I just purchased an R8 (will be divesting myself of one of my R6.2's probably)and I know that the recommended SCA module is the 3501, but all of my flashes are SCA-300 series so I'd need a new flash along with the module. Has someone here actually tried an SCA-351 equipped flash on an R8 and knows if it will produce an accurate TTL exposure or not? I've gotten a lot of different answers from Metz (Bogen) and Leica but it seems like they're all just guessing, having never actually tried it out. Thanks!

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 28, 2000

Answers

Jay

I fall into this category too. My understanding is that the SCA 351 will provide full TTL flash service, but the SCA 3501 adds the automatic connection to SCA 3000 competent flashes about the lens focal length and hence zooms the flash head in and out to match the focal length. Of course you need a ROM lens to provide this info to the camera.

So, I think that the SCA 351 will work fine on the R8, but don't know for sure. I'm quite happy to be corrected!

Robin

-- Robin Smith (rsmith@springer-ny.com), December 29, 2000.

I got my R8 today, put in a dummy roll of film (TTL reads OTF, needs the film emulsion for correct reading), hooked up a 32CT-3 with SCA- 351 set to TTL and all it does is dump at full power. Looks like Leica and Metz made sure we need to buy new flashes and modules.

-- Jay (infinitydt@aol.com), December 29, 2000.

The SCA 351 module won't work on the R8. The older SCA 300 system is analog whereas the latest SCA 3000 system is digital. i.e. the SCA 351 won't communicate with the R8 at all and when the flash is triggered no feedback signal is received by the SCA 351 and the flash will simply dump all its power in one exposure.

I am afraid you will have to upgrade to a newer Metz flash: I have a trio of 32MZ-3, 40MZ-3 and 50MZ-5 and they all work great with the R8. The good news is that you can continue to use your SCA 351 module with the new flash units.

-- Joseph Yao (joseph@yao.com), December 30, 2000.

NO! That last bit of advice is wrong. You can use 300-series flashes with the 3501 modules. All you need is the SCA 3000C converter cable. You guys need to read the Metz literature!

-- john costo (mahler@lvcm.com), January 01, 2001.

Here is the link to the R8 SCA ADAPTER list on METZ web site.

Lucien

-- Lucien (lucien@ubi.edu), January 11, 2001.

There is one mistake on that list.

The correct adapter for the new 54MZ3 is the SCA 3502 , not the SCA 3501. The correct list is the following LIST OF SCA ADAPTER FOR M6 TTL which use the same TTL system than the R8.

Lucien

-- Lucien (lucien@ubi.edu), January 11, 2001.

The new SCA 3502 SCA adapter will be available this Spring 2001 according to Metz.

I'm using the new M ETZ 54MZ3 with a Nikon F100.

It's a great flash, mutch better in my opinion than the 40MZ serie, which this new flash is replacing.

Lucien

-- Lucien (lucien@ubi.edu), January 11, 2001.

Lucien,

The link you provided to the Metz website doesn't work any more. I'm sure it used to but the website now seems to be uncontactable. Does anyone know how to access it now?

Ray Moth

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), February 14, 2001.

Here is the English-language site for Metz:

Metz

-- john costo (mahler@lvcm.com), February 15, 2001.

Further to my recent post, I've found the Metz website; thanks for the information! However, the Metz website lacks information about TTL off-camera flash connectors. The only cables mentioned are ordinary synch. cords that people used to use in the 1960s! While a number of TTL connectors and cords are produced by Metz, they are hardly mentioned on the website.

Anyway, I contacted Metz about this question, specifically mentioning that I owned a Mecablitz 32Z-2 with SCA 3501 adapter for my Leica R8 and wanted to use the flash off-camera. This is the reply from Metz:

"Dear Mr. Moth,

"for the connection of a Metz 32Z-2 with adapter SCA3501 beside a camera of type Leica R8 we recommend to use also the converting cable SCA3000C with adapter SCA300 E.

"With best regards

"M E T Z - W E R K E Technical support Mr. Goeschel"

I'm grateful for the response from Metz but I must confess I'm more confused than ever by this reply. I hoped that there would be a Metz cable for connection between the 32Z-2 and the 3501 adapter, which work fine together and are the combination recommended by Metz. Now it seems I need a converting cable and a different adapter - no doubt an expensive solution. What gives?

P.S. Jay has told me, since I submitted my question to Metz, that I can use the Nikon SC-17 cord, which has the same pin configuration. I will pursue this but I'm still mystified by Metz's complex solution to what seems, to me at least, a simple problem.

Regards,

Ray Moth

-- Ray Moth (ray_moth@yahoo.com), March 01, 2001.

You probably all know this already, but just FYI: I spoke to Mtez today to see what the proper SCA adapters and off-camera cords were for my Leica R8 (and COntax 645). The guy said the only "proper" cord is on the verge of being released (she said next Tuesday): the SCA 3008A off-camera cord. This allows full off-camera flash functionality with both of the cameras mentioned above.

-- william carter (wmc@po.cwru.edu), September 26, 2001.