Leica Survey: Flash Usage with Leica Cameras

[LUF Admin]

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Together with Leica Camera I have set up a survey about how you use flash with Leica cameras:

Dear Leica Community,

How, when and with what do you actually use flash? The use of flash is an exciting and often underestimated topic in photography - and especially in combination with Leica cameras, we would like to better understand what expectations, wishes and experiences you have as a user.

We would therefore like to invite you to take part in our short survey on flash use with Leica products. Your answers will help us to further develop existing products and tailor new solutions even more specifically to your needs.

The survey only takes a few minutes - your opinion counts!

Thank you for your support,
Your Leica Team

» Survey Flash with Leica Cameras

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[Gibbo]

Done, very quickly 😊

[FrozenInTime]

Did survey as 'do use flash'.

Then it occurred that I might if there was a very small on camera transmitter ( with flash-meter for film M cameras ) and pocketable USB-C rechargeable remote heads.

[ckuwajima]

Started using about a month ago.

Looking forward to seeing the results in film, will develop this weekend.

[Topsy]

Did survey as a non-user because I think it's important to gauge what percentage of us use it.

[FrozenInTime]

1 hour ago, FrozenInTime said:

Did survey as 'do use flash'.

Then it occurred that I might if there was a very small on camera transmitter ( with flash-meter for film M cameras ) and pocketable USB-C rechargeable remote heads.

Mine should have also read 'do not use flash' - ipad has a bat habit of erasing whole blocks of text.

 

Edited August 19 by FrozenInTime

[lct]

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Did survey with only one complaint: SF26 availability. I have kept mine fortunately but i would not like to have to use bigger SF40 or above when i only need a compact flash for digital M and CL.

[LocalHero1953]

I use flash quite a bit for studio and other portraiture.
They needed a question "why do you use any flash equipment which isn't Leica?" (viz. price, cross-system compatibility, poor experience with Leica flashes).
Leica: please stop selling overpriced, rebadged flashes, just make your cameras compatible with other brand flashes.

[Olaf_ZG]

Didn’t finish the survey, cause I don’t use Leica flash. Leica shouldn’t even be bothered with it, and give their protocols to profoto and godox. Leica is for camera and lenses, let others do the light.

[sometimesmaybe]

2 hours ago, Olaf_ZG said:

Didn’t finish the survey, cause I don’t use Leica flash. Leica shouldn’t even be bothered with it, and give their protocols to profoto and godox. Leica is for camera and lenses, let others do the light.

thats exactly what i just said

TBH - most average M shooter will prob never use a flash etc, hence the flash/lighting ecosystem on leica is seriously below par. this creates a doom loop of mediocre flash / lighting equipment.

i need HSS and compatibility with godox /profoto triggers. i cant seriously light a 180cm modifier with SF60 x 3

[adespen]

I bought my SF24D a few years back and have never used it. Now my Canon is getting the Stopmotion animation firmware upgrade, I will take it out and have fun. Thanks for prompting me.

[PGJ]

The early Leica film cameras did not have flash sync out-of-the-factory for years after other brands did.

It seems that somewhere in the design process, starting decades ago,  people seem to think of Leicas being used ONLY with whatever light can be conveniently available. The number of very fast lenses being offered seems to go with this design philosophy. 

I expected something better in the M-11.  

It is a camera meant for serious pros, who will spend the money for tools that help them do their work. But it is sadly lacking in the flash department. Yes, It will supposedly do TTL exposure, but only with two possible flash units. Those can be hard to find in my area, are far more expensive than other brands with similar features, and the reviews and write-ups leave a lot to be desired.  I don't want to gamble on buying one.  

But connecting ANY flash to the M-11 means using the single accessory shoe. So, no place to put the viewfinder for the 24, 21, or multifocal viewfinders. Or the electronic Visoflex viewfinder, which I really enjoy using as a wide-angle viewfinder, as well as with longer lenses.  The M-11 finder is good with a 90 mm lens, and fair with the 135 mm lenses, but those same lenses when viewed through the Visoflex are going to have exact framing, and you can see depth of field with the 10X magnification.  

But alas, I get a choice. Use flash or get better composition.

There is a USB-C connector on the camera base. They should use that as an optional connection for a Visoflex, or maybe they could even use it as a sync connection for flash.

