p.1 #1 · Leica M and off camera flash/strobe w/ HSS
I'm curious about the feasibility of off (wireless) camera flash/strobe capability of the Leica M system after acquiring the Flashpoint XPLOR 600 & StreakLight 360 portable strobes. I've been firing off the Godox/Flashpoint system with my D750 & A7R2 cameras (and two Nissin air commander flashes with Flashpoint receivers) and thought it might be fun to introduce my M246 and M10 cameras into the mix.
Has anyone been able to successfully pop their lights wirelessly from the hot shoe on the M? What about HSS? Would that be possible as well? I'm not worried about TTL as I mainly shoot in manual flash.
p.1 #2 · Leica M and off camera flash/strobe w/ HSS
Update:
After doing a bit of Googling, I found out that not only do the pins on the Nikon flash system match the corresponding contacts on the Leica hot shoe as well as a few Leica shooters online have had luck with some of the older digital Ms (M8 & M9) by using Nikon wired hot shoe triggers. Knowing that and the fact that the only the center pin is needed for manual flash, I decided to try my Nikon FlashPoint R2 wireless trigger for the XPLOR 600 on my Leicas. Since the pins and the contacts on the Nikon compatible trigger and Leica hot shoes were similar, I wouldn't have to fear damaging either trigger or camera by trying them together.
- Leica M6 TTL
The little pin on the hot shoe of the M6 TTL doesn't allow the R2 wireless trigger to mount fully. Despite this, the M6 TTL still recognized the flash by displaying the universal lightning bolt symbol in the rangefinder window that flash was present. Unfortunately, the M6 TTL would not trigger the strobe in manual mode with the center pin of the trigger.
- Leica M246
The R2 wireless trigger was able to mount fully into the M246 hot shoe unlike the M6 TTL. Like my M6 TTL, the little lightning bolt for flash was present in the rangefinder window and likewise the M246 would not trigger the strobe.
- M10
Like the M246, the R2 wireless trigger was able to mount fully into the M10 hot shoe. Also, the universal symbol for flash (lightning bolt) was visible in the rangefinder window noting that flash was present. Unlike my M6 TTL & M246, the M10 was able to trigger the XPLOR 600 strobe with the R2 wireless trigger. Unfortunately, the max sync speed was still 1/180s. This was despite enabling HSS on the XPLOR 600 monoblock. While the stobe was able to be triggered by the M10, the R2 wireless trigger was so big that it made selecting the shutter speed a bit difficult since the wireless trigger pretty much sat over the entire shutter speed dial. Oh well. At least I was able to fire off the strobe with a Lieca wirelessly.
p.1 #3 · Leica M and off camera flash/strobe w/ HSS
Triggering OCF with Leica is easy. I use Godox and Elinchrom triggers almost every day. Single pin. No HSS. Totally reliable. I have used them with M9, 240, M10, SL, S and T systems with zero problems. Almost any single pin system will work fine.
HSS is far more difficult. The pins are in the same spot as Nikon BUT they're not the same functionality at each pin. Most Leica's don't like this and shut the hot shoe down. So no firing. The SL and M10 will sometimes keep the shoe active but not always. And most HSS systems don't support Leica's protocols (which Leica don't release, stupidly).
Lose the Nikon trigger and go to a single pin and you'll be fine.
Currently this is the only system I have seen advertised to do HSS with Leicas. I haven't tried it or even seen it but this might be a solution for you.
For wireless TTL I've seen nothing. You can use a Nikon type cable as a wired solution for a SF64. I have used up to a 5 meter cable and it worked just fine on my SL, including HSS TTL. Personally I prefer my Elinchrom/Godox solutions. The reason the cable works and wireless dosen't is that the cable is just a dumb pass through to the flash. A wireless trigger sends signals into the shoe.
p.1 #4 · Leica M and off camera flash/strobe w/ HSS
flash wrote:
Triggering OCF with Leica is easy. I use Godox and Elinchrom triggers almost every day. Single pin. No HSS. Totally reliable. I have used them with M9, 240, M10, SL, S and T systems with zero problems. Almost any single pin system will work fine.
