Leica L-E, Instructions Manual

Page: 152 / 184

148 / Selecting the firing moment
SeLeCTINg The FIRINg MOMeNT
Flash photographs are illuminated by two light sources,
the available light and the light from the flash. Parts
of the subject that are exclusively or primarily illu­
minated by the flash are almost always reproduced
extremely sharply (with correct focusing) due to the
extremely fast pulse of light. By contrast, all other
parts of the subject – those that are sufficiently illumi ­
nated by the available light or illuminate themselves
– are portrayed with different degrees of sharpness in
the same picture.
whether these parts of the subject are reproduced
sharply or “blurred”, and the degree of “blurring”, is
determined by two independent factors:
1. The length of the exposure, i.e. for how long these
parts of the subject “act upon” the sensor, and
2. How quickly these parts of the subject – or the
camera itself – are moving during the exposure.
The longer the exposure or the faster this movement,
the greater the extent to which the two – superim­
posed – parts of the picture can differ.
With the flash fired at the normal time, at the begin ­
ning of the exposure, i.e. immediately after the 1 st
shutter curtain has completely opened the frame win­
dow, this can even lead to apparent contradictions,
such as in the picture of the motorcycle (left), which is
being overtaken by its own light tracers.
The Leica M9 gives you a choice between this normal
flash firing time and synchronization with the end of
the exposure, i.e. immediately before the 2
nd
shutter
curtain begins to close the frame window again. In
this case, the sharp image is located at the end of the
movement. In the photograph (right), this flash tech ­
nique gives a more natural impression of movement
and dynamics.
This function is available for all camera and flash unit
settings, and in aperture priority mode as well as in
manual shutter speed selection, in the various auto­
matic flash modes as well as in manual flash mode;
the displays are the same in all cases.
Note:
When using the snapshot profile (see p. 102/141),
synchronization with the 1st shutter curtain is a fixed
setting.
Setting the function
1. In the main menu (see p. 102/119), select
Flash sync
(4.1.16) and
2. the desired option in the sub­menu:
1st curtain or 2nd curtain .