Metz Camera Flash Mounts

Store Home » Metz Camera Flash Mounts

For decades, Metz has played a leading role in professional flash photography. It's no wonder, because the company's product range is very diverse. Ranging from handy and compact up to powerful handheld flashguns, there is just the right light for any need. The highly-developed SCA adapter system is another Metz strength. It makes it possible for Metz SCA flash units to be used on many cameras. Metz thus successfully manufactures products that stand out due to their versatility, long service life, and high quality.

Future With Tradition

Excellent Quality

Metz flash units operated convincingly in many tests. This is the case for light performance as well as reliability and handling. In order to maintain this quality, the Matz plants in Zirndorf near Nuremberg consistently rely on development and production in its German location. Highly qualified personnel and our own training system, as well as the know how from decades of development work, combined with demanding quality management (ISO 9001) in all corporate divisions guarantee that the highest demands are met: Metz always first class.

Technical perfection

Decades of development experience and production in Germany ensure the high technical standard of Metz devices. The use of high quality components in connection with the most modern high tech SMD assembly machines ensure that you can rely on Metz products. Convincing evidence for this is the worldwide marketing of high quality products, both in the flash sector as well as in ultramodern TV production.

Metz Ideas have a future

Through an entire series of technical pioneer work, the Metz plants have established an excellent reputation over many decades. This is the result of core competences in the areas of electronics and plastics engineering. An entire series of innovations, such as the world's first integrated USB port in the mecablitz 58 AF-1 digital and mecablitz 48 AF-1 digital, or the self-learning Slave Mode in the mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital, are typical examples of this.

Metz Mecablitz Models

Using a flash pays off: Anyone using additional light when taking a photograph obtains better results, because in post processing, it isn't possible to obtain missing colors or brilliance from the picture.

System Flash Units

Using a flash is more fun than ever before. It's no wonder, because with Metz system flash units, absolute operating comfort is available. Clearly-arranged displays, some of them even illuminated, give information, for example, about what values the respective flash program completely automatically sets. Sophisticated flash techniques are therefore child's play to use. There is also the guaranteed future factor for units with an integrated USB port. It's not for nothing that the mecablitz 58 AF-1 digital was given the prize for the "Best Flash Unit in Europe 2007/2008" and the mecablitz 48 AF-1 digital a TIPA Award in the Best Accessory section.

SCA Flash Units

The unique special feature of Metz SCA flash units is that one and the same flash unit can be used with different cameras it doesn't matter whether they are digital or analog. By simply replacing the adapter, system cameras from different manufacturers can be used, because they offer the richest array of special functions. Flash units with SCA adapters are just as suitable for system camera owners as for medium-format camera owners. All members of the SCA family meet this criterion, whether it is a handheld flash gun or a compact flash.

Automatic Flash Units

AThe flash units in this family don't have TTL flash mode; instead, they have the so-called automatic flash mode, in addition to manual flash mode. Numerous photographers still make use of this simple but extremely effective form of flash measurement. With automatic flash mode, it isn't the camera that controls the flash, but instead, the photocell integrated in the flash measures the light reflected from the object. It is a really nice thing!

Slave Flash Units

Slave mode (light controlled)

With the mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital, you have a pure slave flash unit at your disposal that only flashes when you want it to with any camera. This is made possible by its learning function, which recognizes the pre- flash of your camera and only responds to its main flash. With this model, the picture results can be controlled very easily via the plus/minus buttons.

Metz slave mode (wireless Metz remote system)

This clever Metz system facilitates targeted light control for two Metz flash units. Here, one is attached directly to the camera as a so-called master flash. In contrast, the other slave flash unit can be positioned anywhere in the room. For this type of slave mode, a current Metz SCA flash unit is equipped with an SCA slave adapter (SCA-3083) instead of the SCA camera adapter, which is used for a conventional flash. This slave adapter makes additional slave qualities possible. By using a mecalux 11 as a server flash trigger, a flash unit can also be activated. However, all settings must be made on the flash unit itself here.

Slave mode for the respective camera manufacture

Another way of using slave mode is opened up by the two system flash units mecablitz 58 AF-1 digital and mecablitz 48 AF-1 digital. Both models are not directly assigned to the slave category, but they still can be used as intelligent slave variants as well. Here, they support the flash modes of the respective camera manufacturer. In addition, the mecablitz 58 AF-1 digital has a master function that you can always use if the integrated flash of the camera doesn't provide a master mode.

