Flash question

[Mr Guy]

Anyone can chime in, but I was wondering if mattdm has a suggestion. I've read matt's P-TTL guide, but it doesn't have so much a recommendation that I saw as just descriptions. I've only had my Metz 48-1 for just over a year now, but I haven't been too kind to it and at the wedding I shot this weekend it gave up the ghost serving as a fill flash. It wouldn't be in warranty, and I'm not sure exactly what's wrong and whether it can be fixed. I'm not even sure where to take it or send to ask about fixing it. (It SOUNDED like a bulb popping, can bulbs be replaced in flash units?)

I was evaluating my flash options to replace it, and I'm thinking I want to go with as powerful as I can stand. I hardly ever use P-TTL, and I really don't know much about how it works. I use my flash primarily as an off camera unit triggered with AlienBee cybersyncs which don't do TTL so I use it mostly in manual mode. Now that I'm doing more formal portraits and weddings, I'm thinking I'm going to be using it as an on camera bounce flash more often.

I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of getting another 48-1, stepping up to the 58-1PS, or going with the Pentax 540 since it's cheaper. The external power source thing on the 540 sounds handy.

Any suggestions?

[mattdm]

Originally Posted by Mr Guy

Anyone can chime in, but I was wondering if mattdm has a suggestion. I've read matt's P-TTL guide, but it doesn't have so much a recommendation that I saw as just descriptions.

Yeah, my goal is to keep it neutral.

Originally Posted by Mr Guy

I've only had my Metz 48-1 for just over a year now, but I haven't been too kind to it and at the wedding I shot this weekend it gave up the ghost serving as a fill flash. It wouldn't be in warranty, and I'm not sure exactly what's wrong and whether it can be fixed. I'm not even sure where to take it or send to ask about fixing it. (It SOUNDED like a bulb popping, can bulbs be replaced in flash units?)

You can send it to Bogen Imaging, the US importer for Metz products (and the official service center here). Unfortunately, they're not as good at communication as Metz Germany is. You might want to e-mail the Metz Germany people and ask if they think it's likely fixable for a reasonable price before bothering to spend the postage.

Originally Posted by Mr Guy

I was evaluating my flash options to replace it, and I'm thinking I want to go with as powerful as I can stand. I hardly ever use P-TTL, and I really don't know much about how it works. I use my flash primarily as an off camera unit triggered with AlienBee cybersyncs which don't do TTL so I use it mostly in manual mode. Now that I'm doing more formal portraits and weddings, I'm thinking I'm going to be using it as an on camera bounce flash more often.

I'm trying to weigh the pros and cons of getting another 48-1, stepping up to the 58-1PS, or going with the Pentax 540 since it's cheaper. The external power source thing on the 540 sounds handy.

Any suggestions?

Both the Pentax AF540FGZ and Metz 58 AF-1 have a flash-based "Auto" mode, which I've heard a lot of wedding photographers like better than P-TTL. Although if you use manual mode, that doesn't matter much either.

One frustration I often hear is that the Pentax flashes forget all of their settings and go back to P-TTL mode whenever they turn off (including going to sleep to conserve power). The Metz flashes retain their settings. Plus, more manual control from the Metz ones.

You could also go with the Sigma EF 530DG Super, which, if I remember right, also retains at least some of its settings, and has a lot of bang for the buck. (It's got a fiddly user interface, though). Or with the AlienBees you can leave the Pentax-compatible fold completely and get something that's just cheap and bright with no frills. I don't have much knowledge about what's out there for that option, really.

Or if you really want power and money's no object, there's the 45 CL-4 or 76 MZ-5 . Compare:







Yeah, it goes right off my chart. :) You wanna light up a church, that's how to do it. But that's a cool thousand bucks.

[GEli]

From my Pentax digital days:

The Sigma 530 Super's UI and build quality was so bad that I bought it, spent a few hours fiddling with it at home, and promptly drove back to the store to exchange it for the Pentax 540. It may retain settings, but if it takes half an hour to get to those settings (which will only be held for ten minutes before the unit disintegrates), that's not a very useful feature.

I liked the Pentax 540. It was okay. It is, however, definitely a few steps behind Nikon's flashes and even the Canon line is ahead in terms of TTL, UI and build quality. The plastic hotshoe, abhorrently designed battery door and the requirement that you press a plethora of buttons to get anything accomplished make me tell you to look further into the Metz options.

[Mr Guy]

Thanks to both of you. That really makes me feel like my best option is to hope the couple buys a lot of prints and replace it with another Metz option, since I'm used to it and comfortable with how it does things.



If I'm reading this type of chart right, that means the Metz58 is roughly similar to the Pentax offering at wide angles, but can throw much more light much farther in a narrow beam, helping small group bounces, right?

[mattdm]

Originally Posted by Mr Guy

If I'm reading this type of chart right, that means the Metz58 is roughly similar to the Pentax offering at wide angles, but can throw much more light much farther in a narrow beam, helping small group bounces, right?

Yep, pretty much. There's some other charts and graphs at my site which can help visualize it in different ways.

[Mr Guy]

Thanks to both of you. I'm pretty convinced now that I'm going to be happiest with sticking with the Metz line that I'm comfortable with already. Now just to decide if I really need that much power in one strobe, since I can get two 48's for almost the same price.

[Ffred]

I'm waiting for a Metz 58 I recently ordered after pondering choices and reading a number of forums. Apparently I made the right choice.