ReidReview review of Leica SF58 Flash Unit

[tom0511]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

Just talked to Metz some days ago and asked about the functional difference between the Metz54 with SCA-Adapter for Leica and the SF58.

 

The info was that the function of 54 and 58 is basicly the same (and IMO the same as the SF24d)

The only difference is that with the Metz 54 the second (small) reflector can not be used in GNC-mode (since the second reflector is fooling the GNC-metering), but with the SF58 the second reflector should work in GNC-mode.

 

Personally I feel that using a good flash in A-mode is at least as reliable as using the GNC-mode. Plus you avoid that delay between pre-flash and main flash.

The drawback of A-mode is that you have to dial in the f-stop.

 

I dont know why Leica has this long delay between pre-flash and main flash while Nikon and Canon can do it much faster.

 

 

I feel the SF58 is too expensive, I rather accept the small disadvantage of not being able to use the second reflector of the Metz54 in GNC mode but therefore own a flash which I can use on pretty much any camera, for 2/3 of the SF58.

[sean_reid]

.

I dont know why Leica has this long delay between pre-flash and main flash while Nikon and Canon can do it much faster.

 

The delay with the SF58 has unnoticeable in my use.

 

Cheers,

[tom0511]

The delay with the SF58 has unnoticeable in my use.

 

Cheers,

 

Does it mean it is much faster than with the sf24d?

[sean_reid]

Does it mean it is much faster than with the sf24d?

 

I haven't tested the SF24 and I haven't yet tested any Metz units on the Leica DRFs. Prior to the SF58 I used a Vivitar 285 with those cameras.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

[Guest roey]

Does it mean it is much faster than with the sf24d?

 

Yes. It is way faster.

[fishblimp]

When I look for a used Metz 54 for my M9 (on eBay etc), I see "Metz 54 Mz-3 with SCA 3902 for Hasselblad" or "Metz 54 Mz-3 with SCA 3902 for Olympus" or "Metz 54 Mz-3 with SCA 3902 for Canon or Nikon". Will any of these works with the M9 as long as I get the correct SCA adapter? If yes, WHICH is the correct SCA model number.

 

Sorry if this should be clear to me, but it is not.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Advertisement (gone after registration)

When I look for a used Metz 54 for my M9 (on eBay etc), I see "Metz 54 Mz-3 with SCA 3902 for Hasselblad" or "Metz 54 Mz-3 with SCA 3902 for Olympus" or "Metz 54 Mz-3 with SCA 3902 for Canon or Nikon". Will any of these works with the M9 as long as I get the correct SCA adapter? If yes, WHICH is the correct SCA model number.

 

Sorry if this should be clear to me, but it is not.

 

Go here:

 

SCA-Adapter: Metz[cameratype]=2#anwsearch

 

to see that you need a 3502 adapter.

 

I believe the MX-n (2, 3, or 4) doesn't matter. When I tried to buy an MZ-3, the store only had MX-4's. It's the 3502 adapter that makes the difference.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Here is the reply I got, in totem verbis (I hope that's right ):

 

"To prevent any damages of the flash units "Metz 54 MZ-3" and "Leica SF-58" we do not recommend to use third-party power packs like the mentioned "Quantum Turbo SC battery back". Unfortunately, for this reason we can't give any advice for the connection of those power packs.

 

 

The reason there is mention of the 54 MZ-3 is that I have one of those too....

 

Just for the record, I have been using the Quantum Turbo 2X2 with my Metz -- since I bought it several years ago. Quantum supplies the correct cable for connecting to the Metz 54.

 

I also have a cable to use my smaller Quantum pack, it looks like the QTB on their web site.

 

Check your dealer for the appropriate cable to any flash. I would expect them to have a cable to fit just about any flash. For example, I have cables for my (ancient) Vivitar 283's.

 

These guys make great batteries. When I asked my dealer what to get, he said, "Quantum," and he doesn't even sell them.

 

They are not cheap.

[tom0511]

Yes. It is way faster.

 

Wow- I didnt expect this.

This makes me to check it out (the sf58)

[rbaron]

Just for the record, I have been using the Quantum Turbo 2X2 with my Metz -- since I bought it several years ago. Quantum supplies the correct cable for connecting to the Metz 54.

 

I also have a cable to use my smaller Quantum pack, it looks like the QTB on their web site.

