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I have read somewhere that the Metz 45-CL-4 flashgun triggering voltage is 16 volts, if so, will that voltage be too high to handle by the Leica Q3 camera. I understand that most modern cameras now have a much lower triggering voltage.

Please can anyone advise?

I contacted Leica UK with this question, which was quickly acknowledged, yet is still to be answered by their technical department.  I  asked the question many months ago!

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I use other, even older, Metz SCA flashguns without problems on all my Leica cameras. The M series is known to be up to 600 V. I would be surprised if the Q were different. Better ask Leica Wetzlar. 

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Thanks for your opinion.

I was assured by Leica UK in London, that a qualified technician would address this question, alas, I think as you do suggest, that the answer can be found in Wetzlar.

I will add, that my Q3 is triggering the flash. However, until I get an official answer, I will not continue using the flash, as I am most concerned about the circuit board in the camera being potentially at risk of damage.

Many thanks to you Jaapv.

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A slightly off topic answer. I have used a ca 1980 Braun 370 BVC flash with my Q3 with no problems at all. I worried about the voltage thing before using this old flash with the Nikon D7000 more than a decade ago. I asked my dealer about it at the time and he told me not to worry. So, I bought the small gismo seen on top of the Q3 on the attached photo and have used this combo now and then, although I later bought a Nikon SB-700 flash for the Nikons.

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  • 5 months later...
On 1/21/2025 at 10:15 PM, ursusis said:

A slightly off topic answer. I have used a ca 1980 Braun 370 BVC flash with my Q3 with no problems at all. I worried about the voltage thing before using this old flash with the Nikon D7000 more than a decade ago. I asked my dealer about it at the time and he told me not to worry. So, I bought the small gismo seen on top of the Q3 on the attached photo and have used this combo now and then, although I later bought a Nikon SB-700 flash for the Nikons.

The Braun 370 (at least 40 years young) has a trigger voltage of 21.1v (according to https://www.botzilla.com/page/strobeVolts.html) so s/b used with e.g., a Wein 'Safe Synch' to avoid camera damage. The link documents trigger voltages for many old flashguns. Personally I would not use any old flash / strobe with a modern camera unless I was certain the trigger voltage was the same or less than, compatible Leica strobes. And I certainly would not trust  any dealers' opinions ref safe use of old flashguns. Some dealers are 'there today and gone tomorrow' and are not always knowledgeable about electrics / electronics. 

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Many modern cameras including Leica handle such voltages as they have high-voltage resistant electronics in the flash circuits. If you want to make sure, give Leica CS a call. The answer probably has to come from Tokyo as the Q series is mostly Panasonic inside.
The last time someone did so, it was for the M240 IIRC, it was safe up to 600V. Up until now I have not seen one report of a fried flash sync. 

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Aaah the clasic Metz 45! 
I had a CT-4 in my early film days.

Got warned that the whimpy autofocus Nikons I bought would instantly become bbq’d marsmallows if I even just connected this great flash canon.

So it faded away. Would have been great to connect it to my Q’s….

 

Edit: Stevie, as I read it now you already fired the Metz with your Q. From what I understood circuit death would be instantaneous. So if you fired it more than once, you should be ok.

Edited by F-train
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