Flash Mode; General Information On Flash Exposure Measurement And Control; Compatible Flash Units; Flash Sync Speed - Leica S Instructions Manual

FLASH MODE

GENERAL INFORMATION ON FLASH EXPOSURE MEASUREMENT AND
CONTROL
The Leica S determines the necessary flash power by firing several rang-
ing flashes in quick succession fractions of a second before taking the
actual picture. Immediately after this, at the start of exposure, the main
flash is fired.
All factors that influence the exposure (e.g. filters, aperture setting,
distance from the main subject, reflective ceilings, etc.) are automatically
taken into consideration.

COMPATIBLE FLASH UNITS

Connection via the flash shoe
– All flash units and studio flash systems conforming to the latest ISO
standard 10330 and the older DIN 19014 standard
at the X contact)
Connection via the lower LEMO ® jack
– All flash units and studio flash systems that allow control via corre-
sponding special cables
Connection via the flash connection socket
– Studio flash systems and other flash units with flash cable and stan-
dard flash plug
1 If you wish to connect a studio flash system that does not conform to the ISO standard to the Leica S,
please contact the Customer Care department at Leica Camera AG or the customer service department
of a Leica agency.
The following flash units allow all the functions described in this manual
together with the Leica S:
• Leica system flash units
• Flash units that satisfy the technical requirements for a System 3002
System Camera Adaption (SCA), are fitted with the SCA-3502-M5
adapter and allow guide number control.
Other commercially available attachable flash units with standard flash
foot and positive center contact, and fired via the center contact (X
4, 5
contact) (without TTL flash control) can also be used.
1 (positive polarity
2 When using the SCA-3502 adapter (from Version 5), the white balance can be set to
correct color reproduction.
3 The use of system flash units from other camera manufacturers and of SCA adapters for other camera
systems is not recommended, as their different contact position and assignment can result in malfunc-
tions or even damage.
4 If flash units not specially adapted to the Leica S are used, the white balance of the camera should
possibly be set manually to .
5 The aperture and sensitivity of the lens may have to be entered manually in the flash unit.

FLASH SYNC SPEED

The flash sync speed of the Leica S with conventional flash technology,
i.e. with the camera's internal focal plane shutter is
shutter of correspondingly equipped lenses is used, all the shutter speeds
2, 3
up to ⁄ s are available.
1
1000
With system-compatible and HSS-compatible flash units, all faster shutter
speeds can also be used.
Notes:
• Studio flash systems in particular often have burning times that are far
longer than the above sync times. Lower speeds are recommended to
make full use of light yield from these flash units.
• With all shutter speeds up to the sync time
viewfinder as an indication that normal flash mode is possible with
these speeds.
• If the shutter speed setting dial is set , the set exposure operating
modes may be changed due to the then resulting shutter speeds, i.e.
from to , or from to . As soon as a shutter speed is set again, the
P T A M
original operating modes are activated again.
• If an HSS-compatible Leica system flash unit is used and faster shutter
speeds are set at the camera, i.e. ≤
⁄ s with central shutter, the flash unit automatically switches to HSS
1
1500
mode.
Automatic for
EN
⁄ s. If the central
1
125
⁄ s, lights up in the
1 X
125
⁄ s with focal plane shutter, and ≤
1
180
39