Metz handle mount flash unit

[mjs1973]

Does anyone know anything about these? The company I work for is acutioning one off, but it gives NO details about it. Just one really bad picture that tells me nothing. It does come with a manual tho. From looking at B&H's site, it doesn't look like they are dedicated for Nikon, or Canon, or any other brand. Is this something that I would just have to get a sync cord for, and I would be good to go? I'm sure I could get it for next to nothing, but I don't want it if it's not going to work with my gear. Perhaps it wouldn't be E-TTL compatible, but would work manually? The cheapest one at B&H is $325, I bet this one goes for less than $20.

I'm trying to find out more about it but that can be like pulling teath sometimes. One dept. wants to sell something, so they give it to the dept in charge of selling it, and that dept. doesn't know anything about it...

[another view]

Well, for $20 or so you can't go wrong. You could always ebay it if it doesn't do what you need it to do. I don't know much about them, but have always heard good things about Metz in general.

[drg]

Which model? The Metz Potato Mashers have quite a range of power, accesories, parts, etc.

Depending on the age and use it may not be worth more than a few bucks if the element/bulb/thyristor is gone. Some older models parts are difficult to get or have been significantly changed, or upgraded.

The potato masher lights provide tremendous amounts of light. Only recently rivaled by on camera dedicated flash units (The 580EX come to mind for Canon).

If your camera has a PC sync connection or can be adapted, these can be made to work. They are direct cords for the major camera brands, perhaps depending upon the model # of the unit.

I would not count on any type of TTL unless the flash is new enough to support the right connections and interface. Essentially the best way to use some of these is a generic flash with manual settings.

They are great when you need lots of flash both quantity and repetition. I've used them for years and they are still one of the best sources of portable light with a few important consideration

1. A battery pack is essential for much continuous shooting which they excel at, but will use lots of power.

2. Flash Parallax can be an issue at some distances. A bracket on your Stroboframe to change the height of the Flash Head relative to the lens is yet another accesory you'll want.

3. A frame/bar to connect the camera and the flash are essential. A Strobo or similar. Metz sells their a line of pieces that can be assembled (or they've offered 'kits'). Haven't had a new catalog from them in a long time. Notice though the online stores still list a lot of parts.

4. Make sure the unit is one that has a user replaceable bulb. And that you can get the right bulb.

5. Trust the adjustment on the Head only after calibrating them with a known good flash meter.

6. If the lens doesn't look good, it isn't. They are very durable but can crack or discolor which will affect performance significantly.

7. The connectors to auxillary battery packs (a big selling point of this type) will wear out. Any more finding a cost effective repair for older units is at best problematic. I'd rather spend 400-500 dollars and get a new one than wait and hope.

If you can get one for twenty bucks and it works, it might be worth playing with to see if does something you need. Used properly they are the easiest way to take a quick group portrait.

One more caveat, like all things associated with digital photography vs film, chances are high that White Balance will be way off. Older flashes like this even with new 'bulbs' (they are technically lamp modules in some vernaculars) will perform in a way that the color temp changes through the cycle. Custom White Balance should quick address that. If it doesn't the color temp is changing during each flash. They will because of component wear and the way they discharge 'bloom' as they get older. That's unusual or happens just before the lamp goes or the capacitor and thrystor fail.

Cut through all the blah-blah I've just generated,

1. check the model for compatibility with your camera system
2. make sure spare are available
3. look at the overall condition (battery hatches included)
4. If its cheap it might be a good learning experience if it work at all

Then go light up a room and make all your friends and family blink for 20 minuts ;)

If you other questions, I'll try and help.

[mjs1973]

Well, for $20 or so you can't go wrong. You could always ebay it if it doesn't do what you need it to do. I don't know much about them, but have always heard good things about Metz in general.

Thats kinda what I was thinking too. I did find out that it's a "Metz Mecablitz 45 CL 1, with a spiral sync cable 45-53 for connection to hot-shoe contact of camera." They also have a Nikor 50mm f/1.8 lens for sale too. Minumum bid on that is $10. If only I had a Nikon.

[drg]

You'll need a ' METZ part number SCA3102 ' hot shoe adapter for ETTL on a Canon. About $100 probably. Unfortunatly the 45 CL 1 I think is entry level enough it may not support any advanced features like ETTL or Second Curtain etc. The 45 CL 1 is probably really only for non AF non TTL/flash cameras.

I think that cable, I can't find that number at the moment is for the standard hot shoe and not a PC sync.

Good luck.

[mjs1973]

Wow, thanks for all the info drg. I would imagine this was used on and older, film Nikon body. My company had some photo stuff they auctioned off about a month ago or so, and I think it was all older Nikon gear. This is either the 2nd unit like this they are trying to sell, or they didn't have any takers on it the first time. I'm going to go look at it this afternoon, and see what it looks like.

[Franglais]

Thats kinda what I was thinking too. I did find out that it's a "Metz Mecablitz 45 CL 1, with a spiral sync cable 45-53 for connection to hot-shoe contact of camera." They also have a Nikor 50mm f/1.8 lens for sale too. Minumum bid on that is $10. If only I had a Nikon.

I have a 45 CL-4. Unlike the CL-1 it has two flash heads, a small one directed straight on and a big one that I can use for bounce flash. This means that I can light a room evenly with the bounce and get a well-lit subject with the small direct flash. It was great - with film and a dedicated TTL head for my F100.

Today - I get the same result or better with my D70 set at 800 ISO (for the room light) and SB800 with the Stofen attachment for the head-on kicker, all with I-TTL measurement.

I love my CL-4 but it's the past. The CL-1 is even less useful with a modern DSLR, IMHO.

Charles

[mjs1973]

I stopped and looked at the flash after work, and it seemed to be in pretty good condition. Looks like I would have to spend another $150 or so to get it to work with my EOS. That's almost half of a 580EX. Not really worth it.

It does have one cord on it that would plug into my old AE-1 body. I would imagine I would still need a cord to go from the hot shoe to the flash tho.

[k1nwb]

I have a 45 CT-5 and would like some advice on using it with my K10D...anyone familiar with this Metz unit?