Hello everyone,

I'm more of an available light shooter with my Leica M2, but on the occasions when I do use flash, every once in a while my little Metz 20BC6 misfires when plugged into the X terminal of the camera. It could very well be the little terminal adaptor (you know, that little thingy that converts the weird old-style Leica sync port to accept standard PC sync cords) that's giving me problems. I'm thinking of using the flashbulb terminal instead to alleviate this problem. Is it possible to use the flashbulb sync terminal on electronic flash without the flash exposure going out of sync? Appreciate the help and responses you could provide. Thanks.

http://homepage.mac.com/badris

-- Badris (badris@mac.com), December 19, 2001

Answers

Using the bulb connector would be a nice idea, since this is also further away from the viewfinder and so out of the way of my glasses, nonetheless using the bulb terminal would not work: Flashbulbs have a different light distribution (?) over the time than electronic flashes, so if you'd use this terminal you might not illuminate the whole picture area on the film with the flash (if any). It may work when you use slower shutter speeds, but I didn't try this out - maybe someone here did this already ?

Kai

-- Kai Blanke (kai.blanke@iname.com), December 19, 2001.

The flashbulb terminal will fire the flash long before (15ms, if you're counting) the shutter opens, so don't bother. If you want to spend the money (perhaps in conjunction with a CLA) the purpose of the terminals can be switched, though (though the icons can't be, obviously) to move the electronic flash plug away from your eye. Also, while you're at it, you can have modern terminals installed (cost me $60 extra over the CLA cost, last month). The added advantage will be that with the new terminals you won't have to use the adapter, and the profile of the whole connection will be lower-- you might not mind the position, then.

-- Michael Darnton (mdarnton@hotmail.com), December 19, 2001.

NO!

Flashbulbs need time to get up to full output so the M sync fires before the shutter is released. If you use an electronic flash in the M sync, you will not end up with any flash hitting your film. It is possible to have the sync terminal changed to pc type as mentioned and you can have them both set to X sync.

There are separate contacts for each sync terminal and it may be time for a CLA so the x sync terminals can be cleaned.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@powersurfr.com), December 19, 2001.

Sub-query: Is it possible to have BOTH flash terminals converted to X- sync (separate circuits), so that you have a back-up in case one fails? Also, can hot shoes be added to M2/3/4s?

-- Andy Piper (apidens@denver.infi.net), December 19, 2001.

I'm not sure about hot shoes, but Sherry can install either an M4 sync block or go one step further and convert it so that both terminals are X sync terminals. I did the former recently on an M3 I sent to her for a CLA. I think the cost was $50 or so on top of the CLA. Works great, and a pleasure to not have an adaptor sticking out from the back of the body.

-- Rolfe Tessem (rolfe@ldp.com), December 21, 2001.