Canon vs Metz Flash

I just got the 1ds and the 10d.
I've been hearing that the 550 ex, and other Canon flashes do not TTL well or have some exposure problems which I don't understand fully yet. But I spoke with Canon and they say their flashes work just fine, and perhaps their flashes are just are overanalyzed by some various wanna be shooters.

Some people prefer the Metz 54, which for some reason, even being an aftermarket product cost more than Canon's flash. Any idea why?

I'm wondering, has anyone tested both extensively and seen a truely better perfomance by the Metz? Is it worth the extra money? I'm shooting mostly Program ttl, and occasionally on Aperature priority. Thanks!

You might want to first explain how you are shooting TTL with the 10D camera. The primary flash mode of a 10D is E-TTL, which the 550EX flash supports. There is manual mode, but you didn't leave us with many details.

---Bob Gross---

ETTL has gotten alot of bad rap because of the inconsistency of exposure. For some people who have mastered its quirks, it works very well. The new 1D Mark II has ETTL2 which has been reported to be less fooled by dark and light objects. You can work around the ETTL inconsistencies, which will be the same for any flash used in ETTL because it is controlled by the camera body and not the flash, by using the 550EX in Manual Flash mode, or using a flash with Auto Mode(thyristor controlled), like the Quantum Q Flash T2D, which can be used ETTL, Manual, and Auto.
Regards,
Scott

You might want to first explain how you are shooting TTL with the 10D camera. The primary flash mode of a 10D is E-TTL, which the 550EX flash supports. There is manual mode, but you didn't leave us with many details.

---Bob Gross---[/QUOTE]


Sorry Bob:
No, I'm shooting flash at all yet. I just got the 1ds and the 10-d a few days ago, and now on verge of getting the flash, but i'm just doing my research first. So I've heard about some problems with 550ex. Many say it's just great, and other say Metz performs better, but has it's own problems. So I totally confused which one to buy. Basically, I just want a flash on camera that I can walk around at events or weddings and get accurate results as I used to get with my sunpack/nikon combo... thanks

When I shoot weddings, I use a standard rig. Canon D60, Canon 550EX flash, and a flip-type flash bracket. Sometimes I use this on a tripod, but not necessarily.

Most of the tricky nature of E-TTL seems to be (IMHO) something about the metering mode, so I have tried changing that for shots on one pose. I can't prove that is the cause, but I am guessing. Then sometimes I will get inconsistent exposure, but it is for some stupid user settting, which is purely my fault. That generally only happens when somebody is pushing me to hurry up or if some fool is questioning me on what kind of camera he should buy. Then once in a while I get inconsistent exposure if I don't wait long enough for the flash to recycle between shots. If the batteries get weak, then the ready light is lit, but the flash isn't quite ready to fire full power.

Since I can't solve each problem, I just try to make a mental note of them and work around them whenever possible. I don't get any exposure problems so bad that they can't be fixed in the image editor.

---Bob Gross---

Is this problem 100% solved with E-TTL II ?

The verdict so far at www.robgalbraith.com is that while not perfect, ETTL II is much more consistent and not as easily fooled by light/dark objects as ETTL.
Scott

"...but the problem continues...."
The End.

Robert:
So would you say that the 550EX, on the whole gives you accurate exposure, regardless of subject?-- as good as most on camera flashes? I don't want to correct anything later, becasue for weddings, my business model is to burn the whole dang thing on cd and hand it over.

Scott:
Could you please provide direct link, could not find that article even with a search.

What is TTL2?

TTL2 is short for ETTL2 This is Canon's new and improved flash metering which takes into account distance information. It works with all EX series flashes.
http://www.robgalbrait​h.com …collapsed&sb=5&​o=&fpart=1
Scott

If I get a new 550EX, and use it with 1ds or 10d, I will have ETTL2? Your opinion on 550x vs Metz?

No. ETTL2 is new with the 1DMarkII. So far it is the only body with it.
I have no experience with the Metz. I use the Quantum and the 550EX.
Scott

Nothing is completely automatic, and there is a fool who can overcome any foolproof scheme.

The 550EX gives you a lot more maximum light, and there are many many controls that allow you to play around with the light. I find the maximum light aspect (higher Guide Number) to be important when shooting a dance floor at a wedding reception. The photographer has no business being right up next to the bride and groom, so I stay back with the lens zoomed out, and I let the 550EX light up their foreheads.

If you don't want to correct anything later, then I can't advise you much. Do you shoot RAW, or otherwise?

---Bob Gross---

Bob:
I would probably be shooting mostly jpegs with flash on camera. Are you r comments of 550EX in comparison to the Metz, or just general observation? In short, you get pretty consistent results and exposure?

You don't use a battery backup like a Lumedyne etc with it-- just the double aas?

I never shoot anything but RAW files.

I've never used a Metz flash.

I've never used a battery backup.

For a wedding, I use a 550EX with three sets of AA alkaline batteries, and I swap sets around two or three times per wedding, every time we move from one room to another or from one major pose to another.

Most of the exposure weakness that I had previously seemed to be from metering mode and the obvious problems of shooting white gowns next to black tuxedos. Any residual exposure weakness was easily correctable in the image editor.

---Bob Gross---