Slave mode at close range

The Metz macro flash is attached directly onto the lens, thus enabling precise and creative lighting in the macro range. In addition to which the Metz mecablitz 15 MS-1 digital can also be used in its slave function for effectively brightening up dark areas of the picture.

The Methods

Using a flash doesn't only mean flooding a dark subject with light; rather it also means handling this light in a target manner as well as creatively. There are very different methods available to achieve this. It starts with a direct flash of the subject with a flash unit fastened to the camera, and continues with a bounce flash, which is made possible by turning and tilting the reflector head. This way, the light can be redirected either with a special bounce diffuser or with an extendable, integrated reflector card. In addition, there are other flash methods that can be achieved through an "off-camera" use of the units. Adjusting the flash exposure plays a major role in the effect of a subject. In many Metz flash devices, the amount of light can be controlled variably, and thus balanced entirely according to need. In this way, a lighting mood is never lost. There is even considerable advantage in using a Metz flash in daylight. Shadowed areas or backlight can be brightened optimally in this way, and it enables pictures with undreamed-of sharpness and brilliance. In contrast to bygone eras, flashes and cameras themselves already contribute a great deal to successful exposure. These days, no flash photographer has to spend time on f-stop calculations or use various formulas. Intelligent units have now taken over most of the work. With the help of various special functions, one can concentrate on the essentials, i.e. the picture composition. That way, using a flash is really fun!

Hints and Guides

To the same extent that light is the all-determining factor in our life, so is light the most important creative element in photography. It is therefore hardly surprising that photos are sometimes referred to as "compositions in light". The actual photographic image is the result of the interaction of light, shadows and reflections. Positioning the subject "in the right light" places high demands on the source of light with regard to high output, precise control of the amount of light, short light duration, and the ability to direct the light with a tilt-and-swivel reflector, to name but a few. The only source of light that combines all these benefits is a flash system.

Do not allow your creativity to be fettered any longer by the restrictions of a flash unit integrated in the camera. Dense backgrounds as black as the night, or red eyes that transform your Uncle into Count Dracula, should be a thing of the past. A series of flash ideas have been compiled in this booklet to demonstrate the immense flexibility of a flash system and help you "compose with light". Make use of the enormous benefits of system flash to enliven your flash photography!

FAQ

Can mecablitz flash units also be used with digital cameras?

Metz flash units can also be used with digital cameras. These cameras can be subdivided into three groups according to the type of flash connection they feature. Group 1: Cameras without accessory shoe, but with built-in flash. Group 2: Cameras with sync contact (X-contact or hot shoe). Group 3: Cameras with hot shoe and special flash functions.

Group 1: Cameras without accessory shoe can still be operated with a flashgun featuring a slave trigger unit and automatic flash mode. "Metz mecablitz 28 CS-2 digital" is such a flash unit as it has an integrated slave unit. Furthermore, the SCA-3083 digital slave adapter can be used with all flash units that are compatible with the SCA 3002 system. It is only necessary to select the given slave function "WITH" or "WITHOUT" pre-flash suppression.

Group 2: All current Metz mecablitz flash units with sync cable connection or standard foot can be used with digital cameras featuring an X-contact or hot shoe. Here, too, the flash unit should permit the automatic flash mode.

Group 3: Cameras with special "dedicated" flash functions, such as TTL flash control, require a flash unit with an SCA adapter system or with a corresponding camera connection so that the additional special functions can be used. Normally, these cameras can also be used in conjunction with Metz flash units with a standard foot and in automatic flash mode, except that in this instance the special flash functions can no longer be used.

Can my mecablitz be used with a Canon digital camera?

All current Canon digital cameras with a hot shoe feature so-called E-TTL flash control in place of the standard TTL flash control. Fully automatic operation with these cameras requires flash units that feature this particular flash mode. Suitable flash units see flash light recommendation.

The SCA 3000 flash units, for example mecablitz 32 MZ-3, 40 MZ-.. or 50 MZ-5, aren't loaded with this special E-TTL flash control. Therefore this flash units only can be used at automatic flash mode or manual flash mode with the Canon digital cameras . Normally we recommend using also the adaptor SCA 3102 for connection. Thereby the particular aperture is also manually adjustable at mode "AV" or "M" at the camera.

