54Mz as both master and slave? (Canon TTL)

[NetTechie]

Can this be done with the sca 3083 shoe, using TTL? I know the shoe supports TTL via wireless with the 58 AF flash, but how about somehow doing it with the 54MZ-4i as master? Is there some hardware corded way to do TTL without the wireless? Or something? Or does the new 54MZ-4i do wireless? (I have a 54MZ-4i, not the older MZ-4). Thanks.

[Wilt]

The Metz 54MZ series can do wireless, but this is Metz wireless not Canon-compatible wireless. I do not understand why you refer to the 3083 shoe...an ETTL-capable Metz flash needs Metz 3102 module to be ETTL compatible; Canon TTL modules will not provide ETTL compatibility.

[NetTechie]

The Metz 54mz does have wireless? Can it control Metz brand slave flashes with it for TTL on Canon? (The a 54MZ with SCA 3083 shoe for example?).

Note: the SCA 3083 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=273086&is=REG) would be the slave shoe. The master 54MZ-4i has the SCA 3102 M3 shoe, and is would be mounted on the Canon camera.

[NetTechie]

anyone?

[Wilt]

The Metz 54mz does have wireless? Can it control Metz brand slave flashes with it for TTL on Canon? (The a 54MZ with SCA 3083 shoe for example?)..


From the first sentence of my earlier reply, "The Metz 54MZ series can do wireless, but this is Metz wireless not Canon-compatible wireless"

Note: the SCA 3083 (http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/controller/home?O=cart&A=details&Q=&sku=273086&is=REG) would be the slave shoe. The master 54MZ-4i has the SCA 3102 M3 shoe, and is would be mounted on the Canon camera.

I have no information about what a 3083 module is and why it exists. Have you tried contacting Bogen Imaging (USA)?

[NetTechie]

From the first sentence of my earlier reply, "The Metz 54MZ series can do wireless, but this is Metz wireless not Canon-compatible wireless"

You mean it can't talk to other metz flashes when hooked to a Canon?

[jr_senator]

You mean it can't talk to other metz flashes when hooked to a Canon?

No, it means that it is not E-TTL compatable.

[Wilt]

No, it means that it is not E-TTL compatable.

NO! NO! NO! The Metz 54MZ is ETTL compatible, but if you want a wireless Master and Slave, you must use another Metz-brand unit with wireless support. The Metz wireless protocol is not the same as Canon's wireless protocol, unless you use the Metz 58AF which is both ETTL and Canon-wireless compatible

Since people are confusing the two independent concepts, ETTL vs. wireless, let me make an analogy...
ETTL is like saying "I speak Portuguese". Wireless is like saying "I talk on VHF channel 16"
...so Canon says, "I speak Portuguese. I talk on VHF channel 16"
...and Metz 54MZ says, "I speak Portuguese". I talk on VHF channel 19"
...and Metz 58AF1 says, "I speak Portuguese". I talk on VHF channel 16"

[jr_senator]

Well, give me 20 lashes with a wet noodle. BTW, you don't have to yell.

[NetTechie]

NO! NO! NO! The Metz 54MZ is ETTL compatible, but if you want a wireless Master and Slave, you must use another Metz-brand unit with wireless support.

Sweet! I'll be ordering a SCA 3083 very soon! :)

Metz 54MZ-4i will say to Metz 54MZ-3 "talk on channel VHF Channel 19" and Metz 54MZ-3 will say "affirmative!". :lol:

[Wilt]

I did a Google search on 54MZ3 and wireless and found this:

"You are right, there is not enough information about my question in www.metz.de, but I've downloaded a manual of the 54 MZ-3, and found information about the SCA 3082 there and in other web sites.
And that is the answer. SCA 3082: You put it on the flash unit (54 MZ-3, not the 44 MZ-2), and that's all. The SCA 3082 tells the flash when to start and when to end, in TTL slave mode and using the camera's onboard flash as the master unit. Other Metz units have this adapter built in, but not the 54 MZ-3 (still a nice one, for me). "


So the 3082 permits optical triggering, or wireless triggering with TTL exposure link. Unsure what happens with ETTL, though, since ETTL and TTL are different animals.
This site has manuals for Metz flashes which are downloadable PDF.

http://www.metz.de/en/photo_electronics/manuals.164.html

[NetTechie]

thanks for that link! I was trying to find the manual. I may find what I need in here. 8)

[NetTechie]

From the manual:

"The Metz remote flash mode does not support any
special flash modes such as Nikon-3D flash mode,
Canon E-TTL flash mode, Canon A-TTL flash mode
or high-speed synchronisation (FP or HSS flash
mode). If necessary, special flash modes must be
cancelled or switched off on the controller, SCA
adapter or camera (see the respective operating
instructions)."

Note that 'Metz Remote Flash' mode is the mode for using TTL from the master flash. However, it does say

"In the Metz TTL remote flash mode, the controller
operates with a TTL-capable camera and a suitable
SCA adapter. This mode permits joint TTL flash
control of suitable slave flash units without any
connecting cables. The slave flash units are fitted
with the SCA 3083 digital slave adapter."

What is the difference between TTL and ETTL? I'll need to research this.

[Wilt]

TTL is the original methodology of No pre-flash...a sensor in the body merely monitored the light striking the film surface, and a signal would be sent to the TTL flash when there was sufficient light hitting the film, to shut off light output.

ETTL is very different...a preflash is output a moment before exposure, a sensor in the camera sees the preflash and judges in advance how much light the flash needs to send out, and the flash outputs that and stops.

Canon TTL is not compatible with Canon ETTL; Metz uses different adapters for TTL vs. for ETTL.

[NetTechie]

can the 54MZ (with SCA 3102 M3 shoe) be used in TTL mode with Canon, do you know? Does TTL work ok, or is it rather unpredictable? I'll look at the manual and see what I find.

[Wilt]

can the 54MZ (with SCA 3102 M3 shoe) be used in TTL mode with Canon, do you know? Does TTL work ok, or is it rather unpredictable? I'll look at the manual and see what I find.


The 54MZ is a general purpose flash whose 'personality' is altered via use of the appropriate Metz 3000C module or 300C module. If the Metz 54 has the 3102 module, it is ETTL compatible but not TTL compatible, I think...I would need to consult my Metz module chart at home to be certain. If you bought the unit new, you should have that same chart! IMHO, TTL is far MORE consistent and dependable for correct exposure than ETTL...there is far too much fidgeting and remembering "I before E, except after C, except when..." when using ETTL in different situations!

Set Custom Function to Averaging for indoors fill flash; set Custom Function to Evaluative for outdoors fill flash...
Set EC=0 for outdoors fill flash; set EC= + 2/3 for indoors main light from flash...
Set Av on the camera when you want auto fill flash, but set M on the camera when you want flash as main source of light...
...and don't forget about NEVEC! (seems almost ad infinitum)