Flash Triggering issue with SL2 and 3

[ErikW]

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Hello I'm new to this forum and Leica camera having only changed to Leica in the last 6 months.

I use a mixture of Broncolor and Profoto flash packs and I was wondering if anyone has had issues with getting remote triggers to fire with their SL cameras. 

I have an SL2 and just recently an SL3 but firing flashes using either a broncolor RFS trigger (its an older trigger with one pin on the bottom) and both Profoto Air remote (non TTL) and the Profoto Connect remote for Leica (which is brand new) flash triggering is unreliable and intermittent. 

Has anyone had experience with this? I thought originally it may be an issue with the hotshoe on my SL2 (as I bought it second hand) but I'm having the same issues with the SL3. I do wish it had a flash nipple (call me old school) as it would be nice to have backup flash firing option.

Is there a menu setting that I'm missing or any adaptor anyone can suggest?

Just for context I'm not a newby at photography, I have been a professional ad shooter for 25 years and most of my work has been using Phaseone equipment (which I still use) but have recently swapped out of Canons (R5/R3)for 35mm.

Thanks in advance 

E

[Luke_Miller]

I use PocketWizard PlusX triggers with my SL and SL2 bodies. There is a hot shoe accessory that provides PC connection for wired connection to studio flashes.

[FlashGordonPhotography]

2 hours ago, ErikW said:

Hello I'm new to this forum and Leica camera having only changed to Leica in the last 6 months.

I use a mixture of Broncolor and Profoto flash packs and I was wondering if anyone has had issues with getting remote triggers to fire with their SL cameras. 

I have an SL2 and just recently an SL3 but firing flashes using either a broncolor RFS trigger (its an older trigger with one pin on the bottom) and both Profoto Air remote (non TTL) and the Profoto Connect remote for Leica (which is brand new) flash triggering is unreliable and intermittent. 

Has anyone had experience with this? I thought originally it may be an issue with the hotshoe on my SL2 (as I bought it second hand) but I'm having the same issues with the SL3. I do wish it had a flash nipple (call me old school) as it would be nice to have backup flash firing option.

Is there a menu setting that I'm missing or any adaptor anyone can suggest?

Just for context I'm not a newby at photography, I have been a professional ad shooter for 25 years and most of my work has been using Phaseone equipment (which I still use) but have recently swapped out of Canons (R5/R3)for 35mm.

Thanks in advance 

E

I use. Godox, Elinchrom and ProPhoto heads with my SL2 and SL3. I’m not having issues.

The SL3 does have a sync port on the left side of the EVF. Mostly for video but it should be fine for stills. I haven’t tried it though, yet.

Gordon

 

[LocalHero1953]

FWIW…….

I have had a SL2-S since launch and at least since then I have had a Godox Xpro1 trigger - the Canon version - to trigger remote Godox flashes. This has worked just fine in manual control mode until the last couple of months when triggering has occasionally become intermittent. Pressing the ‘fire’ button on the trigger works as it should, but pressing the shutter button doesn’t. Because it has been intermittent with no obvious factor (it just stops triggering in the middle of a shoot), I can’t tell if it is the trigger or the camera at fault. I think I have found a way consistently to make it work again: switch both off, detach the trigger, re-attach it firmly, switch it on, then turn the camera on again. 

I mention it here in case my workaround helps you, and in case there are others with the same problem. Or in case someone can suggest a way to test whether it is the trigger or camera at fault (without buying a new one of either). It could be an ageing trigger, an ageing camera, or even a recent firmware update. 

[FlashGordonPhotography]

Just to triple check, I put my TTL trigger on my SL3 and fired about 50 shots from my Profoto A2, which I had close by. No missed frames. Only one flash close by. So not a real stress test. But seems fine.

Is the issue fairly consistent or just all over the place over a long day? Approximately how many frames between failures? How many heads? Happy to do a bit more testing to see if I can replicate. My Profoto system is smaller than my Godox one though. I only have three heads.

Gordon

[kkcsm]

I have a Godox XProIIL.  Has worked well with SL (Typ 601), only issue has been with small MF12 flashes overheating during 100+ exposure macro focus bracketing sessions.  HSS has worked as expected with AD200 Pro.  However other than the macro stuff I don’t use flash frequently and cant say that I have exercised it rigorously enough to claim that it is flawless.

