Best Flash for Sl2

[aspherical]

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Have been looking at SF60 and SF40. Lot of complaints about the SF60, fewer about the SF40. Any experience with these flashes?

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[Fred Newberry]

I have the SF60 and have had no problems with it.

[PeterBoyadjian]

Profoto a10 canon 

[Luke_Miller]

I have the SF40 and use it with my M bodies and Q2.  Works fine.  With my my SL bodies I use either a PocketWizard  for remote flash or my SF58.  The SF58 and SF64 are made by Metz and are pro quality units.  Only available now as used, they are rugged and powerful.

[Photoworks]

12 hours ago, aspherical said:

Have been looking at SF60 and SF40. Lot of complaints about the SF60, fewer about the SF40. Any experience with these flashes?

If you want TTL or HHS the SF60 and SF40 are the only options on camera flash.

Since there are no other choices I have been using the SF60. It does wireless if needed, it can take external power for quicker recharging, and you can lock the setting.

SF40 is smaller and simple and less light, with only 40

I have 2 SF60s, one for backup. they work fine until they don't.

If you want to use a bracket and a trigger you have a few more options from Profoto and Godox, and they can do TTL. both companies have only compatibility with newer flash systems.

[BernardC]

I've had the SF40 for years now. No complaints. I only use it for fill flash, usually bouncing off of a ceiling.

[jaapv]

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But it demands high-quality batteries like Eneloop.

[Jptsr1]

On 5/4/2024 at 9:06 AM, aspherical said:

Have been looking at SF60 and SF40. Lot of complaints about the SF60, fewer about the SF40. Any experience with these flashes?

My second SF60, which has been at Leica repair here in Singapore for over a month now, is the worst piece of electronic equipment I have ever owned. First one died after about 6 months. Second one made a grinding noise out of the box but I didn't notice it until I got home.  Even when it worked TTL was hit or miss. I hope the SF 40 is better. I'm looking for a good manual solution now.

Edited May 9, 2024 by Jptsr1
spelling

[Printmaker]

I’m still using my ancient SF24 for the very occasional fill in or as a trigger for studio flash. It’s just a little pocket thing but has been serving me well for decades. Lately I’ve used it for a fill in for macro shots and it works great with a little diffuser (SL2S/Sigma 105).

Though if I was doing more portraits I’d probably get something larger and more powerful.

[jrp]

The Godox system works fine, even in TTL mode.  I probably wouldn't rely on it for professional work, but for casual shooting it's great: cheaper than the rest, as powerful as you want, portable, with some adequate accessories.

[glini]

Which Godox are you referring to? I bought a used SL2, and I'm investigating the flash. From Godox, I have found the XPROIIL TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Leica, but no flashes are directly compatible. Any help would be appreciated. 😀

[Simone_DF]

7 hours ago, glini said:

Which Godox are you referring to? I bought a used SL2, and I'm investigating the flash. From Godox, I have found the XPROIIL TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Leica, but no flashes are directly compatible. Any help would be appreciated. 😀

There's no TTL/HSS compatible flashes for Leica. However, you can buy a Godox flash in any mount and they will all fire in fully manual mode (NO TTL/HSS). I personally tried Godox flashes with Nikon and Canon hotshoes and they both work fine on a SL2-S. 

With the XPro you can get TTL/HSS for off-camera flash with any Godox flashes. 

Hope it helps!

[Paul925]

I've owned the SF40 and SF60.  SF40 worked fine and supports the Leica wireless TTL rigger.  My SF60, however, died and Leica charged me >$300USD to swap out the flash for a substitute (w/o warranty) saying they couldn't repair it.  I hadn't used the SF60 much and sold the replacement as soon as I got it.  I won't buy another SF60.  

If I recall correctly, if you get the Leica remote trigger, you can use other (i.e. not rebadged as Leica) Nissin flashes that work with remote triggers, which might open some options for you.  .  

I've also owned the SF58 and SF64 over the years  Both Metz and, IMO, a better build quality than the rebadged Nissin SF40/SF60s.  The SF64 is more "modern" with a color interface.  The downside is that both flashes are bigger and heavier than Leica's current offerings.  Other discontinued Metz flashes, such as the SF-26 (2-AAA cells) and SF-24D (2 lithium cells) are smaller, but less powerful.  The SF24D is also fairly pricey, approaching the price of a new SF40 ;  

Profoto and Godox/Flashpoint have TTL triggers for their flashes but, unless I'm mistaken, neither has released an actual on camera flash for Leica.  Last inquiry I made to westcott, they said that their universal trigger didn't support TTL in Leica, but I haven't checked in a while.  

In addition to simply going "manual", you could also look at a flash that offers "Auto" mode, in which the flash does the flash calculations after you tell it what ISO setting you're using.  This precursor to  TTL flash.  Off hand, I believe there are at least a couple of Godox retro styled flashes that include an auto mode.  

Good luck with your search.

Regards,

Paul

[Photoworks]

8 hours ago, glini said:

Which Godox are you referring to? I bought a used SL2, and I'm investigating the flash. From Godox, I have found the XPROIIL TTL Wireless Flash Trigger for Leica, but no flashes are directly compatible. Any help would be appreciated. 😀

I use the Godox v1pro on a bracket and the godox leica trigger for TTL flash. Works well

[Jean-Michel]

I have the SF60. I rarely use an on-camera flash but have one for occasional use. One day, as I was planning to use the flash, it would not work at all, batteries were fresh, etc.,but nothing worked. I thought that it died, as that of some of our members's units have done in the past. Since it was quite new, I sent it to my Leica dealer, they checked it in store before sending it off to Leica and found that the problem was simply some corrosion on the contacts. They cleaned it and sent me back my flash in proper working condition — no charge. They figured that I must have had a leaky battery or had left batteries in the flash while stored, which I hadn't. They also suggested that I use lithium batteries instead of alkaline ones.

I have no idea how the lower contacts got corroded. I never keep batteries inside the flash when not in use, and the flash is stored in a normal humidity space, but corroded it got!

I wonder if some  SF60 flashes that suddenly stopped working were all victims of the corrosion and could have been simply fixed by cleaning off the contacts.

The other lesson, if I may expound, is that it serves one well to deal with a reputable dealer with knowledgeable staff. 

[glini]

On 6/24/2024 at 4:51 PM, Photoworks said:

I use the Godox v1pro on a bracket and the godox leica trigger for TTL flash. Works well

Thanks for the information, it's like my setup idea 😀

Many thanks also to the other for sharing your experience.

Edited June 26, 2024 by glini

[MarcoA]

Can someone recommend a lens-mounted ring flash for the SL2?

Thanks!

Marco

[giganova]

SF60 is great. I took thousands of photos with it and it never failed me. You can take hundreds of photos before the batteries run out of juice.

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Hallo,

Look here: Leica L-Mount

[Luke_Miller]

I use the Leica SF-58.  It is a Metz built flash and is pro quality.  Discontinued, but available used along with its sibling the SF-64. 

[polycarp]

On 6/24/2024 at 10:51 PM, Photoworks said:

I use the Godox v1pro on a bracket and the godox leica trigger for TTL flash. Works well

Could you recommend a bracket?