Attaching The Flash Unit; Flash Mode - Leica M9 Instructions Manual

Attaching the flash unit

When attaching a flash unit to the LEICA M9 flash
shoe (1.20), you should ensure that the foot of the
flash unit is fully inserted and the clamping nut (if fit-
ted) is tightened to prevent it accidentally falling out.
This is particularly important for flash units with addi-
tional control and signal contacts, because if it moves
from its position in the flash shoe the required con-
tacts can be broken, leading to malfunctions.
Note:
Before attaching the flash, the camera and the flash
unit must be turned off.
144 / Attaching the flash unit / Flash mode

Flash mode

Fully automatic camera-controlled flash operation is
available for the LEICA M9 when using system-com-
patible flash units as described in the previous sec-
tion, in both exposure modes – aperture priority mode
A
and manual setting – and with the snapshot profile.
In addition, automatic illumination regulation is per-
formed in all three exposure modes. This means that
in order to ensure a balanced relationship between
flash and available light at all times, the flash power is
2
reduced by up to 1 / EV as ambient brightness
3
increases. However, if the ambient brightness plus
even the fastest possible flash sync speed of
would cause overexposure, the flash will not be fired
in aperture priority mode. In such cases the shutter
speed is governed by the ambient brightness and is
shown in the viewfinder.
In aperture priority A and manual setting mode, but
not in the snapshot profile, the LEICA M9 also enables
you to use other interesting flash techniques in your
compositions, such as synchronization of flash firing
nd
with the 2 shutter curtain rather than the 1
flashes with a slower shutter speed than the sync
1
speed of / s. These functions are set using the
180
menu on the camera (for more details, refer to the
corresponding sections below).
In addition the LEICA M9 transfers the set sensitivity
to the flash unit. This allows the flash unit, provided it
has received such information and the aperture manu-
1
/ s ally set on the lens is also input on the flash unit, to
180
automatically adjust its range values accordingly. The
sensitivity setting cannot be influenced from the flash
unit.
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