Metz 54MZ-4 Flash on an M8

[wparsonsgisnet]

Jim, in the case of flash, where the actual duration of the flash is extremely short, the shutter speed can be arbitrarily selected. This gives you a wonderful tool for control of the warmth of the image and/or selected blur.

I would not choose Auto for the shutter speed. Instead, I would choose either the highest speed possible, 1/250 in the case of the M8, or something at 1/30 or 1/60 to capture some of the ambient light in a setting. This is called "dragging the shutter" I believe.

Since the shutter speed doesn't matter in this case, you have this additional tool to control the warmth of the picture. For example, with indoor shots where there are incandescent lights, the slower speed will warm up parts or all of your images. You might find this valuable at a wedding, where warm images are appealing.

Also, depending on the movement in the image area, you can get some blurred edges. As an example, when shooting dance with a flash, if the shutter is set to a slower speed, the body of the dancer is static in the image and the limbs are often blurred at the extremities. I have a nice example of this that I will look for and post.

In any case, you have the option to control movement by selecting a specific shutter speed. This is like money in the bank and can be used to your advantage.

[jevidon]

Bill,
Good tips. Thanks.
Jim

[jevidon]

Here is the latest e-mail from Metz concerning the settings for the MZ-4. It is all useful information, so I thought I would pass it on.
Jim Evidon
*************
Metz Response:
Dear Mr. Evidon,

Many thanks for your reply.

Basically at the GNC-flash-mode of the flash unit all f-stops of the camera lens can be used. Therefore the f-stop 45 also can be used. But please not that the flash range is depending on the guide number and the setting of the f-stop. If you use the f-stop 45 the flash range will be very small. The maximum flash range for the settings can be calculated by the formula flash range = guide number : f-stop.

If you still have problems please give us the settings of the flash unit and the camera as well as the lens and the ISO value. Maybe we can give you more information.

If the lens is equipped with the coding and the function is set at the camera menu the power zoom reflector of the flash unit will be set automatically. But please note that the digital-camera Leica M8 is equipped with a smaller sensor than the 35 mm format is. Therefore an extension of the focal length is activ. This extension of the focal length automatically is set at the flash unit. For example if you use a lens with 50 mm the power zoom reflector of the flash unit will be set at the position of 70 mm.

With best regards

Roland Laemmermann
Technical support
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