Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2002/04/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]My problem is the less than ideal exposure. I got it for the zoom coverage to be able to handle all the lens from 21 to 90mm. However, in all instances with both the M6-TTL and the R6.2 coupled with the dedicated modules SCA 3502 and SCA 351, they all result in under exposure of about 1 stop. This happens in both TTL as well as auto modes. The funny thing is that using manual with full power, the reading from my Sekonic meter is correct!!!. So the irony is that I get better exposure using MANUAL. Now I can compensate that with +1 EV, but that's really robbing Peter to pay Paul because in difficult situations I have to dial in +2 to +3 when shooting a black subject against a white background; then by adding bounce, it further lessens the power, turning it into a very whimpy flash. The bottom line is the 54 Metz with all the bells and whistles cannot be practically used because I can only trust the MANUAL mode. Yes, its expensive and having gone through all the trouble of further getting all the dedicated modules, the result is less than satisfactory. Had I known, I would have gotten a cheaper, more power, perfectly functional "Manual" flash. Caution guys. I should have known when Metz offer the free module when I got it....and now I guess they ran out of the modules and is offering a $60 rebate. - --- Pascal <cyberdog@attglobal.net> wrote: > Unbelievable. > > I have been using the Metz Mecablitz 32-MZ3 and 40 > MZ-3i in the past, > together with their respective reflection screens. > These were very handy > plastic add-ons with a white reflective layer, that > you could snap very > easily onto the flash head. Small, convenient, > excellent result. And the > main advantage was that you could take them anywhere > with you since they are > so small. > > Last Summer I made the mistake to switch from the 40 > MZ-3i to the new 54 > MZ-3. In fact, the flash itself is excellent and, > although not really > different from its predecessor feature-wise, it had > the advantage of the > more convenient cobra form factor (the 40 MZ-3i is > more of a boxy thing > which is less convenient to store in a backpack or > combi bag). No complaints > here. > The special reflection screen was not yet available > at the time. I have now > acquired it, and it is a disgrace IMHO. It is made > by "LumiQuest for Metz". > First, it is twice the price of the one for the 40 > MZ-3i (41 euro). Second, > its size is unbelievable. It no longer fits in > either my LowePro backpack or > combi bag (for my R equipment). So, I can no longer > take it with me on an > outdoors trip. Third, it is very inconvenient to use > as it requires that you > stick three adhesive clips on the flash itself > (which are then quasi > permanently attached to it), plus you have to bend > the soft material > reflection screen itself to attach it to the velcro > clips on the flash. > > It is three to four times as large as the plastic > reflection screen for the > 40 MZ-3i. While it may offer good functionality in > use, it is simply > unusable to me because of its sheer size. I am not > even putting the > unconvenient attachment into the equation. > > So, it will probably be back to the dealer tomorrow > unless someone can > convince me otherwise. > > Adding to this I must say I am disappointed at how > Metz has in effect > reduced the practicality of the reflection screen, > as the 54 is the > successor to the 40. I am, of course, not comparing > to the reflection > screens of the "pro" torch flashes by Metz. > > As a result, the usefullness of the 54 MZ-3 comes > into question now since > the use of a reflection screen is required to obtain > good results with > bounce flash. > Meanwhile, my "old" 40 MZ-3i and its reflection > screen have regrettably been > sold :-( > > Other potential users of the 54 MZ-3 should take a > serious look at the > reflection screen before deciding whether they buy > this flash. > > Pascal > NO ARCHIVE > > -- > --------- > Visit my Leica photo pages at > http://www.leicapages.com > --------- > <<< PGP public key available upon request >>> > > ******************** > > "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world: the > unreasonable man > persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. > Therefore all > progress depends on the unreasonable man." - George > Bernard Shaw > > -- > To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Tax Center - online filing with TurboTax http://taxes.yahoo.com/ - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html