User manual LEICA R9

[. . . ] As people can easily pick up charges of tens of thousands of volts, by walking on synthetic carpets for example, a discharge can occur when you touch your LEICA, particularly if it is placed on a conductive surface. If only the camera housing is affected, this discharge is totally harmless to the electronics. However, despite built-in safety circuits, the outer contacts, such as the battery or rear panel contacts, should not be touched if at all possible for safety reasons. For any cleaning of the contacts, do not use an optical micro-fiber cloth (synthetic); use a cotton or linen cloth instead. [. . . ] However, as no flash information is transmitted, the camera reacts as it would without a flash. The shutter speed should be manually set to the flash sync speed X = 1/250 s or to slower shutter speeds; there is no automatic adjustment. Very powerful flash units, especially studio flash systems, often have flash burst durations that are considerably longer. In order to take full advantage of the full light quantity provided by these flash units, slower shutter speeds, such as 1/180 s or 1/125 s are recommended. Flash operation using standard SCA 3000/3002 flash units and SCA 3501/3502M3 adapters When a suitable flash unit is connected via an SCA 3501/3502M3 adapter, the LEICA R9 offers decisive advantages in many situations and helps you to achieve successful flash photographs. Depending on the selected mode, the camera performs various functions automatically, while still leaving you the necessary creative freedom to compose flash photographs according to your requirements. Flash exposure metering during exposure and through the lens (TTL metering). This TTL flash exposure metering is recommended for macro photography, when using a filter or with zoom or telephoto lenses. Selective over- and under-apportionment of the light from the flash to illuminate shadows in the foreground regardless of the available light or to obtain a better distribution of the light in backlighting situations (only on adapter or flash unit, see p. Transmission of the lens focal length for automatic reflector adaptation of the flash unit (only for lenses with electrical contacts). Display of intermediate aperture values when using zoom lenses of differing apertures (only for lenses with electrical contacts). TTL flash exposure metering occurs with a centerweighted characteristic via separately arranged silicon photo diodes, which are located next to the multiple field exposure metering cell on the bottom of the camera, protected from stray light. Using appropriate adapters (available from photographic dealers), several flash units can be fired simultaneously or the TTL control can be carried out without a cord. Flash ready and control displays (only with SCA 3501/3502M3 adapters) With the camera power up (see "Turning the camera on / Activating the electronics / - the exposure metering system", p. 5) shows the flash unit's charging level and therefore the readiness of the flash. As the flash is not yet ready, the camera behaves as it would with no flash and works in the set mode. If the light from the flash in TTL control or automatic computer mode is insufficient for a correct exposure (underexposure), the display (2. 9b) appears automatically in the viewfinder for around 4 s after the shutter is released. With TTL control, any overexposure caused by the light from the flash is indicated by the display (2. In these cases, pay attention to the flash unit's operating range and take the photograph again with the aperture setting changed accordingly. Therefore, individual photographs may be rated as acceptable from an individual point of view despite these displays. Flash exposure compensation With the switch on the SCA 3501/3502M3 adapter or on the flash unit itself (SCA 3002 standard units), regardless of the camera's exposure compensation setting ­ which influences both the exposure of the available light and the flash light ­ you can set a flash exposure compensation, which only influences the flash exposure, so that you can deliberately make it stronger or weaker. [. . . ] Automatic adjustment of flash reflector for system-compatible SCA 3000/3002 standard flash units with motor zoom reflector, SCA 3501/3502M3 adapters and lenses with electrical contacts. Focusing screens Interchangeable, 5 models available: Universal screen (ground glass screen with micro-prism ring and split-image, standard equipment), uniform ground glass screen, uniform ground glass screen with grid divisions, microprism screen, clear glass screen with cross hairs Viewfinder field 23 x 35 mm, equivalent to 93 % of film format (96 % vertical x 97 % horizontal) and the standard slide format. Displays Viewfinder LCD lines below viewfinder image showing: Warning symbol if below metering range, indication of exposure compensation or manual film speed setting differing from DX value, symbols for metering method incl. Display for metering memory-lock, flash symbol, flash ready and flash check, flash exposure compensation, mode display, aperture display in half steps, including values dependent on focal length for zoom lenses with variable aperture, light balance for manual exposure adjustment, exposure compensation, automatic exposure series and metering flash mode, shutter speed or over/underexposure signals, long-time exposure signal or for impossible camera settings, frame counter with display of multiple exposures, automatic exposure series and incorrectly loaded film Top panel Top right side: LCD frame counter, is turned on and off with the camera (using the exposure mode dial). [. . . ]