First Time With Metz Flash

[KellyL]

Okay Julio, I just looked at BH and saw the Crane brackets. With this bracket, you are able to angle the flash? I can't really get a gist on how it works from the picture.

Which one is better?

Crane Multi Bracket for Metz 45 and 60

or

Crane Multi Bracket for Metz 45 Series

[Nikonfreak]

I posted a link to the one I bought. I think it's the first one.

It even has a hole to mount an umbrella to and two extra screws of different diameters to mount things to.

I have to run out to dinner with the family but when I get back I'll post a picture of the bracket with the Metz on it for you Kelly so you can see how it attaches and tilts and such.

Julio

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by harryd

What your doing is inspiring me, I am wondering if you know, is there a way I can move my 580 flash off the camera other than the ST-E2 transmitter which I hear does not work well.

ST-E2 works well as long as you are indoors, outdoors just use the red flickering lights on your 580ex in slave mode for what-they-are-there-for: turn and twist the 580ex setup so that you can see them from where you are shooting: your ST-E2 can probably see them then, too, and test any setups you have in mind beforehand (like KellyL did )

Another 580ex (or 550ex) can also trigger your 580ex off-camera, as can a MR-14ex and a MT-24ex, the 580ex and 550ex are reported as-good or better than the ST-E2, the MT and MR are reported a little less-good than the ST-E2.

The new weather-proof 580exII finally has a standard synch port, so that can be used to attach any trigger-device, from 'pocket wizards' to 'optical slaves' to 'synch cord'.

...€0.02 worth...

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by KellyL

A: And I need something to hold that dang radio unit instead of letting it flop around.

B: Harry...I am wondering if you can get a hot shoe adapter with a synch chord terminal and use one of the radio control units? Just a guess.

A: get a roll of velcro tape

B: Canon makes a hot-shoe adapter with a synch cord terminal, but notice the xxD series *has* a synch-port, look under the flaps on the left side (from behind) of your camera! IIRC, only the xxxD series (Digital Rebels) do not have a synch-port.

For those xxxD series cameras affected, Canon makes an a$$e$$orie hot$hoe with synch-port on the side, and a fully wired hotshoe (5 contact points plus 'ground' ) on top, so you can still use your hotshoe...

The problem HarryD is facing, is that his (and mine, all ) 580ex flash does not have a standard synch-port... so you would have to buy a 3rd party synchport-to-hotshoe adapter, in which you would mount your 580ex. But then it is totally on 'manual' and all the nice communication-between-camera-and-flash for which you (may have...) bought the 580ex in the first place are gone...

ST-E2, FWIW, (OK, it works - indoors 100% in *my* experience, but I had read the 'field-reports'... - outdoors it is clumsy to say the least...) does allow the communication between camera and -even- flashES, again, FWIW...

...€0.02 or less...



Max@Home

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by KellyL

Okay Julio, I just looked at BH and saw the Crane brackets. With this bracket, you are able to angle the flash? I can't really get a gist on how it works from the picture.

Which one is better?

Crane Multi Bracket for Metz 45 and 60

or

Crane Multi Bracket for Metz 45 Series

Here's a shot of the Metz 45 CL-4 digital mounted on the crane flash bracket.

It has a pivot point just like some of the other brackets for lightstands for shoe mounted flash units.

Ha, I should have used a flash for this ...

Julio

[KellyL]

Julio...excellent! Thanks for sharing this. But I missed the link...I went back to your post, but I did not see a link.

Thanks again. I wish I would have known this cuz I just ordered some *things* from BH and they will be here on Thursday. Drats!

[KellyL]

Nice DOF in the pictures, also!

[Nikonfreak]

This is the one I ordered.

Crane Multi Bracket for Metz 45 and 60

It's the MB-3 that is not special order.

Don't forget you need the wire to go from the pocket wizard to the Metz.

BH has it... it's

Pocket-Wizard WICM6PM16

ME1-6P Miniphone to Metz 45CL-1, 45CT/CL-3/4, 60CT-4 and G15/16 Power Grip Cable - Straight - 16" REG

[Nikonfreak]

Originally Posted by KellyL

Nice DOF in the pictures, also!

Ya, didn't want everyone to see my messy office so I tried ISO 800 with the 35 f/2
... didn't work out so great... Of course it could have something to do with going through a few pitchers of Heineken with my neighbor at a local pub tonight.

Ok.. you wore me down.. messy room and all..

And, shot with the Metz 58 AF-1 flash ... how's that ... ROFLMAO

In the last shot you see the little mount that the Crane bracket has that slips into the Metz just like the Metz factory bracket and the white screw tightens it down. (Don't over tighten, it's a plastic screw).

They're even nice enough to provide a screw to mount the pocket wizard on.

[KellyL]

Well, good...it is the cheaper of the two! Now, I don't have pocket wizards, I have $29.00 ebay triggers, but they are working great. One day I'll move up to the Wizards, but for now, these fit my budget and are allowing me to get other things I need.

I am very excited, Julio, and anybody else following this thread...I took some big steps tonight. I'll be posting some pictures as soon as I get them categorized and resized.

Thanks for being a good mentor/pal!

[KellyL]

Tonight, something wonderful happened, and I attribute it all to being a part of PhotoCamel. I have been in dialogue about my photography since I joined in December. Each piece of information shared by the professionals here, and the avid ameateurs, and the semi-pros, has helped me improve. Kirk has been nagging me to start using my light meter...but I was afraid of it. I didn't quite understand it. I made myself get out the manual, sit down, and use it tonight. Benji constantly refers to his light meter. Mark spills light meter info in everything he shoots.

