Metz Flash Setup

[Mark McCall]

For those of you following the threads about the Metz flashes and their auto exposure capability, here's a perfect example.
I can't remember if I'd posted this shot or not, so forgive me if I have already.

The inset shows the flash, attached to the lightstand, and the radio slave attached as well.

Exposure was as follows:
Camera on manual mode, set to F5.6 at 30th of a second.
Flash on auto, set to F4 (it fires one stop hot, so F4 really gives you F5.6).
ISO 400, tripod.

For posing,
turn bride's body away from the flash, turn her face back into it, place body weight on the back foot. Image unretouched.
The flash in the inset is the only flash used.

[captlen]

Light stand? Is that because you get more flexibility in height than with a tripod? Do you have a bigger picture of the setup?

[deluco]

Another beautiful image, Mark. I need to ask, however, does this Metz have manual settings and if so have you ever considered using this on Manual? You would get much more consistent results and not have to worry about that setting adjustment you have to make when the background is particuarly dark.

For example, I have a Lumedyne that I set at 50 ws at 8', 200 ISO and I'm always getting f5.6 regardless of the environment (thru a Wescott Halo), inside or outdoors, dark or light subjects. I also use my Vivitar 285 and SB-80 head on Manual settings for the same reason.

I can't argue with results, but I am just curious about why you don't use this on Manual.

Thank's.

[Mark McCall]

Len,
This Metz flash is my larger one. I use the 54mz3 like yours for on-camera work.
The lightstand allows me to place the light where I want it.
To bring out more detail in the dress, and create more professional looking images, I always side-light the bride.
Turn the bride's body away from the light, turn her nose back into it, have her place her body weight on the back foot.

There's some close up photos somewhere in the wedding area of PC. I'll see if I can locate them and post a link here.

Jim,
Yes, it does work manually. There are settings for full, 1/2 and 1/4 power.
Yeah, I do use it manually on occasion, but not very often.

Common wisdom would state that manual would be more consistent, but Metz's, on auto, are downright freaky when it comes to exposure. They're extremely accurate and consistent in auto mode.

As you know, every church is different. I can't always get the flash exactly XX of feet away from the bride.
With the Metz's, I don't have to worry about that. I just set it up, dial it in, and go to work.
Manual requires metering, which slows me down at a wedding. On auto mode, there's no metering.

Another cool thing...I can move the flash around as I want without adjusting it. It's automatically compensating for distance.

[deluco]

Hmmm and 3 stops isn't a whole lot of range for that strobe. I've never used the Metz but have heard great things about the exposure accuracy. I'd still use manual :'))

Without diffusion, I would have a hard time using the Lumedyne as it puts out too much power for most of my applications when direct flash is used. I remove the reflector and put it in a softbox and it's perfect.

[Mark McCall]

Jim,
I know what you mean.
I was scared out of my boots back in the mid 90's when I was learning Metz's auto concept.

Went through it all again during the digital conversion with digital's narrow exposure latitude.

It just kept working. I can't explain it.

What's really weird...it's not affected by ambient. I can use it outdoors on auto and it only reads flash, and not the ambient. I have no idea how it does it.

Jim Tweedie, a Chicago photographer was telling me that he shoots weddings all manual, and does it by keeping his subjects exactly 10 feet in front of him. Is that the way you do it?

[deluco]

Pretty much as Jim Tweedie does it. I could get away with Auto when I used film, but with digital, it's never given me the consistency I need. I can increase the distance and just pump up the power. I can go to 15 feet and pump it up to 100 ws and still get 5.6. I only have three stops but have rarely used my unit at 200 ws. If I need that much power, I take the softbox off and use the reflector.

Generally about 8-10 feet at 200 iso will give me about f5.6 if shot thru the Halo. I like the softness that I get thru the halo. I just posted some 1st Communion photo's in the Portrait section using this setup.

Often when I get to the family groupings I have my assistant take down the off-camera setaup and I just use my on-bracket flash. Mostly because of the concern re casting shadows on people's faces when I layer the group.

[Mark McCall]

I tried the Vivitar 285's on auto, and they were a disaster, but quite consistent on full manual.

But I can tell you without hesitation that the Metz's are incredibly accurate, enough for digital and it's extremely narrow latitude. (I've only used the CL's and MZ'z....don't know much about the CT's).

What's cool is that I don't have to worry about distance.
I can shoot at 6 feet or 30 feet without changing a thing on the camera or flash.