 

Check your dealer for the appropriate cable to any flash. I would expect them to have a cable to fit just about any flash. For example, I have cables for my (ancient) Vivitar 283's.

 

These guys make great batteries. When I asked my dealer what to get, he said, "Quantum," and he doesn't even sell them.

 

They are not cheap.

 

Yes, I have both of those battery packs and use them happily with a Metz 54MZ3 and a Canon 580EX. However, they don't appear to work with the SF58. Even though the Quantum cord seems to fit the SF58 it doesn't operate. Which is a shame, because as your dealer said, Quantum battery packs are the way to go. If you can.

[fishblimp]

I'm not sure if this helps anyone but I wrote to Metz to ask if the Mecablitz 58 AF-1 digital will work on an M9 with full TTL functionality. Here was a response from technical services (ad, I migh add that the response came within 6 hours!):

 

Thank you for your email enquiry of 29 September 2009 and your interest in our products.

 

The flash unit "mecablitz 58 AF-1 digital" is available in 5 versions for cameras from Canon (C version), Nikon (N version), Sony (S version), Pentax/Samsung (P version) and Olympus Panasonic (O version).

 

Unfortunately, there is no version (Metz type) for the digital camera "Leica M9" available.

 

Please be informed, a suitable version of the mentioned flash unit is available as a special Leica flash unit of type "Leica SF 58":

 

Leica Camera AG - Fotografie - LEICA SF 58

 

This flash unit "Leica SF 58" is distributed directly only by Leica and not by Metz. The flash unit supports also the special digital TTL flash control system of the digital camera "Leica M9".

 

For the mentioned digital camera "Leica M9" we can recommend you also the following suitable flash units of our own delivery program:

 

"mecablitz 44 MZ-2 digital" with adapter "SCA 3502M5";

"mecablitz 54 MZ-4i digital" with adapter "SCA 3502M5";

"mecablitz 45 CL-4 digital" with "Connection Cable SCA 3045" and adapter "SCA 3502M5";

"mecablitz 76 MZ-5 digital" with adapter "SCA 3502M5".

 

For detailed information to these flash units the multilingual instruction manuals are ready for download on our homepage:

mecablitz: Metz

 

Please, to purchase a new flash unit we recommend you to contact our agency in USA:

 

Bogen Imaging Inc

P.O. Box 506

Ramsey, N.J. 07446-0506

Telefon: 001-201-8189500

Fax: 001-201-8189177

mailto:info@bogenimaging.com

 

Please, see also for address:

Photo Electronics: Metz

 

We hope that that this information has been of help to you and remain

 

With kind regards

 

Wolfgang Becker

Technical Support

[giordano]

Note that when Metz say adapter "SCA 3502M5" they mean the SCA3502 adapter with Mark 5 firmware. Earlier marks of SCA3502 will probably work in some modes but won't give you all the advertised features.

 

AFAIK the firmware can be upgraded, but it involves sending the adapter to factory or perhaps Metz service centre.

 

The SCA301 standard foot adapts any SCA flashgun to any hot-shoe camera (auto and manual modes only).

[fishblimp]

Note that when Metz say adapter "SCA 3502M5" they mean the SCA3502 adapter with Mark 5 firmware. Earlier marks of SCA3502 will probably work in some modes but won't give you all the advertised features.

 

The SCA301 standard foot adapts any SCA flashgun to any hot-shoe camera (auto and manual modes only).

 

 

So if I were to buy the Metz 54MZ-4 for Canon or Olympus, does that mean I can take off the SCA shoe/module that comes with it and plop the 3502 M5 on in its place? Or do I need to get the "Standard" shoe version?

[amedick]

So if I were to buy the Metz 54MZ-4 for Canon or Olympus, does that mean I can take off the SCA shoe/module that comes with it and plop the 3502 M5 on in its place? Or do I need to get the "Standard" shoe version?

 

Correct, you would remove the Canon or Olympus modules, and replace it with your new 3502 M5 module. I did exactly this. Regards. John

[chuckw]

In view of the many posts in this thread regarding the capabilities of various Metz brand flashes relative to the capabilities of the SF58 I thought that I would post this email received from Metz. Specifically, I had asked whether the Mecablitz 54 MZ-4i would work in TTL mode on a Leica digital M. As has already been pointed out in previous posts in this forum, the Metz rep. points out that full TTL mode is not available. Of interest however is that the email specifically lists the exact procedures to go through to set the Metz flash up with the camera in "M-GNC" mode. I am not sure how well these procedures are documented in the Metz manual so I am posting them here on the chance that they might be helpful to some.

