Using metz mecablitz with EOS 20D

[Russ1978]

After a previous question about using my nikon sb-28 flash with an Eos 20d Iwas told it would only work manually and not TTL. Now I also have a mecablitz flash intended for nikon but is there some sort of adaptor you can use to make it work in full synchronisation (TTL) with the canon camera? I hope so because its a good flash but I really have my heart set on the EOS 20D. Also does anyone own an EOS 20D because I am very interested to hear the advantages and disadvantages. Thanks.

[mvonditter]

After a previous question about using my nikon sb-28 flash with an Eos 20d Iwas told it would only work manually and not TTL. Now I also have a mecablitz flash intended for nikon but is there some sort of adaptor you can use to make it work in full synchronisation (TTL) with the canon camera? I hope so because its a good flash but I really have my heart set on the EOS 20D. Also does anyone own an EOS 20D because I am very interested to hear the advantages and disadvantages. Thanks.

Which Metz do you have? To my knowledge, the only Metz that will work with your 20D are the 54mz3 and mz4. Yes you can buy the adapter for the flash unit. They are about $75. Nothing else in the Metz line will work full auto in ETTL.

I just had to sell my Metz 70mz5 because of that. Worked great in manual mode, but nothing in auto.:confused:

[cmM]

as mvonditter points out, there are only a couple mets flashes that will work with canon cameras in TTL mode.
As for the 20D it a great camera. Fast, fast, and then fast. Boots in .2 seconds, 5fps, the focus is great (works great in low lights), ETTL II is deffinitely another advantage, low noise at high ISO, and so on... ONly thing I don't like about it is the optional poorly designed battery grip.

[scottbergerphoto]

Just don't confuse TTL, which will work on Canon film cameras, with ETTL and ETTL2. TTL will not work on Canon digital cameras. Only ETTL and ETTL2 compliant flashes will work.

[glamourbyjim]

I sent the module from Metz 54 back to Bogen in NJ, and they updated it at No Charge from D60 to 20D ETTL. Thought this was great customer service.

Jim

[scottbergerphoto]

I sent the module from Metz 54 back to Bogen in NJ, and they updated it at No Charge from D60 to 20D ETTL. Thought this was great customer service.

Jim
Quantum does the same for their TTL adapters. I just sent one to them to update from the 10D/1DM2 to the 20D. Apparantly Canon changed the instruction set for the flash when it came out with the 20D even though the 1DM2 and 20D are both ETTL2.

[BigWorm]

So, as I understand it then, this will not work. A friend of mine has a Metz mecablitz 40AF-4C from an older EOS film camera that he will sell me (he's getting out of Canon and going to Nikon :rolleyes: ). That flash will not work then with my Rebel XT? Thanks!


BW

[robertwgross]

Film cameras use TTL for flash metering.

Digital cameras (EOS) use E-TTL or E-TTL II for flash metering. Your XT does this.

Typically, the older flash units that were around in the film days were TTL only. The newest generations of Canon Speedlites are E-TTL or E-TTL II compatible.

So, for your XT, Canon 540EZ is not very compatible. Canon 550EX is.

---Bob Gross---

[BigWorm]

Bob,

Thanks! That's what I had thought. The flash will take focal length from the camera, adjust itself accordingly, do it's AF-assist... basically, it does everything but actually fire when the shutter is tripped. I'll tell my friend thanks but no thanks. I had actually looked at the Speedlite 420EX. The 550EX is just too much to justify right now. I may end up hating myself later when I'm buying it anyway, but it just is too much for me right now.

Thanks again,
BW