Attaching the flash unit
When attaching a flash unit to the LEICA M8 flash
shoe (1.21), 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 the flash
shoe moves from its position in the flash shoe the
necessary contacts can be broken, leading to mal-
functions.
Note:
Before attaching the flash, both camera and flash unit
must be turned off.
Flash mode
Fully automatic camera-controlled flash operation is
available for the LEICA M8 when using system-com-
patible flash units as described in the previous sec-
tion, and with both exposure modes – aperture priori-
ty mode
A
and manual setting.
In addition, an automatic fill-flash control is per-
formed with both exposure modes. This means that in
order to ensure a balanced relationship between flash
and other lighting at all times, the flash power is
reduced by up to 1
2
/
3
EV as ambient brightness
increases. If however, the ambient brightness plus
even the shortest possible flash sync speed of
1
/
250
s
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 addition the LEICA M8 permits the use of other,
more artistically interesting flash techniques such as
synchronization of the flash firing with the second
instead of with the first shutter curtain and of flashes
with longer shutter speeds than the standard sync
speed of
1
/
250
s. These functions are set using the
camera main menu (for more details, refer to the rele-
vant following sections).
In addition the LEICA M8 loads the film speed setting
to the flash unit.
This allows the flash unit, provided it has received
such information and the aperture manually set on
the lens is also input to the flash unit, automatically to
adjust its range values accordingly. The sensitivity set-
ting cannot be changed at the flash unit.
Notes:
• The settings and functions described in the follow-
ing sections relate exclusively to flash units that are
system compatible to the LEICA M8.
• An exposure compensation value set on the camera
(see p. 107) influences only the metering of the
ambient light! If when using the flash you also wish
to make a TTL flash exposure metering compensa-
tion – whether in the same or the contrary sense –
you must do this separately (on the flash unit itself)!
• More details of flash use, in particular for other
flash units not specially matched to the LEICA M8
and for different flash unit operating modes can be
found in the respective instructions.
Comprehensive instructions / 111
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