_____________________________________________________________

Thank you for your email enquiry of 21 August 2009 and your interest in our products.

 

Please be informed, digital cameras of type "Leica M8.2" are only loaded with a digital TTL flash control system, the so-called digital "Guide Number Control System" (GNC). Analogue TTL flash control is not possible with a digital camera of type "Leica M8.2".

 

The flash unit "mecablitz 54 MZ-4i" supports the digital TTL flash control system GNC. Therefore the flash unit has to be equipped with an adapter "SCA 3502M5".

 

The flash unit has to be set to the GNC mode:

Mount flash unit "54 MZ-4i" with adapter "SCA 3502M5" on camera's hot shoe.

Switch camera and flash unit on.

Touch camera release button slightly to start a digital data exchange between camera and flash unit.

Press button "Mode" on flash unit until "M" ("M" shows manual mode) flashes in display.

As long "M" flashes turn the dial on flash unit anti-clockwise until "GNC" is shown right down in display.

 

(Please note, in this case "M GNC" is a digital TTL flash control mode and not a "real" manual mode).

 

Now the flash unit is ready to run in digital TTL flash control mode (GNC) with "Leica M8.2".

 

For an order of a flash unit "54 MZ-4i" and an adapter "SCA 3502M5" we recommend you contact our agency in USA, please:

 

Bogen Imaging Inc

P.O. Box 506

Ramsey, N.J. 07446-0506

Telefon: 001-201-8189500

Fax: 001-201-8189177

mailto:info@bogenimaging.com

 

Please see also for address:

Photo Electronics: Metz

 

We hope that that this information has been of help to you and remain

 

With kind regards

 

Wolfgang Becker

Technical Support

[fishblimp]

I ended up picking up a Metz Mecablitz 54 MZ-4 and an SCA 3502 M5 module. I followed the instructions on how to set up and use GNC mode on my M9, but I noticed the every other photo I take with it is either too dark or over exposed (too much flash). This is my first attempt at using a flash, so I apologize for the newbie-ness but could someone suggest a reason as to why this might be happening? Does it have to do with the flash sync setting (mine is set to "1st curtain").

[ho_co]

fb--

I don't know why you're getting erratic exposure, but it doesn't have to do with whether the flash fires at first or second curtain. The problem is somewhere else.

[Leicaiste]

The info was that the function of 54 and 58 is basically the same (and IMO the same as the SF24d)

The only difference is that with the Metz 54 the second (small) reflector can not be used in GNC-mode (since the second reflector is fooling the GNC-metering), but with the SF58 the second reflector should work in GNC-mode.

 

Another difference, as already mentioned, is that it is not possible to dial an exposure compensation on the 54MZ4 in GNC mode.

 

Really annoying.

 

Lucien

[tashley]

The delay with the SF58 has unnoticeable in my use.

 

Cheers,

 

And in mine. I'd say it is too quick, by a very long margin, to have any anti-red eye effect at all. So quick in fact that the first few shots I didn't even realise it was happening.

[Advertisement]

Hallo,

Look here: Leica M

[fishblimp]

fb--

I don't know why you're getting erratic exposure, but it doesn't have to do with whether the flash fires at first or second curtain. The problem is somewhere else.

 

Thanks Howard.

 

I played with it this morning and noticed that it SEEMS to have to do with exactly how I depress the shutter/trigger when taking a photo. Sometimes, say if I press it down gradually and slowly, the pre-flash fires and then the actual flash and then the photo tends to come out properly lit. But, say if I press it a bit faster, then it tends to produce a darker (much darker) shot. Also, what I find peculiar on my Metz 54 MZ-4 is that when in GNC mode the zoom feature (i.e. zoom motor) is constantly fluctuating. Is this normal? I'm starting to worry that perhaps my model is not working properly? I bought it used from a large but reputable dealer here in NYC. I have 6 more days to take it back if necessary. I'd just like to determine if I am in error or if the flash is. Any help would be appreciated.