Leica and flash

[Yapper]

Happy new year guys and girls!
just wondering if any of you using flash with your RF especially the M7.
If I want TTL metering am i right to say that i can only shoot at 1/50s?
What if I do not want TTL or use it with a non TTL flash eg Metz C20, how do i meter the scene and calculate the flash output?
your help will be much appreciated, thank you

 

[DoveVadar]

Happy new year guys and girls!
just wondering if any of you using flash with your RF especially the M7.
If I want TTL metering am i right to say that i can only shoot at 1/50s?
What if I do not want TTL or use it with a non TTL flash eg Metz C20, how do i meter the scene and calculate the flash output?
your help will be much appreciated, thank you

Hi, yes.. the x-sync speed is 1/50 on the M7. Slow by modern standards. Some flash units have guide at the back to tell you which iso, which aperture to use and thus how far to stand. The idea is to remain aperture and iso, just change your distance. Go closer if you are too far. Changing your shutter speed does not affect the flash at all, only ambient light. Too fast, you get a half dark frame in your image.

For manual exposure.. It will be based on your flash guide number. Metz flash has a standrad guide number of 58 if I remember correctly. So the equation goes something like (correct me if im wrong):

with iso 100,

flash guide number / aperture stop = distance to shoot (in metres)
58 / 8 = 7.2metre (hence you might either reduce a stop on your flash and move to to 5m or increase your aperture to f8 to 7m or f11 to 5m. of course since the trigo (aperture, iso, guide number) is related, changing one will affect the other 2.

Hope this helps. Flash is not as scary as it seem in fact, studio lighting can be very fun too

 

[Yapper]

thanks DV!
can i clarify,
1. my flash will fire no matter which shutter speed i choose
2. the exposure i get from the flash will be the same regardless of shutter speed because it will be the same amt of light emitted from the flash. Changing shutter speed is only to vary the amt of exposure from ambient light

am i getting it correct or still wrong???

on another note is the Metz 20c2 worth getting? i understand its small and light and cathay will bring in for me for $75. Or should i pay more to get one of the TTL enabled flashes??

thanks again for taking time out to reply!

 

[snapx3]

1. yes as long as you wind the camera and press the shutter, the flash will go.
2. dunno about that. but i always set it to 1/50, and adjust the aperture accordingly.
3. not sure about ttl. i'll use a normal compact non-ttl flash. the manual that comes with it has all the setting.

i'd suggest you try out a roll and play with the different settings.

thanks DV!
can i clarify,
1. my flash will fire no matter which shutter speed i choose
2. the exposure i get from the flash will be the same regardless of shutter speed because it will be the same amt of light emitted from the flash. Changing shutter speed is only to vary the amt of exposure from ambient light

am i getting it correct or still wrong???

on another note is the Metz 20c2 worth getting? i understand its small and light and cathay will bring in for me for $75. Or should i pay more to get one of the TTL enabled flashes??

thanks again for taking time out to reply!

 

[chiif]

Using flash on old classic cameras is actually quite fun!

Especially at difficult lighting condition...

Shot this last weekend in the evening about 7pm. Rolleiflex 75/f3.5 + Metz flash...

 

[newghost]

just to share, here's a thread by a former colleague in Tokyo doing streets with flash... get it right and its just awesome!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlie_kirk/sets/72157624422728135/

 

[Royale With Cheese]

check this on flash guide number:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_number

Mr chiif in action with his rollei & huge flash:

just to share, here's a thread by a former colleague in Tokyo doing streets with flash... get it right and its just awesome!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/charlie...7624422728135/

Damn!!!! those are awesome shots
Ji Pun meimei :heart:

 

[DoveVadar]

check this on flash guide number:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guide_number

Damn!!!! those are awesome shots
Ji Pun meimei :heart:

Max, dont pierce your own brain with that pin. Then RFSG pin will be banned.:bsmilie:

 

[Yapper]

ok thanks!!
any flash to recommend? something not too big

 

[newghost]

just for your reference... Leica MP with 28mm Elmarit and Metz flash... and a prada jacket to keep the chill at night!

http://tokyocamerastyle.com/