Using Leica SF20 Flash

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Can anybody tell me what is the standard operating procedure for using the SF20 flash in a 50mm F2.0 lens?

I read in the instruction manual. The user has to dial in the F-stop number to the SF20 flash unit. Is that true? I thought TTL will do all the work for you.

Thank you for your help,

James

-- James Lin (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 16, 2001

Answers

You input the aperture only if you want to see the flash range displayed. I never bother myself but remember that the M6TTL and SF- 20 combination only warns you if the flash is under exposed (and correct exposure of course) but not if you are too close or the aperture is too wide and you over expose the film.

Cheers,

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), April 16, 2001.


Thank you for the reply. Per your explanation, I just set the flash in the TTL mode, turn the M6 dial to the flash mode and I am ready to shoot? That's great.

Another question,

When I am using the SF20 flash with M6 TTL under low light condition which require the flash, the LED indicator in the M6 always asked me to turn the aperature all the way to the widest 2.0 aperature. Can I set the any aperature I want or I should follow what the M6TTL is telling me to always open the aperature to the maximum?

Thank you for the reply,

James

-- James Lin (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 17, 2001.


Hi James, I'm no expert in this forum, but could possibly answer you Q since no other is posting. M6 TTL LED won't point you to the correct exposure for flash, but only for ambient light, so no difference if you mount flash or not. The TTL is something when TTL sensor detects enought light falling on the film then signals the flash stop emitting light output. For fill-flash or near range flash, better use reduced output even with TTL, as John suggested -1~ -2 stops is appropriet. It's not something we know from Nikon or Canon(my 380Ex is so simple that my wife uses the same way as P&S casmera), but TTL for Leica is not sell-point at all, basically a marketing term- manaul part can't communicate with electronic part efficiently. Auto mode uses the sensor on the SF-20, you need to set the aperture setting manually. M mode is totally manual with fraction of MAX output. Hope it helps a little.

-- Fred O. (yo5454@yahoo.com), April 17, 2001.

Fred:

Great answer. I love this forum. There are many good Leica users with useful replies.

Thanks,

James

-- James Lin (sigpe57@yahoo.com), April 18, 2001.


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