Why No Third Party TTL Flashes for Leica Q Cameras?

[Cogito]

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Does anyone know if:

1) there's a technical reason it's more difficult to make a TTL flash for Leica Q cameras?

2) Leica makes it more difficult for third party vendors because they want to only Leica branded flashes to be sold? 

3) Is the potential market just too small?

3a) Leica shooters generally don't use on-camera flashes?

Godox has made versions of the new iT30Pro-TTL Mini Flash for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, but not Leica.

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The Leica Q3 is available for pre-order at B&H Photo Video and Adorama

[bobtodrick]

Leica's unique hotshoe and flash communication protocols, which are not standardized and can be complex is the main reason

[darylgo]

Flashes with an auto mode using a measuring sensor on the flash can give automation with Leica cameras.  Today, many models  are made without this feature, it was ubiquitous in older flashes from all manufacturers.   

[Aram Langhans]

17 minutes ago, darylgo said:

Flashes with an auto mode using a measuring sensor on the flash can give automation with Leica cameras.  Today, many models  are made without this feature, it was ubiquitous in older flashes from all manufacturers.   

But one might have to be wary of using these older auto mode flashes as the trigger voltage might be too high and burn out the camera circuits.  At least that is what I have read when I wanted to use my old Sunpak 611 on my newer Nikon digitals.  No idea what a safe voltage is for a Leica camera.  They used to make an optical isolator to protect the camera and I had one for my Nikons.

[darylgo]

1 hour ago, Aram Langhans said:

But one might have to be wary of using these older auto mode flashes as the trigger voltage might be too high and burn out the camera circuits.  At least that is what I have read when I wanted to use my old Sunpak 611 on my newer Nikon digitals.  No idea what a safe voltage is for a Leica camera.  They used to make an optical isolator to protect the camera and I had one for my Nikons.

In addition, with any flash, including Leica's own it's important to have both the camera and flash in the off position when attaching them together.  Other caveats exist however I've used many flashes over the years with Leica cameras without issues.   None as large as the 611 potato masher.  

[Jerryrock]

18 hours ago, Cogito said:

Does anyone know if:

1) there's a technical reason it's more difficult to make a TTL flash for Leica Q cameras?

2) Leica makes it more difficult for third party vendors because they want to only Leica branded flashes to be sold? 

3) Is the potential market just too small?

3a) Leica shooters generally don't use on-camera flashes?

Godox has made versions of the new iT30Pro-TTL Mini Flash for Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fuji, Olympus, but not Leica.

Godox makes the X3 trigger for Leica. It will work TTL on the Q3 with a Godox flash. It does not work on the Leica M11.

[bobtodrick]

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19 hours ago, Aram Langhans said:

But one might have to be wary of using these older auto mode flashes as the trigger voltage might be too high and burn out the camera circuits.  At least that is what I have read when I wanted to use my old Sunpak 611 on my newer Nikon digitals.  No idea what a safe voltage is for a Leica camera.  They used to make an optical isolator to protect the camera and I had one for my Nikons.

This would only hold true for flashes 20 years or more older.

All modern flashes (such as Godox) use low trigger voltages that can safely be used.  I myself use a Godox  https://www.godox.com/product-a/Lux-Senior.html   for the retro look on my Q.  It has only one auto setting but 25 years that was every flash on the market 🤣

 

[Oxfordian]

3 hours ago, Jerryrock said:

Godox makes the X3 trigger for Leica. It will work TTL on the Q3 with a Godox flash. It does not work on the Leica M11.

Any Godox flash, I have a V860iii (Nikon) kicking around, would this work on my Q3 and SL2 if I used the X3 (Leica)?

[jaapv]

On 5/25/2025 at 11:25 PM, Aram Langhans said:

But one might have to be wary of using these older auto mode flashes as the trigger voltage might be too high and burn out the camera circuits.  At least that is what I have read when I wanted to use my old Sunpak 611 on my newer Nikon digitals.  No idea what a safe voltage is for a Leica camera.  They used to make an optical isolator to protect the camera and I had one for my Nikons.

 Leica claimed 300 V (other sources say 600V but let's be careful) and is unlikely to have changed that standard.  Anyway, those flashes are not elderly but ancient.

https://www.botzilla.com/page/strobeVolts.html