Minilux Zoom - Flash Question

I just got the Minilux Zoom. One of the reasons I got it was for it's hot shoe. A great thing to have and I think the only point and shoot to have one.

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But if I am to use an external flash unit. I have to set the aperture to match the flash unit. But I can't set the aperture on the Minilux Zoom! So how do I work around this problem?

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What use is this hot shoe?

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Please help!

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Thanks.

On the original Minilux you could use it as an aperture priority

automatic camera. The aperture control was part of the "focus

dial". The Minilux Zoom does not allow you to control the

aperture, only to adjust the camera selected exposure lighter or

darker. If you want a separate flash, why not use the flash

designed for it? The Leica CF flash will couple to the camera's

electronics and that seems a great deal easier to me than trying

to get another flash unit to work. If you would like complete

control a M or R camera would be much better. You could get a

ordinary Minilux and attach a flash bracket and a flash triggered

by a slave. Then you could set your aperture and have a more

powerful flash though it seems pretty silly for a point and shoot

camera. Finally the CF flash unit is relatively inexpensive by

Leica standards and is a good unit (made by Olympus fo Leica);

I would buy it myself.

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Cheers

John,

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Thanks for your post. Yes I know that the non-zoom Minilux has

Aperture Priority and it tells you the selected shutter speed too.

This one has only Programmed Mode! And the choosen aperture and

shutter speed are kept strictly confidential! There is no way to find

that out! And this is more expensive than the non zoom!

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So why did it get it? For the hot shoe! And now it appears the shoe

is USELESS!

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Anyway the manual does say it can be used with any external flash and

not just the CF. Moreover the CF is not dedicated to this camera at

all. It has its own light sensor and there is only one pin which just

signals flash ready.

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The CF sells for $150. For that price I can and do want to get the

Metz 34. That is almost as small as the CF and much more versitale

and very much more powerful. It's guide number is 34 as opposed to

the 20 of the CF.

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So I don't want the CF. I might as well use the built in flash then.

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So how can one use the hot shoe on the Minilux Zoom???

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Please help!!! Anyone!

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Thank you.

Read the Leica literature. The CF flash does "communicate" with

the camera.

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Cheers