Metz 50 AF-1 on 5D4 question..

Hello hivemind...

I have a question... Quite a while ago, when I had my T3i (2012) I purchased the aforementioned Metz 50 AF-1. It worked flawlessly on my T3i on or off camera. Similarly, when I upgraded to my 7D, it also worked flawlessly. Recently, I had a need for a flash on my 5D4 so I busted out the Metz. I did not test it before I used it (I probably should have). I attached it to the 5D4 but the recycle time was uber slow in both eTTL and M modes. I added brand new batteries with the same result. I did loads of google searches with no results. One of the things I did read in the online manual is that the flash needs to turn on and be discharged every 3 months - which I did not do. So, I lived with it while I needed it on the road. I have since sold my T3i but I did test the flash on my 7D. It, again, worked flawless. Cycles super fast and I can take multiple photos in a row with the flash functioning. I put it on the 5D4 again and we are back to slow cycle times and loads of waiting. The Metz has the latest firmware which supports 5D3 (and later). The 5D4 has the previous firmware 1.0.4. The flash works as it should on the 7D but not on the 5D4. Does anyone have any thoughts on directions I should take or suggestions outside of buying a new flash? I can do just that but I would like to explore this functioning with my current cameras. I suppose I can contact Metz for support but I figured if there was someone who may have encountered a similar issue...

Thanks in advance!

Metz had to reverse engineering it's Canon compatibility, and Canon may have changed setting in the 5DIV...best contact Canon and ask them; probably good to get Metz opinion on the subject, too
Good luck luck getting straight answer.

Thank you for the suggestion. I have since reached out to both support teams to see what help I can get... Not expecting much...

Just to round out this thread, Canon said they don't support 3rd party flashes... No big surprise there... I contacted the support company on Metz's website who referred me to a warranty repair shop. They said to contact Canon... Weeeee….

Looks like I will be shopping after I rent a Canon flash to ensure that there is nothing wrong with my 5D4.

Good times...

Can you take your 5DIV into a store and try a demo Canon flash unit on your camera, to verify proper functionality of the body?

That was the reason for my renting one... it would be a whopping 10 bucks... But I guess I can try "testing" one...

Again, to round out this thread, I have rented and tested a 600 EX RT (not a II ) because I wanted to try some of the new fangled features after I tested it quickly. As you could have guessed based on my opening run-on sentance, the flash works perfectly. Therefore, my conclusion is that the old Metz is not compatible with the 5D4. I will hang on to it as it might be useful with some remote triggers perhaps and because it's not worth much to try and sell. Mystery solved and time to go shopping.

Thanks!

And thanks for verifying for us that indeed a Metz flash-Canon camera incompatibility was caused by the newer model camera.

In the past, using SCA system control, via SCA module version update you could keep the Metz flash working with new camera bodies. With this (brand)-dedicated flash nonsense, we have to sell off the flash (if we can find someone to buy it) and buy a new one!

It seems that the 5DIV is guilty of messing with a number of flash units,

• "I am hearing that some of the lesser expensive flashes like Yongnuo, Godox have compatibility problems with Canon 5D Mark IV. "
  
• "What flash are you using? Canon killed compatibility with several third party flashes with the 5D IV."
  
• "Any YN gear manufactured before Aug of 2016 will not play nicely with the 5D4 and 80D. Canon made some changes and FW will not do it. It needs to be sent to YN for servicing."
  
• "I now find it reported that the latest (1.05) version of the firmware for the YN-622C-II trigger is NOT compatible with the 5Div (and presumably 80D). But the latest (1.10) version of the YN-622C-TX controller firmware clearly is compatible and will fire both YN-622C and YN-622C-II triggers."
  

Well, well, well… There is a little bit more to this story now that I have had a day to play… The truth is that the 600 EX works, but... *insert pregnant pause* The Metz now works as well... "Kinda" on both counts... The problem with both speedlights occurs when the flash is set for "bouncing." Both flashes work flawlessly when the it's locked in the default, flash forward, position which I hardly use. The odd thing is that the Metz would not go into HSS mode at all when I tried originally but whilst playing with the 5D4 menus, I set it the modeling light on (tested it too) and presto change I could now go into HSS mode. Weird... The Canon flash went into HSS mode from the get go. Now, when I point the either speedlight up at any angle, the recycle time for both of them deteriorates. I think because the speedlight has to work "harder" and the longer I use it, the worse it gets. Actually, the Metz does recycle faster than the 600 EX but this isn't much of a surprise since the Canon has more "power" than the Metz. I think *my* problem was that I was just pushing the poor little Metz too hard. I was at 45MM @7"(ish) 1/200 and f5.6 (because I had 10 people together) in fairly dim lighting with the flash head pointing straight up to bounce off the ceiling in ETTL mode. Then again, I cannot guarantee that this all works the ways it's supposed to because it seems to be hit or miss. I am going to play with this some more... This is, after all, a flash from 2012 so I am not completely surprised it doesn't work fully. Or, in all honesty, the problem could just be me...

try cranking up the ISO on the 5DIV - and then put them thru their paces and match settings on the 5Div and 7D2 - could be the way they handle flash (and iso) may have changed between the cameras. ...

Make sure both cameras are set up the same, clean the contacts on the Metz and try for apples to apples on settings.

If one is set to spot metering, and one to evaluative, it's going to have different results. Could be the 5Div has some different default settings, or something along those lines.

Good ideas... I do have some different settings on both cameras...

What is the firmware version in your Metz? v2.0 is the current one, according to the website.

Wilt wrote in post #18786171
What is the firmware version in your Metz? v2.0 is the current one, according to the website.

"Latest" (circa 2011) and greatest...

unfortunately the Metz website associates no year with firmware versions, only
'Firmware V2.0
from Canon EOS 5D Mark III, EOS 6D, EOS 100D, EOS 600D, EOS 650D, EOS 70D, EOS 700D,EOS 1100D onwards'.

That is true, sir. However, the firmware, when unpacked, has a date stamp of 3/2011.