Or maybe some repairman will do what so many repairmen did in the 1930s and 40s--put in a flash sync fitting and correct Leica's myopic views about flash. 

If the cameras were more flash friendly, they could probably sell more flash units, and maybe a few more cameras, too.

Paul Jacobson

Edited August 20 by PGJ

[thebarnman]

I took the survey and it was kind of fun.  If a Leica flash unit could be more like the portable Profoto equipment, Leica could have a winner on their hands.  However, I also suggested to let other flash manufactures like Profoto have access to proprietary software so Profoto and others can be fully compatible with Leica cameras in all modes.  I always find with such nice equipment like Profoto flash equipment, there always seems to be something it can't do with Leica cameras that it can do with other such as Cannon and Nikon cameras.   

[LocalHero1953]

IMO it's not up to other brands to adapt to Leica's proprietary firmware, but for Leica to buy in to the firmware settings for Profoto and/or Godox. Godox make triggers that will do TTL with Leica cameras (I use the X3 with my Q3 43), but they are more expensive than the versions they make for other (higher market share) camera brands. Leica should just forget. about doing their own thing with flash - their kit is more expensive and has no benefit over market leaders in flash. Leica has no USP or tech advantage in flash like it does in cameras and lenses.

 

[jps1]

For my part, I never use flash on my boxes.

[ynp]

Please make a Leica version of the Godox v100 pro. I will pay extra several hundreds  for it for the red dot 🔴. The Profoto integration is still unreliable in my opinion. 
Or adapt the Nikon sync protocol and we all can forget about your Nissin Copies. . I don’t mind your Nissin’s on the Leica M, but 3 seconds between the shots is a bit too slow even for a film shooter. 

[lct]

Depending on other flash makers can only lead to situations like we are in currently. Since Metz is out of flash business, Metz-based Leica flashes are unavailable now. Not sure what reassurance Nissin or other makers can bring from this viewpoint.

[Coach]

I own the SF60, the transmitter and a Q3. I would like to use them more often but there a not enough tutorials on this topic.

So actually very few flash pictures taken ! I hope to  increase my skills because it would helping some situations like parties, weddings and so on...

If you have some informations about tutorials please let me know

Thanks

Gerard

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[Eclectic Man]

Completed the form, but suspect that my experience using a Cullman DC 36 with SCA adapter on my (Leica) R5 may not be the most useful contribution.  

[fngl51]

 

My two cents-

I use flash regularly (5-7 day/week), off camera and with various modifiers, mainly for tabletop/macro work but also for some nature photography. I have both Leica (three SF60/Leica SF C1 trigger) and Godox (three AD200Pro/XP II L trigger) equipment. These are used with an SL2 and an SL3.

Both brands have their advantages and disadvantages. The SF60s/SF C1 are small enough to be used in tight settings (usually with MagMod modifiers), lightwieght enough to be easily packed,  carried, and attached to small bases. The use of AA rechargeable batteries is also convenient as opposed to using much heavier proprietary batteries. I have had no problems with using these off-camera, in manual mode, TTL mode, using multiple channels on the C1 controller. These can also be used in high speed mode, but I have not done so routinely. These are, however, limited with regard to power output, lack some features such as strobe/multiflash capability. and slower recycle time, especially when fired at full power. Cycle time could be mitigated using AC/battery pack, but those options do not seem to be available. Also, while the SF60/C1 counterparts from Nissan have had firmware upgrades, the versions for Leica have not been upgraded last I checked. Similarly, the ability to integrate the SF60/SF C1 with the other Nissan flashes is somewhat of a drawback.

The recent addition of Leica compatibility to the Godox line made the use of their off-camera flashes a welcome possibility. This addresses many of the limitations of the SF60/SF C1 and opens up a wide range of options to use more powerful flashes, flash types and modifiers. I have not had any problems with this equipment roughly two years of use. Furthermore, the cost of the equipment is considerably less expensive.  This provides a very reasonable alternative to Leica branded flash equipment.

I am aware that Leica has also partnered with Profoto to provide compatible flash system. While it is Profoto makes excellent equipment, the cost of a comparable set-up to what I have with Godox would be three times higher. I do not know if Profoto still offers a Leica compatible hot-shoe mounted flash.