Using SF 24D flash with R4

[RachelR-UK]

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I've recently bought an SF 24D flash gun to use with my M6TTL and R8 cameras. The handbook says it can be used with any camera with a hot shoe including earlier model Leica cameras. I realize that I can't use TTL flash with earlier cameras.

 

I thought I'd try it with my R4 so I set the flash gun to Auto and my R4 to Manual with shutter set to X. I press the shutter release and the flash fires but the shutter stays open for ages or until I switch off the flash gun. So ... what am I doing wrong?

 

If I use my Metz 40MZ-2 with SCA 3502 on Auto it works fine.

 

Rachel

[leicar888]

Have you tried it with your R4 set to Aperture Priority? I have the SF 20 flash and its manual says "Aperture Priority is intended for other Leica system cameras. The flashgun itself controls the light output according to the selected aperture. The three working apertures, f/2.8, f/5.5, and f/11 are available, irrespective of the film speed setting".

[RachelR-UK]

Yes. I've tried it on all modes. I would have expected Manual mode on the R4 to work regardless of what was connected but it doesn't. I've done some more experimenting and found that the shutter stays open until the flash gun is turned off or until it turns off automatically.I also found that the problem occurs if the flashgun is set to manual mode.The only way a round it is to set the R4 to it's mechanical speed of 100 which is the sync speed anyway.

[RachelR-UK]

I should have read the handbook that came with the SF 24D more carefully It states "With the Leica R4 / R4s.2 / R5 / RE: 1/100 s and B are available. These cameras must not be set at X as this will result in malfunctions......"

 

So there you are ... all is well after all

 

Thanks for all the interest shown in my question.