and by the time I have paid import duties and all the associated charges and fees I would be looking at around £160 for one of these flashes and I just would not be prepared to pay that for a near 30 year old flash.

OMG!! that's OTT - I paid a fraction of that a few years back - didn't realise they were so expensive now

[charlesphoto99]

I've fallen in love with my definitely non-compact, wireless, but manual only on Leica's Profoto A10 over the last couple of years. I do have an old SF24D kicking about, but always found the light a bit pedestrian, and hated the TTL pre-flash. What could be really cool is a small wireless trigger setup for it like the FlashQ triggers, using A mode off camera. Might have to order up a set (and some CR123 batteries) and give it a go. 

[wlaidlaw]

The SF24D is a lot improved by using a diffusor in front, such as Leicagoodies SFILL. However it then becomes a rather large flash and actually larger than the SF40 with its supplied slide on diffusor. The pre-flash on the SF24D also has the unfortunate property of having about the same delay between flashes as the average human blink reflex (0.1 to 0.2 seconds, so it is very common to get photos of folk, all with their eyes shut. 

Wilson

[dugby]

Try the SF26, which is quite small.  The SF26 TTL main flash is so rapid after the pre-flash, it almost seems to be combined.

[wlaidlaw]

Sadly the SF26, where I like the form factor, appears to be unobtainium. I am guessing not a lot of these were sold which leads to a very thin S/H market. 

Wilson

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[darylgo]

The SF26 is a rare commodity.  I placed one on ebay with a door that needed to be taped shut and it sold quickly.  It is a much improved flash over the SF24D, a flash that gave me fits with it's inconsistent behavior across all Leica models from M, SL, and TL.  

A flash from the 1970's that I will always remember is the Vivitar 252, an auto flash but not thyristor.   My friend had a Honeywell potato masher, model ??? and he asked me what flash I used, I showed him this tiny flash and he couldn't believe it.   His Honeywell auto exposures were dark and the negatives were thin while my Vivitar exposures were bright and the negatives were properly exposed.   When looking on ebay they are available, would a 50 year old flash be a viable alternative?     

Currently I am using a Westcott FJ80ii flash on Nikon and Sony....one flash works TTL on both and others, Canon, Fuji.  A large heavy flash that I never want to place in the hotshoe.  They make a wireless flash trigger that is small and light, the protocols for Leica unfortunately are not built-in.   Leica has the SF-C1 that does the same thing with the SF-60 leaving the sole issues of having a third hand to carry it and the price.  

 

[Chazphoto]

In my Contax years (don't flinch) I used the TLA140 and TLA 200 a lot.  They were brought out for the G series AF rangefinder-style cameras, but worked equally well with the TTL equiped SLRs from Contax.  They had a wired flash system before RF controllers were available, that integrated all the units and calculated a TTL exposure.  I didn't use it much, but it was exceptionally good.

Anyway, the TLA 140 is about the size of a packet of ten cigarettes and the tube sits about 2.5 inches up from the hotshoe, so less risk of red-eye.  The TLA200 is more boxy and has an integrated zoom head (IIRC), but therefore more direct.  There were a few clip on difusers that worked well enough to wrap around the units , although you lost some output.

I've often wondered if the TLAs would be compatible with the Leica hotshoe.  Should be for auto, but probably not for TTL.

(also have fond memories of the Vivitar 282...)

Cheers

Chazphoto