I've been using my buddy's Mecablitz 32-Z-2 with my '94 M6 for the occasional indoor shot. The thing is bigger than the camera. I found a great deal on a slightly used SF-20. Will it work on my M6?

-- Steve Hoffman (musicmavin@earthlikn.net), October 09, 2000

Answers

Sure,

The SF-20 can work in TTL mode, Automatic Mode (the flash mesures the light by itself) and a manual mode. Auto-mode and manual mode will work fine, but the SF-20 is kind of expensive compared to other flash with the same performances. If you don't have and don't plan to get an M6 TTL, you can probably get a better deal by looking somewhere else...

Xavier

-- Xavier Colmant (xcolmant@powerir.com), October 09, 2000.

My favorite small flash is a Vivitar 225. Super compact, two auto modes out to 24 feet, fast recycle, 2 AA batteries, good color. I have had mine for over 15 years, and it still gives perfect exposures on most every shot. Here is one curerently on ebay for $10.00 !

http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=459457357

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 09, 2000.

Steve

It will work just fine in auto mode. It has three apertures and with the Lithium batteries is really small and light. It is quite powerful given its size and although perhaps a little expensive it works as anticipated. Certainly its size is good on an M-camera.

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), October 09, 2000.

The really nice feature is the fact you can use exposure compensation in the Auto mode as well. Depending on the speed of the film you can reduce the output three stops in one stop increments. Great for fill flash. In TTL mode with a M6TTL or R8 it has even greater flexability with three stops + or - in one third stop increments.

Cheers

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), October 09, 2000.

What good is exposure compensation in auto mode? You can do that yourself by just setting the f-stop above or below the designated one chosen on the flash. Come on guys, admit it that that puny little flash isn't worth anywhere near the $229.00 Leica gets for it. The Vivitar I mentioned above for $10 on e-bay has the same guide number.

-- Andrew Schank (aschank@flash.net), October 09, 2000.

It gives you more flexibility. It gives you a greater range of adjustment.

-- John Collier (jbcollier@home.com), October 10, 2000.

Andrew

I don't know the Vivitar, but if it takes conventional AAs then the CR6s in the SF-20 are much smaller and pack a real punch: the recycle time is very fast. Also the LCD display is very nice to work with compared to my Vivitar 285HV's clunky analog dial. I agree these things are not the most important but they do make it easier and more pleasant to operate. Flash is always a bit tricky (especially with slides) so anything that makes it easier is a benefit in my opinion. I hate the way that my R6 and Vivitar 285 always hangs upside down when left alone as the flash weighs so much more than the camera. At least with the SF20 it always hangs the right way up when used on an M, and works well with the CL too.

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), October 10, 2000.