Metz 54 MZ-3 on D2/LC-1

[Riley]

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I have been using a Metz 54 MZ3 on my LC-1 with a SCA 3502 module

although it is described as TTL on the LCD of the flash, the documentation that came with the module says it isnt TTL. Anyway it does read the iso, aperture and zoom so it is at least dedicated AUTO, and thats fine. The huge amount of light and fine exposure are great for this noisy camera. The added Stofen softens the light beautifully, but...

 

I shoot real estate for a living, my problem is that I like to mix light sources wherever I can, it makes a more interesting and warmer photograph. But unless I go manual, I cant seem to tone the flash output down. It doesnt seem to respond to the +/- flash EV setting in the camera. I need to lose a stop out of the flash output often, but cant seem to automate it.

 

Any other Metz users having a similar experience ? How are you dealing with it ?

[cbretteville]

Rob,

I see the same with my 44MZ2 as well as SF24D. To reduce flash output I have to set that on the flash itself. The +/-EV for flash only seems to work for the internal flash on the D2.

 

I find my self adjusting the exposure EV down about one stop as this does work. Given what you shoot this might not work for you, though Id' mention it anyway.

 

Switching both flashes from Guide Number Control (the TTL setting) to 'A' works better for me. Both my flash's sensors are better at reading return light than the D2's flash sensor and it removes the pre-flash. It still picks up the iso, aperture and focal length settings from the camera so you don't have to fiddle any more than you do in TTL/GNC mode. Someone else here gave me this tip and I've been using them this way since.

 

- C

[Riley]

I must say the metering is excellent, it hasnt to my memory overexposed an image

something which has been easy to fudge with other flash

 

thing is, what I commonly need to do is balance through the window daylight with interior light

what I like to do is turn on the house lighting, the added tungsten makes a warmer interior

this works excellently with my Olympus FL-36 flash every time, beautiful glows, but it will only do it on manual

the Metz however, seems to flatten all the lights, somehow overpowering the interior light so that they do not even appear to be lit

 

the difference might be, one flash has a short flash, and the Metz a longer duration flash

 

in the image below, the bedside lights are lit, yet they emit no glow at all

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[dugby]

Rob,

 

I use a 40MZ-3i / SCA3502M4 on my D2 and have found the Primary reflector too strong when as used as direct flash, when set on Auto. I have found inside rooms I often have to manually set aperature to f 8-11.

 

In fact when shooting direct flash, I prefer the D2 flash.

 

However when I use the Primary for bounce and Secondary for fill-in, it works very well with the flash set on auto, and Aperature set to Auto.

[Riley]

dugby

thanks, I can see a small improvement that is closer to what I want

but I will have to wait for tomorrow to mix daylight,

as you would know its night here now,

and when its night, here man its dark

[wlaidlaw]

Just to let anyone who might have the older 40 MZ-2 flash know; although Metz say that they don't believe it works with a D2 plus SCA3502M4, it does. There is one small proviso. You must not move the camera zoom faster than the flash head can motor zoom or it gives an error message on the flash; EEE. You then have to switch both the flash and camera off to clear. I am hoping the 40MZ-2 also will work on my M8, when I get another SCA3502, as I sold the last SCA module with my D2. Again it is not on the Metz recommendation list but maybe they just want me to buy a new 54MZ-4.

 

Wilson

[wparsonsgisnet]

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Rob, I used the same 54MZ4 flash on my D2.

 

The D2 does not do ttl, as you worked out and max speed for external flash is 1/250.

 

I set my Metz on Auto, set the D2 on 1/250, and set the aperture ring to Auto. It never misses.

[Riley]

Bill

that makes complete sense

in that way I can balance outdoor light with some control

 

I usually match F stop to flash

and set speed to suit outside light

[wparsonsgisnet]

Riley, I have not yet used the fill flash on the front of my 54, but I'm sure it will figure things out properly, as well.

 

BTW, with the M8, which uses GNC (guide number control?), you get the equivalent of ttl. I bot the off-camera extension cord and everything works like a charm. If you are mouting a Metz on the M8, you need to unscrew the locking ring all the way in order to reomove the flash from the shoe easily. I am informed that there is a locking pin on the Metz that retracts when the ring is fully untightened.

[Riley]

thanks for the replies gentlemen, you may want to try this out

 

Use "A" AUTO mode

Press "SELECT" button

keep pressing until the small letters "ev" come up bottom right of LCD

select "ev" by pressing the wheel in

rotate the wheel for (+/-) 1/3 stops

 

that will hold until shutdown

but for more permanent setting

when you have the desired setup

press both "MODE" & "SELECT" together and the setting is locked in

do the same to release it

 

the effect adjusts flash output by the selected stop, to the automatic exposure

it will work with the camera as AE, S or AUTO

nice eh

[cbretteville]

Thanks for posting the how-to Rob.