RE: SL3 I have used the controller for a series of head shots in manual mode (2xAD200Pro, 1xMF12).  Works as expected.  But not a long session and only about 60 exposures or so within 40 minutes or so.  Godox does not claim XProIIL works with SL3 yet, however, at least in manual mode it has worked for me.

Edited June 13, 2024 by kkcsm

[ErikW]

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Thanks to everyone who responded. The most reliable trigger has been the non-TTL Profoto trigger with barely a dropped frame. The. Bron one is ok if you turn it around (weird) and the Profoto Connect is basically unusable in a professional sense. However thank you Luke Miller indeed there is a flash nipple beside the EVF which I hope will solve the problem. I didn't see it there.

Erik

[albireo_double]

I use all the triggers that you mention with no problems and no missed shots. SL2 and now SL3. Broncolor RFS, Profoto Connect Pro Leica and the Air Sync / Air Remote triggers. 

Where you need to be careful is when you place the trigger too close to the strobe (for instance when using a Profoto A10 or A2 mounted on a bracket on the camera, with the trigger in the hotshoe. This can cause issues and missed shots. The remedy is usually to set the trigger to Channel 8, at least on the Profoto triggers.  I've once had an instance of the Broncolor RFS not triggering well when I had some C-Stands between the trigger and the pack (maybe they acted as some kind of antenna, I don't know). Switching from Channel 1 to Channel 2 fixed the problem.

Edited June 13, 2024 by albireo_double

[ErikW]

3 hours ago, albireo_double said:

I use all the triggers that you mention with no problems and no missed shots. SL2 and now SL3. Broncolor RFS, Profoto Connect Pro Leica and the Air Sync / Air Remote triggers. 

Where you need to be careful is when you place the trigger too close to the strobe (for instance when using a Profoto A10 or A2 mounted on a bracket on the camera, with the trigger in the hotshoe. This can cause issues and missed shots. The remedy is usually to set the trigger to Channel 8, at least on the Profoto triggers.  I've once had an instance of the Broncolor RFS not triggering well when I had some C-Stands between the trigger and the pack (maybe they acted as some kind of antenna, I don't know). Switching from Channel 1 to Channel 2 fixed the problem.

Thanks so much, interesting information Albireo. As I say I'm new to the Leica ecosystem, do you have any special setting in the flash menu of the SL3 or just leave it on auto?

e

[albireo_double]

Usually shoot in M mode, manual ISO, shutter speed set to 1/200s (or longer, depending on how much ambient I want to show), rear curtain sync. Depending on set (studio vs. location) set exposure preview to PAS or PASM (on location typically want to see the effect of ambient, especially when using a variable ND filter, so leave in PASM ... in a darkened studio set to PAS). Other than that, I like the two-way communication between the Connect Pro trigger and the more recent Profoto strobes - vastly prefer to work with the absolute power levels shown on the trigger display than the +- relative adjustments that are shown on the older Air TTL triggers (or on the Connect Pro with the strobes that do not support two way exchange of info between trigger and strobe/pack via wifi/bluetooth)

[vhsin964]

Profoto service told me that can be an issue is radio disturbance when the remote is too close to the flash, such as mounting A1/10 on the bracket of camera.
There is a "secret" setting on the Connect Pro where we can lower the power of the radio transmitter.

Please read attached picture.

I set a lower radio power, then no more misfire.

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[Luke_Miller]

I had the same experience with my Godox AD360 flash on a bracket.  There seems to be a minimum distance inside which the wireless triggers will not work reliably.

[Photoworks]

On 6/14/2024 at 10:12 AM, Luke_Miller said:

I had the same experience with my Godox AD360 flash on a bracket.  There seems to be a minimum distance inside which the wireless triggers will not work reliably.

Godox trigger has 2 settings of distant, in your case, I would use 0-30 meters.

