Canon vs Metz Flash

Canon v Metz

Going back several years ago, I did Weddings, Sports Team Photos etc. using Canon AE1's with the older version of the Metz 60CT series, I think it was a 402, never ever a problem.
It out lasted many cameras.
When I decided to do photography as a hobby I sold this flash, BIG MISTAKE.
I now have a Canon 10D and a G3 with a 420 EX, and like so many members mentioned, I'm having problem too.
I guess what I am asking is, are the 420 and 550EX flashes under powered, I would like to hear from anybody that's using the Metz 60CT series.
I sure hope that nobody mentions the price, as that should not be the issue, either they work or they don't.

Brian

Brianbar:
Are the problems you are having related to digital only? Would they exist if you were shooting with film body? This is what I'm trying to find out and why.

Robert: same thing, would the problems of shooting white gowns and black tux, exist if you were shooting with film body?

Also curious, with just regular double aa's in the flash pack, is not your recycling time real slow. It's been long time, but I remember that before I got the Lumedyne, the recycling was like 5-8 seconds, and then with the battery pack became instantaneious.

With good negative film, you have maybe eight or more stops of dynamic range. With a good digital camera, that range is only maybe six, so if you have a wide range in the subject (like the white gown and black tux), then it is more difficult to get it right or correctable with digital. It is not impossible, but you just have to pay attention.

At a wedding, it would be rare for me to need to flash faster than once every eight seconds. If the flash range to subject is reduced, then it recycles quicker.

---Bob Gross---

Kevs
After selling the Metz 402 and the Canon AE1, I purchased an Elan 11 and the 420EX flash.
To answer your question I had the same problem with the Elan 11 as I do with digital using the 420EX.

Brian

Brianbar:
Price is not an issue...
Don't you want the 550Ex, is that one not much more powerful?

Kevs,

I'm not a Canon flash expert ... but I use a Metz MZ40-II with a Canon adapter on my G2 - because it was leftover from my N**** outfit. (I also don't really know how to use it to its full advantage :lol

Canon has special metering modes (e.g. e-TTL) that only Canon flashes (or compatible flashes like the Sigma 500) support. Don't know about new Metz flashes, but I'd inquire at your dealer or somebody who has one whether they are compatible.

There also is a TTL mode firing a pre-flash, but that does not give me any consistent results ... maybe because the G2 (which is a consumer digicam) does not know that the flash is there. (However, the flash gets the focal length and aperture information from the camera). So I use manual mode on the flash (bounced from ceiling) and camera (e.g. 5.6 and 1/125 at 50 ISO) and that works great for indoor photos with low light over not-so-great distances - if I try it out first.

Definitely not what you would like to do several times during a wedding.

Hope that post helps instead of adding to the overall confusion because of my using a G2 and being generally not a flash expert

Best regards,
Andy

kevs
I recently used the Elan 11 and the 420EX to take photos of a presentation of two people full length using the camera in the vertical position, about 10ft from the subject and filling the frame. Same problem underexposed. (Same with 10D) I don't think 10ft is asking to much from the 420EX.
We hear members asking all kinds of question about different setting, what ever happened to AUTO, and letting the camera and flash do it all for you.
How I wished I still had my OLD Metz 402, never a problem with it.

Brian
Used Canon 28-105mm USM lens.