SF 60 flash sound at startup?

[Jptsr1]

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Quick question. I just picked up an SF60 flash for my SL2. Leica should be ashamed of themselves for putting their name on this thing and selling it at this price, but that's another story. I'm wondering about the zoom sound at startup. The flash seems to rack the zoom from near to far (or visa versa) at startup which most of my flashes do but none of my other flashes are this loud. Even my old sunpack manual flash isn't this loud. Just wondering if something may be wrong with it or is this normal? It seems to work fine but the sound when you power it on is crazy!

[LBJ2]

1 hour ago, Jptsr1 said:

Quick question. I just picked up an SF60 flash for my SL2. Leica should be ashamed of themselves for putting their name on this thing and selling it at this price, but that's another story. I'm wondering about the zoom sound at startup. The flash seems to rack the zoom from near to far (or visa versa) at startup which most of my flashes do but none of my other flashes are this loud. Even my old sunpack manual flash isn't this loud. Just wondering if something may be wrong with it or is this normal? It seems to work fine but the sound when you power it on is crazy!

I use the SF60. The start up sounds pretty much in line with my other flash systems. Nothing close to what I would call remotely loud, crazy or even notable. But hard to compare via comments and expectations. If you think the start up sound is "crazy" hopefully you can still return it for another, just in case. 

[Jptsr1]

14 minutes ago, LBJ2 said:

I use the SF60. The start up sounds pretty much in line with my other flash systems. Nothing close to what I would call remotely loud, crazy or even notable. But hard to compare via comments and expectations. If you think the start up sound is "crazy" hopefully you can still return it for another, just in case. 

Thanks. UnfortunatelyI live in Singapore. There's no "return it” unless you got it from Amazon or Apple. Once you walk out the door here you own it. Only option would be to send it to Leica. I may go back to the Leica store and see how it compares. I guess that will let me know ifn I need to send it to Leica and play the waiting game. 

[LBJ2]

Just now, Jptsr1 said:

Thanks. UnfortunatelyI live in Singapore. There's no "return it” unless you got it from Amazon or Apple. Once you walk out the door here you own it. Only option would be to send it to Leica. I may go back to the Leica store and see how it compares. I guess that will let me know ifn I need to send it to Leica and play the waiting game. 

A good plan given your circumstances. If a new purchase maybe the shop will have mercy if they too see/hear something is wrong with your flash when you do the compare. 

FWIW, I used the sound levels app on my Apple Watch to compare start up sounds between two of my small flash units. Not scientific but it looks like my SF60 startup sound is bit quieter than my small Sony HVL-F32M flash by about 10-12 decibels.

[Jptsr1]

1 minute ago, LBJ2 said:

A good plan given your circumstances. If a new purchase maybe the shop will have mercy if they too see/hear something is wrong with your flash when you do the compare. 

FWIW, I used the sound levels app on my Apple Watch to compare start up sounds between two of my small flash units. Not scientific but it looks like my SF60 startup sound is bit quieter than my small Sony HVL-F32M flash by about 10-12 decibels.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aEvXTZkQK1Mb3vVb7

Not sure if I can post a video link but I'll give it a shot. 

[Jptsr1]

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aEvXTZkQK1Mb3vVb7

The more I listen to it this can't be normal. I should have just ordered it from Amazon. From what I see on line people with problems with this flash are waiting 3 to 6 months to be told they need to pay to repair it.

[LBJ2]

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39 minutes ago, Jptsr1 said:

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/aEvXTZkQK1Mb3vVb7

The more I listen to it this can't be normal. I should have just ordered it from Amazon. From what I see on line people with problems with this flash are waiting 3 to 6 months to be told they need to pay to repair it.

Thank you for posting the audio clip. Using your flash settings, in general sounds similar to mine. But difficult to compare sound levels with my copy since I can adjust the volume on your audio clip. Better to test it out in person with another flash at the shop in the same noise ambient environment, sooner the better. 

Edited March 25, 2024 by LBJ2

[Stephen.s1]

FWIW My SF60 start up sound level is barely audible.

[Jptsr1]

6 hours ago, LBJ2 said:

Thank you for posting the audio clip. Using your flash settings, in general sounds similar to mine. But difficult to compare sound levels with my copy since I can adjust the volume on your audio clip. Better to test it out in person with another flash at the shop in the same noise ambient environment, sooner the better. 

Thanks. I'll probably stop by there today. 

[Jptsr1]

5 hours ago, Stephen.s1 said:

FWIW My SF60 start up sound level is barely audible.

Most of my flashes are as well but not this one. I believe I got a lemon or at least the bad end of copy variation. It sounds to me like the gears for the zoom are set a little to far forward and it's struggling to move the inner lens against the front. It works fine otherwise but I think that's a defect that will cause problems over time. 

[Jptsr1]

Just in case anyone with the same issue finds this thread I stumbled upon a Leica store while on vacation in NY and was able to compare my flash with the store sample. The SF60 should be nearly silent when you switch it on. Mine is obviously defective but since I bought it in Singapore my only option would be to ship it back to Leica. I guess thats what I get for breaking my own rule about buying electronics in SG (from anyplace other than Amazon or Apple). This really is a cheep flash with horrible quality control (per many reviews). Leica should be ashamed to have their name on it. 

[Jptsr1]

Finally got my flash back. Couldn't be more disappointed with Leica service. 2 months to tell me they couldn't fix my 2 week old flash. I guess I actually could be more disappointed. They could have not replaced it. The new one is hardly silent but it's quieter than the other one so I guess that's a win.