LX2 preflash? External flash sync?

I'm guessing the LX2 uses a preflash to determine correct flash exposure prior to making an exposure. My question: Is there a way to disable preflash? I want to be able to use an external flash with optical slave synced off the LX2. I had a Minolta Dimage 7i that when set to manual, disabled the preflash allowing me to trigger external strobes. If there is a way to do this with the LX2, it would really help me in low light situations, especially knowing that the LX2's flash can now be dialed down. Anyone have info on this or have tried this with success. I did a search on the forum and only found one post (without any replies) where someone was able to sync with studio strobes, but only under very specific circumstance.

Nobody has disabled a Panasonic preflash, to my knowledge. There are slave modules you can buy that trigger your external flash in response to the second camera flash.

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AmanitaM said:

Nobody has disabled a Panasonic preflash, to my knowledge. There
are slave modules you can buy that trigger your external flash in
response to the second camera flash.

Click to expand...

That's a shame, not allowing an easy means to use external flash. I wish that manufacturers could provide some way to allow for external sync (pc connector, hot shoe). I really don't need TTL, just an ability to trigger.

Has anyone tried the LX1/LX2 with a Nikon SB26 speedlite? The Nikon has a setting that will ignore TTL type preflashes and pop with the actual flash, however, I'm not certain if this is specific to Nikon style TTL preflashes or is universal.

kassaal said:

AmanitaM said:

Nobody has disabled a Panasonic preflash, to my knowledge. There
are slave modules you can buy that trigger your external flash in
response to the second camera flash.

Click to expand...

That's a shame, not allowing an easy means to use external flash.
I wish that manufacturers could provide some way to allow for
external sync (pc connector, hot shoe). I really don't need TTL,
just an ability to trigger.

Has anyone tried the LX1/LX2 with a Nikon SB26 speedlite? The
Nikon has a setting that will ignore TTL type preflashes and pop
with the actual flash, however, I'm not certain if this is specific
to Nikon style TTL preflashes or is universal.

Click to expand...

Are you saying that the SB26 has a slave mode? If so, I would guess it is generic, ignoring all first flashes. I have never heard of preflashes being different enough that a slave unit can distinguish them. It is a hallmark of most light-driven slaves that they can be set off by any other flash, so I can't imagine the preflash situation being substantially different. But I am no expert!

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You may find anwsers to your question in:
1- Lighting Technique Forum here at dpreview. Search for slave flash triggering.
2- Search for info in strobist: http://strobist.blogspot.com/

Anyway, according to LX2 manual, if you select manual mode and forced flash (no red eye removal), you may have a single fire. That should work.

If there are still pre-flashes in manual mode, you could try a Sunpack bracket: http://www.adorama.com/SUDCFA.html

Regards,
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gggranero

The very small Sony HVL-FSL1B slave works fine in "program" with the LX2 set at forced flash.

"Anyway, according to LX2 manual, if you select manual mode and forced flash (no red eye removal), you may have a single fire. That should work."

I've run into the same problem, and have tested the LX2's Manual settting with Forced Flashed, and the PreFlash still occurs, alas, so the suggestion doesn't work.

However, there are PreFlash slaves on eBay and amazon that will do the job, I've discovered. Good luck!

Nik Grant said:

"Anyway, according to LX2 manual, if you select manual mode and forced flash (no red eye removal), you may have a single fire. That should work."

I've run into the same problem, and have tested the LX2's Manual settting with Forced Flashed, and the PreFlash still occurs, alas, so the suggestion doesn't work.

However, there are PreFlash slaves on eBay and amazon that will do the job, I've discovered. Good luck!

Click to expand...

That's interesting and curious. The LX3 by comparison does give only one flash trigger when in Manual so my Nikon film era flashes (SB-26 and SB30) work OK, in self-auto mode of course.

When TTL is required on the LX3 I add a Wein Digital Trigger to the Nikon and use the pop-up flash to trigger the slave. The LX3 TTL flashes are 140 milliseconds apart and can give eye blink in subjects, using the foreign flash and camera manual mode removes that blink inducer.

Other cameras I own always revert to single flash in Manual so it's weird that the LX2 should have two flashes in Manual.

Regards.......... Guy

"That's interesting and curious. The LX3 by comparison does give only one flash trigger when in Manual ..."

I'm willing to be wrong about the LX2 - I don't have documentation that says that manual mode doesn't have a pre-flash. However, I've not been able to get my external flash to light up any of my LX2 photos.

Nik