What is the significance of the M designation on the given SCA-Adapter?

The adapters of the Metz SCA adapter system are constantly being updated to match new cameras with additional or modified flash functions. For this reason the new adapter models are continuously numbered (M, M2, M3). The latest adapter model always replaces the previous one and is downward compatible. The adapters of the SCA 3002 system can generally be upgraded by way of firmware update.

What is the difference between the SCA-300 and SCA-3002 systems?

SCA 300 is an analog system, whereas SCA 3002 is digital. As a result of the additional exchange of digital data further special flash functions become possible when these cannot be set on the camera concerned. The flash units of the SCA 3002 system are downward compatible, and can, therefore, also be fitted with SCA-300 adapters. However, SCA 3002 adapters are not necessarily compatible with SCA 300 flash units. For instance, the SCA 3000 C connecting cable is required to match SCA-3002 adapters with handle-mount flashguns of the SCA 300 system, but not all the functions of the given adapter will then be available with this connection.

Can cables of the SCA-system be extended?

Extension cables and leads of the Metz SCA adapter system for off-camera flash can be problematic. The information transmitted by such cables involve low-level pulses that are very susceptible to external influences on the cable. Consequently, the disruptions can increase with the length of the extension.

Moreover, line inductivities and switching capacities can also be of importance. The longer the cable, the greater the influence on the form of the transmitted pulses, thereby giving rise to faulty exposures. Direct cable extensions are therefore not necessarily practicable.

We recommend the TTL Multiconnector SCA-305 A for longer line lengths in conjunction with an SCA-300 adapter. This active TTL distribution system is simply slipped onto an SCA-300 adapter. On account of the longer line lengths, up to three flash units can be simultaneously connected to one TTL-Multiconnector. The SCA-300 E intermediate adapter, together with the SCA-3000 C connection cable, also enable the TTL-Multiconnector to be used with SCA-3002 adapters.

Can the battery case of the mecablitz 45 series be loaded with NC or NiMh batteries?

A battery case supplies a flash unit, such as the Metz mecablitz 45, with 9 V power (6 x 1.5 V). However, if NC or NiMh batteries are loaded in the battery case, then only 1.2 V (6 x 1.2 V = 7.2 V) will be available on account of the cell's lower voltage rating. This results in a significantly smaller guide number, thereby greatly reducing the maximum flash range in automatic and TTL flash mode. It also means that manual flash operation becomes impracticable because a guide number is no longer available to calculate the camera's aperture setting.

The contacts of our NC battery pack 45-40 are located at a different point so that the existing voltage difference is compensated. The NC batteries incorporated in this pack are special cells that are rigidly connected with metal strips to cope with the high power consumption of the flash unit. Consequently, an empty NC battery case cannot be loaded with other commercial rechargeable batteries.

Furthermore, the high currents of an inadvertently incorrectly loaded NC battery may destroy the electronic circuitry of the flash unit. Consequently, we urgently advise against the use of NC batteries in the battery case.

Can the mecablitz 45 CT 1 also be used with the new autofocus cameras?

Regretfully, the Metz mecablitz 45 CT-1 does not yet have the connecting capabilities of the Metz SCA adapter system. Consequently, no corresponding adapter is available for combination with autofocus cameras. The Metz mecablitz 45 CT-1 can therefore only be connected to such cameras with a standard synchronising cable.

Furthermore, it is necessary to note that Metz mecablitz 45 CT-1 units featuring a model number that is smaller than 534 000 are fitted with a so-called high-voltage ignition circuit. These flash units must not be directly connected to modern cameras as this could even damage the camera!

All other flash units of the Metz mecablitz 45 CT and 45 CL series feature a low-voltage ignition circuit in keeping with the current standard.

What is the difference between the mecablitz 45 CT and mecablitz 45 CL units?

Flash units of the Metz mecablitz 45 CL series are successor models of Metz mecablitz 45 CT units, and they feature a modified method of flash readiness indication. Accordingly, flash readiness is indicated by a light-emitting diode on Metz mecablitz 45 CL units, whereas flash units of the Metz mecablitz 45 CT series feature a glow lamp for flash readiness indication. Furthermore, Metz mecablitz 45 CL flash units have standard connecting sockets.

Metz is a company within the Manfrotto Bogen category, known worldwide for the high quality and reliability of its products and service.