[Peter I]

Dear all, I’m new to both this forum and Leica. I bought a Leica SL3😀. I’m a hobbyist but I’m no stranger to photography or flash. If I read the manual for the SL3 it says, you may use Leica flash or Profoto and the manual also vaguely mentions HSS in one paragraph. Since I already own Godox flash and the dealer said I actually could use Godox with the SL3, I figured it was worth a shot. I got the Godox XProII L to fire both my two Godox V860ii Sony version, and my AD600B. TTL and sync seems to work fine all the way to the maximum sync speed of 1/200, but I can’t get it to work with HSS. All I get is a black frame. I know the XProII L is compatible with SL2, SL2S but I hoped the protocol would be the same for SL3. I’ve checked the firmware on the XProII and the latest version 1.4 is installed. I looked on line to see if there were any firmware updates for my flashes, and found an interesting thing. It seems that only the Godox Pro flashes have firmware updates for the XProII L transmitters which led me to believe my flashes are not compatible with the XPro II L tranmitter.

Has anyone had success with HSS with SL3 and XProII L, if so which flashes were used?

Has anyone tested HSS with Profoto on the SL3? 

BR/ Peter

[fotonutzz]

1 hour ago, Peter I said:

Dear all, I’m new to both this forum and Leica. I bought a Leica SL3😀. I’m a hobbyist but I’m no stranger to photography or flash. If I read the manual for the SL3 it says, you may use Leica flash or Profoto and the manual also vaguely mentions HSS in one paragraph. Since I already own Godox flash and the dealer said I actually could use Godox with the SL3, I figured it was worth a shot. I got the Godox XProII L to fire both my two Godox V860ii Sony version, and my AD600B. TTL and sync seems to work fine all the way to the maximum sync speed of 1/200, but I can’t get it to work with HSS. All I get is a black frame. I know the XProII L is compatible with SL2, SL2S but I hoped the protocol would be the same for SL3. I’ve checked the firmware on the XProII and the latest version 1.4 is installed. I looked on line to see if there were any firmware updates for my flashes, and found an interesting thing. It seems that only the Godox Pro flashes have firmware updates for the XProII L transmitters which led me to believe my flashes are not compatible with the XPro II L tranmitter.

Has anyone had success with HSS with SL3 and XProII L, if so which flashes were used?

Has anyone tested HSS with Profoto on the SL3? 

BR/ Peter

Hi Pete, 

That's a very interesting finding regarding the XProIIL being not compatible to the SL3.  Maybe must wait for the XPro3 Nano L.  

For the Profoto, I am using the Profoto Connect Pro (L) and B10 on HSS without any issues all the way to 1/8000s.  The Profoto automatically detects a faster shutter speed and change to HSS mode by itself.

[Peter I]

Thank you fotonutzz, most helpful.

[Mikko Kankainen]

Peter the problem is your flash. It is not compatible. Xpro-L works perfectly with HSS. I have been using it all the time since april. You need a newer flash like AD400 pro. Check Godox page, they have all the info. I also have ad600bm flashes, they work only up to 1/200, so I use them as a indoor location use.

[Peter I]

Thank you Mikko, most helpful. I suspected as much. Upgrading to newer Godox will be cheaper than switching system all together. I wanted to get confirmation from someone who knows.

[Photoworks]

you can see all the Flash that get the update for the Leica Trigger, basically all the newer versions work.

 

In the studio, I use the x3 trigger not for Leica, the benefit is to get shutter that is more responsive. the TTL trigger adds a preflash delay to every frame.

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[Gonzalo Picon]

On 7/31/2024 at 5:37 AM, fotonutzz said:

Hi Pete, 

That's a very interesting finding regarding the XProIIL being not compatible to the SL3.  Maybe must wait for the XPro3 Nano L.  

For the Profoto, I am using the Profoto Connect Pro (L) and B10 on HSS without any issues all the way to 1/8000s.  The Profoto automatically detects a faster shutter speed and change to HSS mode by itself.

Good afternoon friends, I had the same problem when I bought the Leica SL3, I couldn't shoot with my Godox flashes at speeds greater than 200 and I found the solution that I share with you below:
You should look for the firmware update for each flash in this link https://www.godox.com/firmware-flash_2/
and update it using the Godox G3 launcher and the problem is solved. Regards and I hope it helps.