Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2001/06/25
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Ray The R8 flash mechanism is excellent. I do agree with the previous poster that the F5 can and does meter flash about as perfectly as it can get. The five one millisecond pre-flashes that are used to meter the flash exposure provide very accurate results. Simon Ray Moth wrote: snip > > On the second point to which you responded, I think you may have > misunderstood my meaning. By flash metering in "F" mode, I meant the > R8's ability to act as a flash meter with manual flashguns, to help > select the best lens aperture for correct exposure of the subject > before taking the shot. It uses selective (spot) metering for this > function. You may have been unaware of this feature if you're not > familiar with the R8. > > Firstly, you select what you estimate to be an appropriate aperture for > the lens, select "F" mode on the R8, switch on the flash in manual mode > and wait until it 'comes to the boil', aim the camera so that the > circle in the viewfinder that indicates the selective metering area > covers the part of the subject you want correctly exposed, then press > down the depth of field preview lever. This fires the flash, without > firing the shutter, and the viewfinder display indicates how much over > or under the exposure would be. You can then adjust the lens aperture > in accordance with the display indication and take the shot. > > The R8 also has the usual TTL flash control, to which you refer, if > used with SCA 3000 compatible flashguns (e.g. Metz 32-Z2 flash with SCA > 3501 module). It uses integral metering and works pretty well with most > "normal" subjects. For a subject against a very dark or very light > background, however, being able to use the camera as a spot flash meter > is very useful. Few other cameras can do this. >