easy way to fix age old 550ex problem

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Ken Phillips said:

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

--
No 1D, very few lenses, no camera bag or teleconverters thanks to
some thief. Also, NO Canon 1200mm f/5.6.

Click to expand...

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

PaulS said:

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

valpatel said:

I use my D60/550ex the same way you described. The only problems I
am experiencing are: time it takes to set the output level for the
distance on 550ex and blown highlights on objects that are closer
than the subject for which the distance is set. You may have
solutions for these. Do you?

Thanks.

Val

PaulS said:

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Jon said:

What flash bracket are you using with your 1D and Metz 45?

Click to expand...

JohnM said:

you can do the same thing with a Metz 54 MZ-3 & also have E-TTL
when you want it.

-John

Click to expand...

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

valpatel said:

Doesn't Metz 45-CL1 get the ISO and Aperture automatically from the
camera? Please let me know.

Thanks,

Val

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Steven said:

valpatel said:

Doesn't Metz 45-CL1 get the ISO and Aperture automatically from the
camera? Please let me know.

Thanks,

Val

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Steven
D60
707
C700

Click to expand...

valpatel said:

Did you try it yourself to see that the ISO and Aperture come
across to the flash from D60? The specs are not very clear.

Val

Steven said:

valpatel said:

Doesn't Metz 45-CL1 get the ISO and Aperture automatically from the
camera? Please let me know.

Thanks,

Val

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Steven
D60
707
C700

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

Russell Stewart said:

We have been discussing the problems with the 550/420EX in another
thread and basically it comes down to ETTL v's Auto Thyristor.

In going to the Metz you are running a simple Auto Flash and you
lose any benefits of ETTL. Is this a bad thing?? ...no not
really, but there are times when ETTL comes into it's own.

There are plus' to both systems and to be honest I think every
camera bag should have one of each and we must know how to use both
to get the best possible result.

Here is the other thread....

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/read.asp?forum=1019&message=3793091

...have a look at my comments re "Elcheapo Flash"

Click to expand...

Steven said:

valpatel said:

Did you try it yourself to see that the ISO and Aperture come
across to the flash from D60? The specs are not very clear.

Val

Steven said:

valpatel said:

Doesn't Metz 45-CL1 get the ISO and Aperture automatically from the
camera? Please let me know.

Thanks,

Val

Abby Winters said:

Hi

For people who cannot seem to get the 550ex to work (with D30, 1D),
no matter what they do... this is real "Well, DUH!" territory for
pros, but for ppl who are not so pro, this may help. It was
explained to me recently, and was a HUGE help.

After about a year of farting about with the 550ex, and getting
wildly erratic results no matter WHAT I did, I bought a Metz 45-CL1
today. Not had a chance to do any serious stuff with it yet, really
keen to get it on location.

I shoot mainly fast paced porn, coming into summer (here!) now, so
I plan to do lotsa outdoors stuff - many shoots last summer were
ruined due to the erratic 550ex, grr. I usually fire about 800
frames per shoot, and on busy days we shoot three or four models.
There's no time for messing with the 550ex and it's idiosyncrasies.

But I just had a play with my new Metz in the studio, and MAN is it
GOOD!

For the un-initiated, the 45-CL1 is a flash that you use only in
Manual mode on your camera (no ETTL, I don't need no stinkin'
camera to make a guess at what the correct exposure might be on
some random focus point). The flash is of no use in P, Av, or Tv
modes.

o Set the camera's shutter speed, ISO, and aperture for the scene.
If you're using the flash as fill in an outdoors scene, meter the
natch light to get the correct exposure, either in camera or with a
hand held meter, set the camera - don't worry about the flash yet.
If you're shooting indoors, set the aperture you need to get the
DOF required / distance of subject - of course, if the subject is
40 feet away, you may have to sacrifice some DOF; shutter speed is
largely irrelevant with no ambi light.

o Set the aperture you just set on the camera, on the Metz. Set the
aperture on the Metz to the same as the ISO on the camera. Shutter
speed on the camera controls how much ambi is captured (if you're
outside in daylight), of if you are inside, does not really affect
much at all.

o Take some pics.

The Metz has a meter in it, and adjusts the power (in this case,
duration) of the flash to achieve a correct exposure for the set
aperture. I found it to be dead on, both to my eye on the LCD
screen, the histrogram, and on screen.

So, I pointed it at something very shiny and grey - filing cabinet:
correct exposure, with a catchlight on the chrome lock. At
something shiny and white (white board): correct exposure (with a
square flash-head catch light). At something black, lightly
textured, but still shiny (faux leather cover of a diary): correct
exposure, with a flare from the reflected flash. Something black
and dull (black wool pleated drape): correct exposure. Bounced over
my shoulder (at a white ceiling and wall behind me), the manual
suggests adding a stop (so, camera set to f8, set the Metz to f11
if bouncing): correct exposure.

It's dark out now, and I have no model handy, but in a few days,
I'll be out in the dappled shade, the full sun, the overcast sky,
on the beach, in dense bushland. I look forward to seeing how this
head works, but I suspect it'll be perfect, and I'll never want to
use the 550ex ever again (shame, cos with the STE2 in pitch black
night, I get correct exposure... but it's not so often I shoot in
that condition!).

Test camera: Canon 1D
Test Lens: Canon 28-70 f2.8 L
Test Flash: Metz 45-CL1
Power: Quantum Turbo battery

I hope this helps someone out there. I'll post again as soon as I
have some shoots under my belt.

--
-abby
http://www.abbywinters.com
(images may offend some)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Steven
D60
707
C700

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

--
Steven
D60
707
C700

Click to expand...

Daven said:

METZ 54MZ-3 AUTO/TTL FLASH does'nt that have both e0ttl and
thrystor???

Click to expand...