HSS is far more difficult. The pins are in the same spot as Nikon BUT they're not the same functionality at each pin. Most Leica's don't like this and shut the hot shoe down. So no firing. The SL and M10 will sometimes keep the shoe active but not always. And most HSS systems don't support Leica's protocols (which Leica don't release, stupidly).
Lose the Nikon trigger and go to a single pin and you'll be fine.
Currently this is the only system I have seen advertised to do HSS with Leicas. I haven't tried it or even seen it but this might be a solution for you.
For wireless TTL I've seen nothing. You can use a Nikon type cable as a wired solution for a SF64. I have used up to a 5 meter cable and it worked just fine on my SL, including HSS TTL. Personally I prefer my Elinchrom/Godox solutions. The reason the cable works and wireless dosen't is that the cable is just a dumb pass through to the flash. A wireless trigger sends signals into the shoe.
Thank you Gordon for sharing your OCF experience and the information regarding the similar, but different, Nikon/Leica pins locations on the hot shoe. That then explains why my M6 & 246 didn't trigger the flash. The cameras just shut the shoe down, whereas the M10 would trigger. I could try the single pin mount for the hot shoe and fire my flash/strobe off camera, but I feel the 1/180s sync speed a bit limiting without HSS. I was reading about the wireless trigger in the link you provided and it only mentions "Leica" and not a specific set of compatible cameras. I'm guessing that the trigger would work for the M series as well as the SL and not just for the SL. It's a pitty that Leica won't share/release their flash protocol(s) as that would open the market to more compatible lighting and strobist options. Also, more competition which I have a feeling Leica wouldn't be too happy with.
I would love to try an outdoor shoot with my strobes using my rangefinders, but not being able to use HSS without investing in a whole new (and possibly even very expensive) lighting system that hasn't been released yet is a bit off putting. At least it's an option even if it's the only option for now. Either way, thank you Gordon for your help and clarification on the OCF options for the Leica system!
p.1 #5 · Leica M and off camera flash/strobe w/ HSS
I'm guessing the trigger in the link will work for the digital Leicas (they're all about the same) but maybe not the FILM M's which have a different protocol (the film M's work properly with the older SCA system. The digital M's and S, SL and T don't).
p.1 #6 · Leica M and off camera flash/strobe w/ HSS
flash wrote:
I'm guessing the trigger in the link will work for the digital Leicas (they're all about the same) but maybe not the FILM M's which have a different protocol (the film M's work properly with the older SCA system. The digital M's and S, SL and T don't).
Email them and see what they say.
Gordon
Gordon, I received a reply from Priolite with regards to their Leica wireless trigger:
"Adam,
Thanks for your enquiry, the new Priolite remote has been tested and works with all M (M246 & M10 Incl.) series Leica cameras. The remote is designed to hot sync with the MBX1000 Hot Sync and MBX 500 ULTRA which are both battery operated. Let me know if we can be of any further assistance.
Regards,
Ricky"
According to Ricky, the trigger works with all M's. I'll email them again if "all" also includes the film M's too. My brain is already racking ideas of trying to use this trigger with flashes/strobe of other makes. Likely not, but a Frankenstein contraption rig might make it work with HSS.
p.1 #7 · Leica M and off camera flash/strobe w/ HSS
Update!
For those interested. :P
I received word back from Priolite regarding film M compatibility:
"No, we cannot guarantee use with film M's."
While definitely not a deal breaker, I thought it might be cool to experiment with HSS on a film rangefinder. Use with digital M's sounds very promising though!
I was reading about the wireless trigger in the link you provided and it only mentions "Leica" and not a specific set of compatible cameras. I'm guessing that the trigger would work for the M series as well as the SL and not just for the SL. It's a pitty that Leica won't share/release their flash protocol(s) as that would open the market to more compatible lighting and strobist options. Also, more competition which I have a feeling Leica wouldn't be too happy with.