Metz 58 AF-1 Manual Help

[Dork Knight]

Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me due to my lack of knowledge and understanding with manual flash.

I have a Metz 58 AF-1 which has always been used on camera; however, I recently purchased a GI Cactus V2s wireless setup to play about with off camera flash – Now I seem to have hit a brick wall as I don’t really understand the settings or what is needed.

Here is the Technical Data on the Metz 58 AF-1:
http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_118.jpg

I believe I know how to set the MZoom correctly, this would be; Focal Length x Sensor Crop = Distance. Therefore I would set it to one of the following settings; 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, 85 & 105mm.

So once I set the Flash to Manual and lets say MZoom 35 for an example, the flash output is at maximum power – Therefore I would need to set the manual partial light output as shown below;

http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_101.jpg

Now this is where I start to get confused, I’ve never used manual settings on flash before so please stay with it if you can.

In the following table I presume the MZoom distance is shown by Zoom along the top of the graph, the ISO of course shown in the left column;

http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_179.jpg

So if I were to set the camera at ISO 100, the Metz to MZoom 35 then this would give me a reading of 35 from the above table – So would this be the Guide Number?

Ok, the final screen grab – So if I had the number 35 and looking at the graph below, would I need to set the Metz to: P 1/1 -2/3?

http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_180.jpg

If all the above is correct would anyone happen to know how I work out the distance my flash should be to the subject?

As you can see I’m pretty clueless and I don’t know if I’ve got any of the above info correct, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Jason

[Wilt]

If flash was zoomed to provide coverage for 35mm FL lens (expressed as the 135 format coverage using 35mm FL lens, or APS-C with 22mm FL), the ISO 100 Guide Number is 35(distance in meters). (You can tell because ISO 100 Guide Number at 105mm coversage is 58, which is where the 58AF1 in the flash name comes from!)

That last chart is simply informing you that the output duration of light is 1/125 sec. when outputting full power (GN42 for 50mm FL coverage, GN58 for 105mm FL coverage), and goes to 1/650 at half power (GN30 for 50mm FL coverage, GN41 for 105mm FL coverage.

BTW, that chart is also indirectly advising that if you use the 58AF1 on full power, you need to SLOW YOUR SHUTTER, or else you will be NOT using the maximum amount of light being output by the flash! If you used 1/250 shutter speed, for example, you might be losing about half of the light because the shutter will already be closed before the flash has finished its output! (The 58AF1 seems to be a rather slow, long duration max power output!)

[Dork Knight]

Thank you for the reply Wilt, I think I understand - I'll have to have a play around and see how I get on.

Jason

[PacAce]

Hello All,

I was wondering if anyone would be able to help me due to my lack of knowledge and understanding with manual flash.

I have a Metz 58 AF-1 which has always been used on camera; however, I recently purchased a GI Cactus V2s wireless setup to play about with off camera flash – Now I seem to have hit a brick wall as I don’t really understand the settings or what is needed.

Here is the Technical Data on the Metz 58 AF-1:
[]http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_118.jpg[/]

I believe I know how to set the MZoom correctly, this would be; Focal Length x Sensor Crop = Distance. Therefore I would set it to one of the following settings; 24, 28, 35, 50, 70, 85 & 105mm.

So once I set the Flash to Manual and lets say MZoom 35 for an example, the flash output is at maximum power – Therefore I would need to set the manual partial light output as shown below;

[]http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_101.jpg[/]

Now this is where I start to get confused, I’ve never used manual settings on flash before so please stay with it if you can.

In the following table I presume the MZoom distance is shown by Zoom along the top of the graph, the ISO of course shown in the left column;

[]http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_179.jpg[/]

So if I were to set the camera at ISO 100, the Metz to MZoom 35 then this would give me a reading of 35 from the above table – So would this be the Guide Number?

Ok, the final screen grab – So if I had the number 35 and looking at the graph below, would I need to set the Metz to: P 1/1 -2/3?

[]http://www.zen91344.zen.co.uk/POTN/Metz_58_180.jpg[/]

If all the above is correct would anyone happen to know how I work out the distance my flash should be to the subject?

As you can see I’m pretty clueless and I don’t know if I’ve got any of the above info correct, so any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thank You,

Jason
When you have the GN figured out, to work out your distance, divide the GN by the aperture you are using to take the picture. This, of course, will be with the ISO set to 100. If you increase the ISO, the GN will increase as well (by 1.4 for every doubling of the ISO, i.e. GN=49.5 @ ISO 200, GN=70 @ ISO 400, etc.).

Also, the GN assumes that you will be firing the flash as full power. If the output level is set to less than full power, the GN will decrease accordingly (by 1.4 for every halfing of the power).

[Wilt]

I was rather surprised to learn of the slow (long duration) light output of the 58AF1 at full power! Now I would like someone to run tests for us, and post two examples (shot with minimal ambient light present)...
A) shutter speed 1/60 with 58AF1 at full power (manual),
B) shutter speed 1/250 with 58AF1 at full power (manual)

and NOT adjust brightness or exposure in post processing, but merely post the unaltered photos that result...we should see a brighter photo in A than in B.

Then,
C) shutter speed 1/60 with 58AF1 at 1/4power (manual),
D) shutter speed 1/250 with 58AF1 at 1/4power (manual)

and NOT adjust brightness or exposure in post processing, but merely post the unaltered photos that result...we should see same brightness in comparing C vs D.

[PacAce]

I was rather surprised to learn of the slow (long duration) light output of the 58AF1 at full power! Now I would like someone to run tests for us, and post two examples (shot with minimal ambient light present)...
A) shutter speed 1/60 with 58AF1 at full power (manual),
B) shutter speed 1/250 with 58AF1 at full power (manual)

and NOT adjust brightness or exposure in post processing, but merely post the unaltered photos that result...we should see a brighter photo in A than in B.

Then,
C) shutter speed 1/60 with 58AF1 at 1/4power (manual),
D) shutter speed 1/250 with 58AF1 at 1/4power (manual)

and NOT adjust brightness or exposure in post processing, but merely post the unaltered photos that result...we should see same brightness in comparing C vs D.
I did the A-B and C-D tests a while back and there definitely was a difference between A and B. I'd be more than happy to redo the test and post the results here but, unfortunately, I'm out of town attending a class so I won't be able to do it until I get back home at the end of the week. Hopefully someone else can oblige before then.

[Dork Knight]

I'm preparing for a job interview tomorrow & Thursday, however I see no reason why I can't attempt this test as it will break up the day for me - I won't attempt it this evening as it's 21:20.

Would you like this test done with on camera flash pointed directly at a subject?

[Wilt]

I did the A-B and C-D tests a while back and there definitely was a difference between A and B. I'd be more than happy to redo the test and post the results here but, unfortunately, I'm out of town attending a class so I won't be able to do it until I get back home at the end of the week. Hopefully someone else can oblige before then.

Leo, I trust your integrity and your ability to conduct testing not fraught with flaws! If you say you saw a difference between A and B, that proves the point about long flash output duration!

[Dork Knight]

We'll leave it there then rather than my most probable flawed attempt ;)