Flash operating modes
The LEICA SF 58 has a total of six flash modes:
TTL
TTL flash mode
TTL
-HSS TTL flash mode with HSS-High Speed Synchronisation
A
Automatic flash mode
M
Manual flash mode
M
-HSS
Manual flash mode with HSS-High Speed Synchronization
M
-Slave Off-the-camera operation as secondary flash with wireless release
Strobe flash mode
Depending on the features of the camera, not all of these modes are available:
TTL
TTL
-HSS
LEICA R 8 / R 9
x
x
2
LEICA M 8 / M 8.
x
3
–
2
LEICA M 7
x
–
LEICA MP
–
4
–
LEICA M 6 TTL
x
–
1 Function is intended only for off-the-camera operation as secondary flash. With
this function, the flash unit can only be triggered by another flash unit through its
slave-sensor.
2 Only with LEICA R 9
3 With metering pre-flash (see "TTL flash mode with metering pre-flash", p. 56)
4 The function is inicated on the monitor of the flash unit, but is not supported by
cameras which only have one hot-shoe contact. It can therefore cause defective
exposures with these cameras.
A
M
M
M
-HSS
-Slave
1
x
x
x
2
x
x
–
x
x
–
x
x
–
x
x
–
TTL flash mode
With TTL flash mode, you can achieve very good flash shots easily. In this
mode, the exposure is measured by a sensor in the camera. It measures the
light entering the camera through the lens (TTL = "Through The Lens").
The advantage of this flash mode is that all factors influencing the exposure
(filters, aperture changes, and focal length changes with zoom lenses, exten-
sions for close-ups, etc.) are automatically taken into account in controlling the
flash output.
TTL flash mode with metering pre-flash
The TTL flash mode with metering pre-flash with the digital Leica M- models is
a further development of the standard TTL flash mode of analog cameras.
Immediately after the shutter button is pressed, and before the actual expo-
sure, one or more almost invisible metering pre-flashes are executed by the
x
flash unit. The reflected light of the metering pre-flash/es is evaluated by the
camera. According to the evaluation, the subsequent flash exposure is adapted
x
to the photographic situation by the camera.
x
Notes:
x
x
• Depending on the camera model, the metering pre-flashes precede the main
flash by such a short interval that they cannot be practically distinguished
from the main flash!
• The metering pre-flashes do not contribute to the exposure.
56