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SF58 Flash: Aperture on Flash has to be set for every shot?


msole

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I have read the SF58 Manual twice, both in English and German, and it is the worse manual ever. I understand that the Flash does not read the Aperture setting from the camera on the M8.2.

 

QUESTION: Does this mean that in TTL mode the Aperture has to be set on the flash for each shot. And if this is true, should the aperture be set at the same value as the aperture on the lens?

 

Anybody with any understanding of this please help! Many thanks!

 

Magdalena

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In TTL mode the flash doesn't need to know the aperture, so AFAIK it shouldn't matter whether you set it and what value it is set to. But it should be pretty straight forward to just try it out and see what happens.

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In TTL mode the flash doesn't need to know the aperture, so AFAIK it shouldn't matter whether you set it and what value it is set to. But it should be pretty straight forward to just try it out and see what happens.

 

I initially assumed what you said as well, it would be logical that in TTL the flash doesn't need to know the aperture. I did run some tests. And there is a difference, and the difference depends on how far apart the aperture settings are on the lens from the settings on the flash.

 

Does someone know how a greater/smaller aperture on the flash would affect the image? I can't really tell from my tests.

 

Thanks.

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  • 2 months later...

If you want to test this properly, you should set up at fixed distance in front of a wall and try varying aperture on the camera while leaving the aperture on the flash set to an extreme value.

 

I suspect, unless you did something relatively controlled like this, that variation between shots could be for reasons other than the respective aperture settings.

 

The manual does say that the minimum working distance is 1/10 of the distance displayed on the flash. This distance depends on the aperture set on the flash (as well as the iso which is not manually adjustable in TTL). I guess it's possible that the flash might vary output based on what it thinks the lens aperture is - but that really doesn't make sense as it has no idea what the actual subject distance or reflectivity will be.

 

I've had a fair amount of variation in normal flash use at close range, I think this has been due to working within the minimum working distance which at wider apertures can be out around 4-5 meters or more at higher iso's.

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i tried a few extreme settings on camera and flash but i just can't see any output power difference so i assume setting the aperture on the flash gives you the advantage of displaying the ca. range but has no other effect. i've a question in with leica to get their opinion.

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  • 2 weeks later...

In general, and that is 95% of the shots, you don't need to worry about the aperture on the flash. It only matters when your subject is very close (the manual states within 10% of the flash range) or very far away. When you change the aperture on the flash, note the flash range distance is changing on the flash display. As long as your subject is in that range you are fine. Except if it is too close, say the distance shows 20m on the display ans your subject is 1m from you, you probably will overexpose the subject. You can dial in a larger f-number on the flash or just use EV compensation in such case.

I keep my f-number on the flash at f.4 or f/5.6 in general.

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Some more tidbits about this flash. I asked Leica Tech Support about the power port on the side of the unit. (You know the one the manual says nothing about) They replyed that I could obtain a Metz battery and power cord to juice up the flash. I'll post the B&H item numbers (I am not promoting B&H but they are great)

 

Metz | P76 NiMH Power Pack with Charger | MZ 53129 | B&H Photo

AND

Metz | V76 Power Cord | MZ 5850 | B&H Photo Video

 

Now to me this would be very useful. I have had more than a few time when the flash goes to sleep and wakes up after I take the shot. Would never do at a wedding or other event. I wonder since it really is a custom version of the Metz 58 flash if a Quantum battery and cable for the 58 would work? Am I onto something here? I bet it would and I would be happier buying one since I could get a Nikon SB800 cable too and be dual use since yes I am a "Nikon Sinner"... I use them too.

 

I would rather have the following rig:

Quantum Instruments | Turbo SC Battery Pack | TSC | B&H Photo

AND

quantum 58

 

About the same money, but allows me to drop $ 60.00 more and buy cables for my other flashes and "future flashes". I also see Quantum recells battery packs. So even the older lead acid one can get a $ 85.00 face lift and blast away too, cheaper used than the slim verion above. Could be why older dead units sell well on eBay.

 

Money is a little tight, so my 5 sets of AA NIMH will have to do until mid year I think. Then I may spring for the Quantum units and give a report back.

 

Has anyone out there used this combination yet?

 

Lee

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