Leica SF 60 User manual

LEICA SF 60
Instruction manual

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FOREWORD
Dear Customer,
We wish you a great deal of fun and success taking photographs
with your new Leica system flash unit. The best system flash
solution for your Leica camera. Please read this manual to
familiarize yourself with the full scope of functions your flash unit
has to offer.
Please read the chapters “Safety Remarks” and “Important
Information” before using the product for the first time.
Knowledge of the content will prevent inadvertent damage
to the product, possible injuries and other risks.
SCOPE OF DELIVERY
The standard scope of delivery* contains the following:
– Flash unit
– Diffuser (clip-on)
– Off-camera stand
– Carry bag
– Quick Start Guide
*The actual scope of delivery may vary depending on model.

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LEGAL INFORMATION
REGULATORY INFORMATION
You will find the manufacturing date of your Leica SF60 on the
labels provided in the Warranty Card and/or on the packaging.
CE mark
The CE mark on our products documents compliance with the
fundamental requirements of applicable EU guidelines.
Correct exposure values were assessed as part of EMC testing for
CE marking.
DISPOSAL OF ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRONIC
EQUIPMENT
(Applies within the EU and for other European countries
with active waste separation policies.)
This device contains electric and/or electronic components which
must not be disposed of in general household waste. Instead, it
should be disposed of at a recycling collection point provided by
your local authority.
This service is free of charge. Any standard or rechargeable
batteries used in this device must be removed and disposed of
separately in accordance with local regulations.
Please contact your local authorities, waste disposal collection
point or the retailer, from whom you purchased the device for more
information on correct waste disposal.
BATTERY DISPOSAL
Never dispose of depleted batteries in household waste! Do your
part for the environment and take your depleted batteries to a
collection point.
Only dispose of batteries once they are completely spent.
Cover the battery poles with adhesive tape to prevent a short
circuit.
The following abbreviations can be found on the label of batteries
containing hazardous materials:
Pb Battery contains lead
Cd Battery contains cadmium
Hg Battery contains mercury
Li Battery contains lithium

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SAFETY REMARKS
WARNING
Non-compliance with the following points may result in
serious injury or death.
• This flash unit is designed and certified for lighting subjects for
photography purposes only. The device must not be used for any
other purpose.
• It must only be used with the accessories described in this
manual, or with accessories otherwise approved by Leica
Camera AG.
• The flash unit must not be fired in close proximity to flammable
gases or liquids (benzene, solvents, etc.)! Non-compliance may
result in an explosion or fire.
• Avoid flash photography too close to the subject's eyes. The
extreme light output can cause retinal damage in humans and
animals, resulting in permanently impaired vision or even
blindness.
• Never use flash photography in the direction of oncoming traffic
of any kind, as drivers can be momentarily distracted, which can
cause accidents. Before taking shots of moving traffic, switch
the flash off or otherwise make sure that the flash will not be
triggered.
• Do not touch the diffuser after repeated flash firing, as it can
become very hot. Failure to observe this can result in burns!
• Never touch the contacts in the mounting foot of the flash unit.
• If the case of the device has been damaged and internal
components are visible, take care not to touch them – high
voltage hazard! This also applies if there is a risk that water or
other liquids could have penetrated the device case, or any kind
of metallic or flammable object.
• In these cases, remove the batteries. Take great care when
doing so.
• Even after battery removal, the high-voltage circuitry can still
hold a sufficient charge to cause electric shock, burns or other
injuries.
• The device must therefore continue to be kept safe from
moisture (e.g. rain or splash water) and must not be handled
with moist hands. Do not attempt to disassemble, repair, or
modify the device! The device interior does not hold any
components that could be repaired by a layman.
• Please only use the batteries specified and approved in this
manual.
• Do not short-circuit batteries or expose them to excessive heat
(e.g. direct sunshine or fire).
• Depleted batteries must never be thrown into a fire!
• Do not attempt to recharge single-use dry cell batteries (primary
cells).

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CAUTION
Non-compliance with the following points may result in
personal injury or damage to the device.
• Protect your flash unit against excessive heat and humidity. Do
not store the flash unit in the glove compartment of your vehicle.
• Rapid changes in ambient temperature can result in condensa-
tion. Allow the flash unit time to acclimatize before using!
• Make sure that no opaque objects are positioned directly in
front of the diffuser or directly on it when the flash is triggered.
The diffuser must be clean. Failure to observe this can result in
burn damage to the objects or the diffuser due to the extremely
high energy output of the flash.
• The flash unit must only be used together with a camera-inte-
grated flash if this can be fully opened out or extended.
• Do not use batteries that are damaged in any way!
• Depleted batteries can leak battery acid, which could damage
the contacts. Always remove batteries from the device when not
in use.
• The SCA contacts must not be touched directly. In some cases,
touching the SCA contacts can result in damage to the device.

