Fill in Flash

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Hi, does anyone knows how to use fill in flash on a sunny day with the SF20 and M6TTL? The low sync speed on the M6TTL means I have to turn the aperture to f22 or beyond while f16 is smallest on most of the M lens. Thanks!!

-- Mitchell Li (mitchli@pacbell.net), June 27, 2001

Answers

You may need to pick up a neutral density filter to use the M camera with fill flash, especially if it is in bright sunlight. I'd suggest a 2 stop ND filter that will allow for using f 8 to 11 with 100 speed film. Just keep close to the subject otherwise the flash will not be able to output enough light to make a difference. I use fill flash on my Nikon a lot, but I very seldom use it with the Leica. Instead I try to get backlighting and over expose a bit.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), June 27, 2001.

I set the exposure compensation on the SF20 to -1.7 and use the M6TTL's meter for ambient light. This has worked well for me both indoors and outdoors, even using 400 film (rated at 250, or 320).

-- kpp (www.pragerproperties@worldnet.att.net), June 27, 2001.

Using a ND filter will indeed permit using a wider aperture; however this will also demand twice the light output from the flash and there might not be enough power to cover it...it depends on the scene. If you are shooting a vertical format and your subject's face is in the top half of the frame (camera *must* be held with the shutter- button/wind lever on top)you can safely use up to 1/125.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 27, 2001.

Jay,

That won't work with the TTL unless you want to fire at 1/50. I assume that is what you are talking about because on the non-TTL M6 you can trip the flash at any shutter speed and 1/125 (while not synched) will still permit flash light to get through on one side of the curtain travel. Sadly enough, the TTL circuitry doesn't allow the camera to fire the flash ABOVE 1/50.

What a step in the WRONG direction! You're going to waste the film either way so what was Leica thinking?????????

-- John Chan (ouroboros_2001@yahoo.com), June 27, 2001.


You might like to try using a reflector, such as a large sheet of white polystyrene foam (the type used for packing), to direct some of the light from the sun into the dark areas of the subject, instead of using fill-flash.

Regards, Ray

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), June 27, 2001.



Yes, John is correct, I am basing my experience on the non-TTL M bodies. I think TTL flash is most useful for telephoto or macro applications, and given the sync speed of the M, I have and will continue to resist buying a TTL until they make one with AE.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), June 28, 2001.

Just a point of interest. If it's bright enough that you are shooting at f16, your flash even at FULL power isn't going to make that much of a difference.

Cheers.

-- Simon Wong (drsimonwong@hotmail.com), June 29, 2001.


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