Fresnel Lens Plate replacement for Metz 50 AF-1, flash gun

Hi all,
I've been gifted a used flash gun but it has its top lens broken in half, the flash gun seems entirely working but as I'm new to this I've no idea if it will affect the lightings.

Personally I would replace it, seems an enough cheap part, however I just can't find it online. So far I've found only 2 websites that sell the fresnel lens for the Metz 48 but I don't know if it will fit the 50 too, it seems the very same part but there's specified that it wont work on any other models.

What's your advice? Is the replacement necessary?

I'm located in Italy but I guess there won't be any issue if I should order from some store oversea

Metz 50 AF-1 - Broken Fresnel

Luca-B wrote:

... What's your advice? Is the replacement necessary?

For me, yes, if only to protect the flash tube/zooming head behind it. But I tend to be kind of OCD about keeping my gear in good condition.

I'm located in Italy but I guess there won't be any issue if I should order from some store oversea

Here in the US, I can find the AF-48/58 front panel for $12, so hopefully you won't be out a lot of money if it doesn't fit. You may want to contact the email of the part supplier you found to see if they know whether it will fit the 50 or not.

I will also caution you that you can hurt/kill yourself opening up a speedlight. The capacitor in these things is really big, and can, even after you remove the batteries and leave the speedlight alone for a day or two, still hold more than 300V to zap you. And since the fresnel panel is in the head, where the flash tube and capacitor are, you really have to have the correct electronics skillz to drain that capacitor before opening up the flash.

If you don't own a voltmeter or know how to drain a capacitor of charge, I would recommend you either get someone who does have a voltmeter and knows their way around electronics to help you, or you consider sending it to Metz for repair.

kli wrote:

Luca-B wrote:

... What's your advice? Is the replacement necessary?

For me, yes, if only to protect the flash tube/zooming head behind it. But I tend to be kind of OCD about keeping my gear in good condition.

I'm located in Italy but I guess there won't be any issue if I should order from some store oversea

Here in the US, I can find the AF-48/58 front panel for $12, so hopefully you won't be out a lot of money if it doesn't fit. You may want to contact the email of the part supplier you found to see if they know whether it will fit the 50 or not.

I will also caution you that you can hurt/kill yourself opening up a speedlight. The capacitor in these things is really big, and can, even after you remove the batteries and leave the speedlight alone for a day or two, still hold more than 300V to zap you. And since the fresnel panel is in the head, where the flash tube and capacitor are, you really have to have the correct electronics skillz to drain that capacitor before opening up the flash.

If you don't own a voltmeter or know how to drain a capacitor of charge, I would recommend you either get someone who does have a voltmeter and knows their way around electronics to help you, or you consider sending it to Metz for repair.

Thank you for your reply Kli, that's exactly the store I'm planning to contact in case I won't get any reply from Metz's Italian distributor and, Metz itself which I haven't contacted yet. I hope that at least the latter will find a solution, as they're based in Germany the shipment within EU might take less time. (Ironically, it's almost faster to get something from London rather than Rome)

About the need for repair and keep my stuffs in good conditions I'm just as you (let's not dig there!). So if something can be fixed and it's worth, I'm always up for it.
I know nothing about flash guns but something tells me that nasty crack won't make the light be homogeneous right in the middle. I might be wrong but still, dusts can easily get inside!
Thank you also for mentioning that nice capacitor, I will well keep it in mind. I'm used to fix small electronics (I guess I've been checking too many times the charge of 9v batteries on the tip of my tongue to be like this) but luckily as for that part of the flash gun it seems unnecessary to fully disassemble it, still not scared of it *evil look*

Luca-B wrote:

... Thank you also for mentioning that nice capacitor, I will well keep it in mind. I'm used to fix small electronics (I guess I've been checking too many times the charge of 9v batteries on the tip of my tongue to be like this) but luckily as for that part of the flash gun it seems unnecessary to fully disassemble it, still not scared of it *evil look*

Well, just in case. Here's a youtube video of how you discharge the capacitor in a Canon 580EXII. Whether Metz puts a discharging contact in the same place I have no idea, though. But at least it's a place to start looking.