- Carl

[wlaidlaw]

This has all become slightly academic as far as I am concerned. Metz's UK agent, Intro 2020 have run out of SCA3502 adapters both M4 and M5 (if they actually ever had any M5's, which I doubt). They will not have any more from the factory until May at the earliest.

 

Possible conversation at Metz just prior to Photokina - "Leica are bringing out two significant new digital cameras, the M8 and D3, which lots of people will be buying. Shall we step up production of the SCA3502 adapter and make sure the M5 firmware version is available? Nah - lets not bother - DOH!"

 

As I really need a flash, this means I have had to buy another SF24-D. I sold my previous one with my Digilux 2 as I found it rather harsh, with its lack of bounce facility.

 

Wilson

[Riley]

Wilson

just a small curve ball to that

the D3 uses the Olympus pattern hotshoe

the adapter for that then is SCA-3202

the Leica version for D2 being SCA-3502

 

below is a grab from the Metz site on D2/LC-1 compatibility

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[wlaidlaw]

Riley,

 

Conversation at metz should then just read "Leica is bringing out the M8" ;-}}

 

The whisper is that the M5 firmware version may???? allow EV correction from the camera similar to the way which the SF24-D allows, rather than having to turn the flash down/up at the flash head.

 

Wilson

[Riley]

oh sure

I quite recognize that the Leica flash in its substance is below par

I really dont see a better option than closer co-operation with Metz

to my mind, they are obvious partners

Metz do make excellent equipment, and its in both parties interests

that some improvements in supply and capability be enabled

 

perhaps like you, I had enormous trouble getting a 3502 module

it being found in Germany s/h, via ebay

now i find, I need one for Olympus too, and they are equally rare

[dugby]

Sorry Rob, I found a 3202 M5, on ebay in December, took me like -3 secs

to think about buying it.

 

However the 3202M5 on my 40MZ-3i with my D3/L1....the 40MZ-3i is quite dumb.

 

All I get is Auto Flash (with bounce & fill-in) .....not much else.....no zoom control of the primary reflector, neither f-stop nor ISO communication, much to my dis-appointment as I specifically chose the 40 for it's lower profile on my D2, over a 54.

 

ooops Sorry corrected this append.... i did buy the 3202M5 for the D3/L1

[Riley]

yeah you need 3202 for D3 dugby

its an Oly footprint

[wlaidlaw]

Sorry Rob, I found a 3502 M5, on ebay in December, took me like -3 secs

to think about buying it.

 

However the 3502M5 on my 40MZ-3i with my D3/L1....the 40MZ-3i is quite dumb.

 

All I get is Auto Flash (with bounce & fill-in) .....not much else.....no zoom control of the primary reflector, neither f-stop nor ISO communication, much to my dis-appointment as I specifically chose the 40 for it's lower profile on my D2, over a 54.

 

Dugby,

 

I find that surprising as when I was using the M4 SCA3502 some 18 months ago on my Digilux 2 with a 40MZ-2, which I assume is one model older/simpler than the MZ-3i, I got full GNC control and as long as you moved the zoom on the camera slowly, the zoom head would follow. I also got aperture and ISO confirmation/alteration. If you moved the camera zoom faster than the zoom head could follow, you got an EEEE message on the flash. Are you sure you have the SCA switched to GNC mode and the flash to TTL? From memory you have to turn the camera on first and then the flash. The batteries in the flash must be quite fresh to initialize communication. The flash will carry on working long after the SCA stops communicating.

 

The last point is that the quality control and failure rate on the SCA units seem to be quite appalling. I lost count of how many SCA382/3802 Contax modules and SCA300/3000A leads I have had replaced under warranty due to faulty communication problems. The previous UK agents Hasselblad UK were always extremely sympathetic and helpful. I don't know about the new bunch, Intro 2020, but early signs are not too promising. Hope some of this helps.

 

Wilson

[dugby]

Sorry Rob and Wilson, I made an error in my post, which I corrected after you both responded.

 

I was referring to the 3202M5 that I just bought for my D3/L1, as being 'dumb' and not working that well with my 40MZ3i

 

The 3502M4 that I use on my 40MZ3i with my D2 works perfectly.

[Riley]

ah ha!

I wondered what the hell happened. I had heard that Oly changed something, and that some functionality was lost. Anyway the grab shows what they claim

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Hallo,

Look here: Interesting Leica gear