I'd really like to know why I can do that with Metz (and a few of my friends do it with Quantum), but I can't do it with Vivitar. Different technology maybe?

[deluco]

I guess you get what you pay for. Vivitar is (was) notorious for inconsistency, but cheapness. I used it (and still do) on Manual and between stops it really is not consistent. When going from 1/2 to 1/4, for example, it may not give you 1/2 the light at the same distance. However, once you meter it and know the settings it's fine. I did use it on Auto when using film and had no problems, but not with digital.

The SB-80 is also not consistent on Auto, although it's not a cheap flash. It's VERY consistent on manual between stops and has incredible recycling times...like zero at 1/2 power.

[dvdowns]

My D70 does wireless with the sb600 flash but that is only ttl . Not having heard anyone speak good of ttl I have just bought a wirelss remote control for flash that triggers off the top of the camera . Tomorrow after modifying the wiring to fit my sc-17 synch cord I will be able to mount any flash on it so i can try it with my Nissin360Tw and the metz 45cl-4 , both auto flashes though the nissin only has 3 power settings that tell you where to set the aperture ....

[KellyL]

What is the distance of the flash to the bride?

[KellyL]

Mark, for the first time I am seeing the shadows on the floor. Didn't notice them before. So...by dragging the shutter for a longer period of time, the shadows on the floor are less noticeable? My mind has a hard time comprehending this, but I want to try it next time I get a chance. Don't have another wedding until December, possibly. Other than that, I'll have to wait until May.

[StinkyDaddy]

Mark, Thanks for posting this.

I used a Metz 60 when I worked for the local pro. That was back before EOS, since then I've kinda forgotten about auto thyristor. Like most people I've gotten caught up in TTL and E-TTL. After my last wedding and thinking about this post I dug out one of my old vivitar auto thyristor flashes and after sanding the contacts I spent the better part of Thursday morning playing with it. I had a blast doing self portraits. Set the flash and the camera to 5.6 and party on! I was surprised by how well even the vivitar handled the exposure. It would have taken me several exposures to get it right manually with each move of the flash or subject, the thyrisor was pretty darn good the first time. I think I'm going to have to get a 45 or a 60.

Have Fun,
Wm.

[StinkyDaddy]

Just a note... I was using the flash on a lightstand with a radio remote.

[Mark McCall]

Originally Posted by deluco

Hmmm and 3 stops isn't a whole lot of range for that strobe. I've never used the Metz but have heard great things about the exposure accuracy. I'd still use manual :'))

I must have missed this earlier.
The Metz 45CL-4 has a settings for F2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16.
That's a 5 stop range.

I will, on occasion shoot it manually, but the majority of the time it's on auto.

I shoot the reception the same way using the Metz 54MZ3...on auto.
I don't have to worry about keeping subjects exactly 10' in front of me...things are happening much to fast at a wedding.
This allows me to concentrate on shutter speed to control background because I know my foreground will be properly exposed by the flash.

At the reception, changing aperture will affect both flash and ambient exposure, but changing shutter speed only affects ambient, or background, exposure.

Wm,
Be careful of using that older Vivitar on a digital body. They can fry your onboard electronics.
Use it with a Wein SafeSync to get the kickback voltage under 6v.

[golfer]

Thanks Mark so much for sharing this again. You have given me so much hope and help when using flash. The Metz is on my Christmas list.
By the way, is the Metz influnced by camera type ie; I'm shooting Canon 20D and 5D? I wouldn't think so, but thought I would ask.

[Mark McCall]

Golfer,
No. The flash is not influenced whatsoever by the camera brand.

It will expose properly, just by hitting the test button, without being attached to the camera.
I used Metz with all my medium format weddings years ago.
When I could not get my Canon flashes to expose normally or consistently, I tried the Metz on my digital bodies and never looked back.

[Worm324]

Great stuff Mark!! Thanks for sharing the set-up shots and all the detailed info

Best,
Jay

[Jazzi Photo]

Hi Mark!

I have been looking for a mount that will work with that style of Metz flash. Did you use an existing product to place the flash and pocket wizard on that stand, or did you modify something?

Thanks for sharing!

[Mark McCall]

Jazzi,
the attachment is homemade, with parts I had lying around. But you can purchase them from Novatron.
If you'll send me an email at mmphotography@suddenlink.net, reminding me to post a pic, I'll take several closeup pics of the attachment then post them.