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Cheap flash option for Leica

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ericdan

ericdan

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Other than Leica flash units is there any cheaper options that are compatible with leica MP?
I don't regularly shoot flash but sometimes I wish had a small unit for parties or indoor snapshots. Don't quite want to fork out 300+ dollars for a leica flash since I don't plan on using it very often.

Thanks


Sent from Tapatalk
 
I bought a Contax TLA140 for 1500 yen a few years ago. Works nicely on a number of cameras, and is very small.
 
I'm sure that in Japan there are plenty of 70s and 80s small auto flashes in second hand that would do the job.
Any flash with a central contact is all you need.

On another hand, do you really want to use flash with a Leica rangefinder?
 
Not really but sometimes I need it. Was shooting Halloween in
Tokyo yesterday with a disposable but ran out of film too soon.


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Any "old", thus non-dedicated flash would do good.

This includes plain (calculator dial) flashes, "computer" flashes and flashes with different manual power settings. There are third-company flashes which got dedicated settings but also include a non-dedicated one,
Over here they all are available for next to nothing.
 
One of these. You get no automation with the camera. The camera will just fire it. But you do get auto from the flash and you get good manual control for fill flash. £75 from amazon.

http://www.sunpak.jp/english/products/pf20xd/index.html


The fuji have the following. But this is twice the price and is designed to talk to the fuji cameras listed for TTL flash. Much better quality unit but I'm not sure if it has its own auto mode like the above does. i.e. it may just be manual setting on a non fuji but has good manual power output control. Similar small size as above.

http://www.fujifilm.eu/uk/products/digital-cameras/accessories/flashguns/

Both should be good size for occasional use on your MP or any other small camera with a hotshoe.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
$300 dollars is cheap in my opinion. It'll be compatible and well made. It's like installing aftermarket parts
on a good car.
 
CropDusterMan said:
$300 dollars is cheap in my opinion. It'll be compatible and well made. It's like installing aftermarket parts
on a good car.
Click to expand...

A flash is a flash, IMHO. The best accessory is a coiled lead to allow for some modelling. If you must have on camera flash, I'd pick up a late model entry level Nikon for £25 which will have a pop up flash with rear curtain sync and all the under/over exposure settings and automation anyone could wish for.
 
blockend said:
A flash is a flash, IMHO. The best accessory is a coiled lead to allow for some modelling. If you must have on camera flash, I'd pick up a late model entry level Nikon for £25 which will have a pop up flash with rear curtain sync and all the under/over exposure settings and automation anyone could wish for.
Click to expand...

But he's got a Leiaca MP and wants something to go on that.

The real question is whether he wants a flash unit with its own inbuilt auto function which reads the reflected light and and shuts off when its got enough light back or whether he's happy with manually setting output. If its the first then the sunpak is the cheapest and most versatile small unit available. If he wants manual output only then the Sunpak will do that too but the Fuji is much higher quality unit which will do it and is not very expensive.

And the other question is how he will be using it. If he hasn't got the time to work out which power output setting is required then a flash unit with inbuilt auto may be required. But with experience manual maybe OK as you'll soon know what power output to use in any situation.
Which you use is debateable becasue the auto units are dependant on the subject reflection which can often be wrong whereas manual, if you know what your're doing, will always be right or close to right but takes longer as you have to set it. Manual only may not be optimal for grab shots.

OP needs to make some choices based on what he thinks is best for how he wants to use it and his skill level.

p.s.

OP also need to check whether a small unit will obscure his view of camera controls.
 
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I use a Sunpak 322 with my Leica MP to very good success. Can be gotten for $10 or so. Simple and works. Can be used as hotshoe or with cord (which easily stores right in the flash body when not used), two auto settings based on film speed which help you set for fill in day time by adjusting accordingly (i.e., if setting says f5.6 you set for maybe f/11 on your camera), or you can use a series of settings like 1/32, 1/16, 1/8th power etc. I often just set for 1/8th for nice fill flash during the day or set for the yellow or green auto setting, set f/stop based on film speed and just fire away indoors or at night.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ericdan said:
Other than Leica flash units is there any cheaper options that are compatible with leica MP?
I don't regularly shoot flash but sometimes I wish had a small unit for parties or indoor snapshots. Don't quite want to fork out 300+ dollars for a leica flash since I don't plan on using it very often.

Thanks


Sent from Tapatalk
Click to expand...

A used Metz would be nice and cheap. The MP only has the flash sync and nothing else. May be you can buy 3 of them. A real big one for when the flash is the main light. A medium one for most of flash work. A tiny one for when you need just a bit of flash. I think you can get all 3 for much less than the $300. Of course none will have the red dot.
 
A simple unit like Nikon's SBE may fill the bill.
It gives ~10 ft auto range & is compact enough to fit a shirt pocket.
 
My old Vivitar 283 thyristor flashes work just fine. They even have auto flash capability. Don't use them on your digital cameras but they work great with my M-A.

The Strobist recommends the Lumapro LP180. Never tried it but it also sounds like a pretty good option. It goes for $150 new from Midwest Photo so I don't consider it all that inexpensive but it is new.
 
Pioneer said:
My old Vivitar 283 thyristor flashes work just fine. They even have auto flash capability. Don't use them on your digital cameras but they work great with my M-A.

The Strobist recommends the Lumapro LP180. Never tried it but it also sounds like a pretty good option. It goes for $150 new from Midwest Photo so I don't consider it all that inexpensive but it is new.
Click to expand...

I don't think the Lumapro LP180 is a good choice (you gave me the hints as it's recommended by the strobist). Strobist's strobe are manual, has many power levels in manuals and is able to to remotely triggered. I rather have a flash with many f/stop choice for automatic. Good movement for the flash head.
 
Chan Tran said:
I don't think the Lumapro LP180 is a good choice (you gave me the hints as it's recommended by the strobist). Strobist's strobe are manual, has many power levels in manuals and is able to to remotely triggered. I rather have a flash with many f/stop choice for automatic. Good movement for the flash head.
Click to expand...

Nikon SB-28 then. Full of f stop A mode options, tilt / swivel, built in reflector card, good for 18mm to 85mm zoom.


Sent with typotalk
 
ericdan said:
Other than Leica flash units is there any cheaper options that are compatible with leica MP?
I don't regularly shoot flash but sometimes I wish had a small unit for parties or indoor snapshots. Don't quite want to fork out 300+ dollars for a leica flash since I don't plan on using it very often.

Thanks


Sent from Tapatalk
Click to expand...

That's a bit like buying a Porsche and not having the money for the gas isn't it?:sad:
 
I would have bought my Porsche cheap too. Then it makes sense...
 
I'd have thought a Porsche was more like a Canon and a Leica was more like an Aston Martin DBS :D
 
Hi EricDan

An MP is a basic fabric shutter film M2 with a hot shoe?
It should be ok with any flash gun or dusbin lid and flash powder.
Bruce Guilden uses a simple flash with long coiled telephone coiled umbilical and M6 or FM2n.
A computer sensor flash like a 283 makes for simplicity if you have a white ceiling you can bounce of that easily.
It is best to carry two identical 283s with two identical coiled cables don't ask why.

Noel
Note Dan uses the plural for his guns too, the peace officers pack two compact S&Ws...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
ericdan said:
Bad comparison as the Porsche needs gas to run. My MP works fine without a flash.



Sent from Tapatalk
Click to expand...

I checked the manual Leica recommend the SF-2. You can find a lot of flashes that has the specs of the SF-2 and more for cheap. Just that they don't have the red dot.
 
^^^Don't forget synch speed!
 
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