Flash Slave and Metz flash!

[Ryan W]

They dont work lol. I've just order a white background and support kit and was planning on using my flash off camera to light the background. I was intending on buying a flash slave for the flash and then firing it with my studio lights.
However just brough the slave home, put the slave into a lightstand and the the flash onto the slave and ..... NOTHING!
The flash is the Metz 44-AF4. I don't know why I ever brought it, it hasn't got manual control or a slave!

Any idea's on this would be very helpful! Background due here saturday. Hopefully try and get it working by then!
The slave is made by a comany called 'Koods' int he UK
Thanks.
Ryan

[Ryan W]

Do I need a PC Cord?

There isn't an outlet thing on my flash?

[Wilt]

It sounds as if the 44AF4 will not function unless it has communication with an ETTL-capable camera through its contacts.

[Ryan W]

Urgh! Stoopid Flash.
What's the best route for me to take then?

[Wilt]

Find a flash with a built in photosensor and/or Manual power capability. It seems that a number of ETTL-compatible flashes are absurdly limited in their ability to be used off camera.

[Ryan W]

Okay. Thanks alot

Now, to sell my Metz....ANYONE?

[nadtz]

the 44 is a good TTL flash on camera, but yeah, its not meant to be used as an off camera flash. I had one and upgraded to a 54 mz4 after it wouldn't work with a ttl cable (which was really annoying) and gave the 44 to my x.

[AB8ND]

The Nikon SB800 or the the new SB900 have great built-in optical slaves

Originally Posted by Wilt

Find a flash with a built in photosensor and/or Manual power capability. ..

jack

[Wilt]

Metz flashes generally in the past have been sterling performers for Auto flash and for manual usage. The more recently introduced nnAF series were introduced to be direct competition with the camera manufacturer's own flash units, and are as defeatured as the camera brand particularly in the lower powered lines like the 44AF. Look for the non-AF Metz, too, like the nnMZ for great Auto flash capable units.

[PacAce]

The Metz 58 AF-1C when first released had its hotfoot contacts disabled when it was used off camera so it was useless as a remote flash. Fortunately they either saw the light or got enough complaints from users that they re-enabled the hotfoot via a firmware update.

[Ryan W]

Thanks guys. So the newer models have slaves in them?

[billnick]

If you do a search on here for metz 58 af-1 you should have your answers,
and if you look on ebay i have one for sale

regards bill.

[PacAce]

Originally Posted by Ryan W

Thanks guys. So the newer models have slaves in them?

If by "slaves" you mean optical trigger sensors, not too many flashes have it built-in. The only flashes currently in production which I know of are the Sigma EF 530 DG Super and the Nikon SB-900. However, those that do not have a built-in optical triggers can be set up as optical slaves by connecting them to an optical trigger device.

[Ryan W]

I mean like will flash when another flash flashes?

[Wilt]

Originally Posted by Ryan W

I mean like will flash when another flash flashes?

Few speedlight flash units simply a slave capability built it, using an optical sensor to detect triggering.

The only time any 'slave' capability exists is in conjuntion with proprietary 'master-slave' capability such as with Canon ETTL wireless IR tranmitter-receiver relationships.

Some flashes such as Metz have an optional add-on capability to add their own proprietary wireless master-slave relationship between two flash units.

Aside from proprietary systems (such as Canon's or Metz's), there are generic optical slaves available on the aftermarket, and there are proprietary IR transmitter-receivers such as Wein, and there are proprietary radio slave transmistter-receivers such as Pocket Wizard, Quantum, Cybersync, and others.