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IMPORTANT INFORMATION
COMPATIBLE CAMERAS
The Leica SF60 was designed for Leica cameras with autonomous
flash exposure control, which use TTL (Through-The-Lens) metering
like the Leica digital cameras of the S, SL, M, CL, and Q series.
The Leica SF60 can also be used with any other Leica camera
model, but only in manual mode.
Using the LeicaSF60 with other camera brands is not recom-
mended. Similarly positioned contacts with differing electric values
in the accessory shoes of other camera makes may result in
incompatibility, which may negatively impact the function of one –
or both – devices. Leica Camera AG therefore does not extend its
liability to damages based on using the flash unit with other camera
brands and specifically to damages incurred beyond the actual
flash unit.
Notes
• The descriptions in this manual are generally limited to the use
of the Leica SF60 in conjunction with Leica camera models
from the current product range.
• This manual only describes the functions and settings of the
Leica SF60 flash unit itself. With very few exceptions, this also
applies to displays and indicators.
It is therefore of utmost importance that you read the informa-
tion about flash operation in the relevant camera manual
regarding which flash functions are supported by the camera,
flash-related camera settings, and the camera's own flash-relat-
ed displays.

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MODEL-DEPENDENT CAMERA FUNCTIONS
The flash functions listed below are available (depending on the
equipment of the camera model used).
– Flash ready indicator in the viewfinder/on the LCD panel
– Automatic flash synchronization timer
– TTL flash mode
– Automatic fill-in flash mode
– Manual flash exposure compensation
– Start/end-of-exposure synchronization (camera setting)
– Automatic high speed synchronization, if supported by camera
model
– Automatic zoom reflector control
– Pre-flash function to reduce red eye effect (camera setting)
– Cordless off-camera flash operation (remote settings and firing
control)
– Continuous lighting for video recording
– Automatic power off functions
Note
• Data transfer is not available when using lenses/cameras
without relevant bayonet interfaces. This will result in partial
function limitations.

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TABLE OF CONTENT
FOREWORD ..................................................................................... 2
SCOPE OF DELIVERY ...................................................................... 2
LEGAL INFORMATION .................................................................... 3
REGULATORY INFORMATION ......................................................................3
SAFETY REMARKS .......................................................................... 4
WARNING ......................................................................................................4
CAUTION .......................................................................................................5
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ........................................................... 6
COMPATIBLE CAMERAS ...............................................................................6
MODEL-DEPENDENT CAMERA FUNCTIONS ...............................................7
TABLE OF CONTENT ....................................................................... 8
PART DESIGNATIONS ................................................................... 10
PREPARATION ............................................................................... 12
POWER SUPPLY ......................................................................................... 12
REPLACING THE BATTERIES ............................................................................ 12
POWER SAVE MODE (STANDBY MODE) .......................................................... 13
EXTERNAL BATTERY PACK AS POWER SUPPLY .............................................. 14
ATTACHING/DETACHING THE FLASH UNIT ............................................ 14
OPERATION ................................................................................... 16
SWITCHING THE CAMERA ON/OFF ......................................................... 16
DISPLAYS WITH ACTIVATED FLASH UNIT ............................................... 16
ADJUSTING THE ILLUMINATION ANGLE ................................................. 16
ZOOM REFLECTOR ........................................................................................... 16
WIDE-ANGLE DIFFUSER .................................................................................. 18
FLASH MODES .............................................................................. 20
AUTOMATIC CONTROL BY THE CAMERA ................................................. 20
A ....................................................................................................................... 20
TTL .................................................................................................................... 20
FLASH EXPOSURE COMPENSATION ............................................................... 21
M – MANUAL OPERATION ......................................................................... 22
"UNFETTERED" FLASH ............................................................................. 22
POSITIONING AND DIRECTIONALITY .............................................................. 23
REMOTE FIRING – SD/SF ................................................................................ 23
REMOTE CONTROL – ABC ....................................................................... 24
GROUP SELECTION ................................................................................................. 24
CHANNEL SELECTION ............................................................................................ 25
ACOUSTIC SIGNAL ................................................................................................. 26
VIDEO LIGHT – ..................................................................................... 26
OTHER FUNCTIONS ...................................................................... 28
BOUNCE FLASH ......................................................................................... 28
BOUNCE FLASH USING THE INTEGRATED
BOUNCE CARD ................................................................................................. 28
DIFFUSER (CLIP-ON) ................................................................................. 29
SYNC SPEED .............................................................................................. 29
AF ASSIST LIGHT ....................................................................................... 30
KEYLOCK .................................................................................................... 30
CARE/MAINTENANCE .................................................................. 32
FAQ ................................................................................................. 32
TECHNICAL DATA .......................................................................... 34
LEICA CUSTOMER CARE ............................................................... 35
LEICA ACADEMY ........................................................................... 35
APPENDIX ...................................................................................... 36

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Definition of the various categories of information found in
this manual
Note
– Additional information
Important
– Failure to comply with instructions may result in damage to
the camera, the accessories or the recordings
Attention
– Non-compliance may result in personal injury

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PART DESIGNATIONS
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