Flash Options

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Leica Photography : One Thread

I would like to use fill-in flash more often with my Leica M-3, and would like a small flash that will look good, and more importantly, does not greatly affect the balance of the camera. I would appreciate your recommendation on some make/model to consider. Thank you.

-- Ty Williams (tu2tango@email.com), February 21, 2001

Answers

I use the Leica SF20 flash unit with my M6TTL and M4-P. It's a compact unit and has EV compensation control which makes it very handy for doing fill.

Godfrey

-- Godfrey DiGiorgi (ramarren@bayarea.net), February 22, 2001.


Ditto on a M6TTL and a M2. The darn thing is expensive though; and, if I did not have a M6TTL, I would have stuck with my old Vivitar 2600. It works just fine with two automatic ranges, very inexpensive new and embarrassingly cheap used. If you want to use fill flash with Velvia (ISO 40), you will need a much more powerful flash than what makes me happy with my Tri-X (ISO 400). The SF-20 will require a hotshoe adapter (such as the one Kaiser makes) to use on the M3. Metz makes a flash (20BC6) that might fit the bill as well. Have a look here:

http://metz.de/1_metz_2000/m_pages_english/main_index_e.ph p3?link=4&sub=1&linkname=mecablitz

There are many good flashes that might meet your requirements. I have used models from Sunpak, Metz and Vivitar and they were fine. Go to your local camera store and try a bunch.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), February 22, 2001.


Olympus S20. About $50. Clone of the Leica CF (for minilux) and Konica Hexar RF flash units, but without the "dedication" circuit. It's the best unit I've found for a non-TTL M camera. Fill is easy (except for the Leica's 1/50 sync speed), just close the lens down 1 or 2 stops from the one the flash "thinks" is set.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), February 22, 2001.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