Leica 6847, Instruction Manual

EN

48

Pictur

e mode (Pho

tog

raph

y)

FLASH MODES

AUTOMATIC (A)

▸

Switch on the flash unit

▸

Set the flash mode for TTL operation

▸

Tap the shutter button before each flash exposure to activate exposure 

metering
• The viewfinder display switches to the shutter speed or light balance 

value.

• The flash unit may not fire if this step is missed by pressing the 

shutter button down completely and skipping these settings.

▸

Set the desired exposure mode, shutter speed and/or aperture setting
• Take note of the shortest flash sync speed, as it determines whether 

a "normal" flash or an HSS flash is fired.

FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY WITH AUTOMATIC EXPOSURE

When a flash unit is used that is system-compatible with the automatic 

exposure function, then the light reflected by the subject will be 

measured and analyzed by a sensor integrated in the flash unit and not by 

the camera. The camera’s exposure modes essentially function the same 

way as without flash: The flash will not fire if the flash sync speed drops 

below the set value for 

P

P

 or 

A

A

, or if a speed below the sync speed is set for 

T

T

 or 

M

M

. 

The flash output should be reduced, i.e. a flash exposure compensation of 

e.g. -1 EV to -2 EV should be set in that case, because the operating 

modes will already produce a regularly lit exposure with ambient light.

In system-compatible flash units, the aperture set at the lens is transmit-

ted to the flash unit and automatically used as the basis for computer 

aperture. The sensitivity set in the camera and any exposure compensa-

tion set for ambient light (camera) and flash (flash unit) will be considered 

for the measurement.

HSS (HIGH SPEED SYNC.)

Automatic flash activation for fast shutter speeds

A fully automated, camera-controlled linear flash mode is available in the 

Leica S3 in conjunction with system-compatible flash units (see p. 47) 

for all shutter speeds of the camera. It is activated by the camera 

automatically if the selected or calculated shutter speed is faster than the 

sync speed (≤ 1⁄125 s with focal plane shutter).

FLASH CONTROL

FLASH RANGE

(Selecting the sync speed/sync speed range)

The Leica S3 allows you to fine tune the shutter speed used in flash mode 

in combination with the exposure modes Automatic and Aperture Priority 

to the exact conditions of the subject or your own picture composition 

ideas. You can choose an automatic setting or one of several manual 

settings.

▸

 Select 

CAMERA

CAMERA

▸

Select 

Max. Flash Sync Time

Max. Flash Sync Time

 in the main menu

▸

In the submenu, select one of the three automatic focal length-specific 

settings (

1/f

1/f

, 

1/(2f)

1/(2f)

, 

1/(4f)

1/(4f)

) or the desired slowest shutter speed

Note

The 

1/f

1/f

 setting results in the slowest shutter speeds based on the rule of 

thumb for blur-free pictures taken manually, e.g. 1/60 s using the 

Summarit-S 1:2.5/70 ASPH. The shutter speeds with 

1/(2f)

1/(2f)

 and 

1/(4f)

1/(4f)

would in this example be 1/125 s and 1/250 s respectively.

SYNC POINT

Your Leica S3 allows you to choose the flash firing point at the start of the 

exposure or the sync point at the end of the exposure.

This function is available with all flash units (including system-incompati-

ble flash units), regardless of whether they are fitted to the flash shoe or 

are connected via cable, as well as for all camera and flash unit settings. 

The displays are identical in both cases.

▸

 Select 

SETUP

SETUP

▸

Select 

Flash Sync. Mode

Flash Sync. Mode

 in the main menu

▸

Select the desired variant

FLASH SYNC SPEED

The flash sync speed of the Leica S3 is 1/125 s with regular flash 

technology, i.e. with the camera’s own focal plane shutter. All shutter 

speeds up to 1⁄1000 s are available if the central shutter is used with 

relevantly equipped lenses.

All faster shutter speeds are available as well when using system-compati-

ble, HSS-capable flash units.

Notes

• Specifically studio flash systems often have flash times that are 

significantly longer than the sync speeds listed above. Longer times are 

recommended in order to use of the light of these flash units to full 

effect.

• 

X

X

 will light up in the viewfinder for all shutter speeds up to the sync 

speed of 1⁄125 s to indicate that the standard flash mode can be used.

• If the shutter speed setting dial is raised, the preset exposure modes 

may change from 

P

P

 to 

T

T

 or from 

A

A

 to 

M

M

 because of the shutter speeds 

that will then be set. The original modes will be reset once a new 

shutter speed is provided.

• The flash unit automatically switches to HSS mode if a HSS-capable 

Leica system flash unit is used and shorter shutter speeds are set on 

the camera (≤ 1⁄125 s with a focal plane shutter, and ≤ 1⁄1000 s with a 

central shutter).