So tonight, I MADE myself read that manual. I have used it before, but it just never seemed to be of much use. Well, tonight, I am a believer. With it I took incidence readings, reflective readings, metered the background, the foreground, the flash. I carefully recorded each and every one of my measurements and began to set my camera accordingly.

The school photographer told me that the meter inside the camera was better than the hand held meter...so I refused to to use the hand held. Tonight, I made myself do it.

Why all the fuss? Because I took control over the situation and began evaluating so many different things about my photographs. Tonight I felt like I became a photographer. I don't know how to explain this and have it make sense or how I feel. But I attribute it all to the dialogues I have had here on this site. Thank you EACH AND EVERYONE of you for taking the time to share your wisdom. Okay...yada, yada, yada, right? I am sorry to go on and on, but you just don't know what a milestone this has been for me.

[KellyL]

What excites me is I did not do anything to these photographs unless I noted it on the picture itself. The richness of the colors makes me see the value of the hand held meter. Let me say this simply....I FINALLY GOT SOME EXPOSURES RIGHT!

[KellyL]

Poor Sophia looks like she gained some weight from the time we left the grove to the time we got to the church. I told her not to eat those french fries.

One thing that bothers me are the shadows on the front of the dress.

[keithallenlaw]

Good topic. Question for anyone willing to stab at it. I'm getting the Metz 45CL-4
with the Crane bracket to use as main off camera lighting and to use my 580ex
on camera as fill. What do I need to make the set-up fire wireless?

Any suggestion for a diffuser on the Metz?

[Max@Home]

Originally Posted by keithallenlaw

Good topic. Question for anyone willing to stab at it. I'm getting the Metz 45CL-4
with the Crane bracket to use as main off camera lighting and to use my 580ex
on camera as fill. What do I need to make the set-up fire wireless?

duh ...a wireless transmitter that connects to your synch-port and a wireless receiver that connects to your Metz.

A lightstand and bracket as shown above.

Shoot-through umbrella?

....€0.02...

Kindest regards,

Max@Home

[kgphoto]

Kelly,

Your Metz outside gave more light due to the much darker background that the sensor took in. It was trying to lighten it up. Manual mode on the flash for guaranteed results.

I will give a report on the Will Crockett seminar on digital flashes, later this weekend, when I have more time to write it up.

[harryd]

Originally Posted by Max@Home

A: get a roll of velcro tape

B: Canon makes a hot-shoe adapter with a synch cord terminal, but notice the xxD series *has* a synch-port, look under the flaps on the left side (from behind) of your camera! IIRC, only the xxxD series (Digital Rebels) do not have a synch-port.

For those xxxD series cameras affected, Canon makes an a$$e$$orie hot$hoe with synch-port on the side, and a fully wired hotshoe (5 contact points plus 'ground' ) on top, so you can still use your hotshoe...

The problem HarryD is facing, is that his (and mine, all ) 580ex flash does not have a standard synch-port... so you would have to buy a 3rd party synchport-to-hotshoe adapter, in which you would mount your 580ex. But then it is totally on 'manual' and all the nice communication-between-camera-and-flash for which you (may have...) bought the 580ex in the first place are gone...

ST-E2, FWIW, (OK, it works - indoors 100% in *my* experience, but I had read the 'field-reports'... - outdoors it is clumsy to say the least...) does allow the communication between camera and -even- flashES, again, FWIW...

...€0.02 or less...



Max@Home

Thanks Max, that is what I thought but was not sure, Have a Karma on me for the great info.

[harryd]

Kelly, the shots from last night are fantastic. Maybe if I keep reading and playing I too can have that moment where it all clicks in. Congrats and keep it up.

[KellyL]

Kirk,

Now that I have experimented enough with Mark's technique, I am ready to try yours. I have read the manual several times trying to understand exactly what is going on. I know to you that sounds a little strange, that what I read in the manual isn't sinking in, but I do know that one has to develop some experience when reading something new in order to begin to comprehend it. Or perhaps I wasn't ready at the time.

Now, my assignment today is to begin working with the Metz in manual. I now you have been preaching this...so now I will give it an attempt.

What I couldn't understand is that manual on the Metz is strictly that...manual. So setting it at M gives the full blast of light capable by the Metz. If I am understanding correctly what I should be working on, then I would adjust the Metz manual until I got the reading I wanted. For example, I set the Metz at ISO 100, manual, and then take a reading. If I am after a reading of f/5.6, and the Metz on Manual produces f/16, then I would step down the Metz on manual three stops (setting it at M 1/. I am just doing this theoretically in my mind...don't have one of my flash units upstairs to look at it right now). I would use this setting because 1/8 of the Metz full power will allow me to get the meter reading I desire.

It would seem to me that setting the Metz on manual while attached to the camera would be inviting disaster...when heat of the moment shots are necessary. Constantly chimping shots based upon manual exposure from the Metz would become insane, theoretically speaking, and I would miss many possibilities for correctly exposed images.

What say ye?

[KellyL]

Harry, like in the thread "What has improved yoru photography the most" practice, practice, practice...and learning to use your tools correctly. I am beginning to understand that I can have the most wonderful composition, but if I do not understand the exposure and the characteristics of light, then I will be hopelessly lost in a void of improperly exposed images.