For the provided flash Metz Mecablitz 52AF-1 many thanks to the store Bomber.com.uawhere you can also find where photo backpacks, bags for cameras и the lenses.
Metz Mecablitz 52AF-1
In short
Metz Mecablitz 52 AF-1 is a functional and decent flash. The world's first touchscreen flash. The sensor responds to any touch (including if the hands are gloves on). Unfortunately, the sensor has a very low sensitivity, which complicates the setup and operation of the flash. During the test, the flash confidently showed itself in all shooting modes.
The flash comes with a small carrying case, a compact disc and a huge instruction book.
Basic properties
- control using a monochrome touchscreen (you can adjust the brightness and contrast, but not the sensitivity of pressing). The touchscreen can rotate the displayed information depending on the tilt of the flash
- Supports Nikon i-TTL, Nikon i-TTL BL auto modes (Nikon BL auto balanced fill flash mode)
- can operate in slave mode, and can also control other flashes using Nikon CLS
- the upper part rotates 90 degrees vertically and 300 degrees horizontally (180 one way and 120 the other)
- flash zoom is 24 to 105 mm
- there is a built-in reflector card
- there is a built-in diffuser card, if installed, focal length for the flash to work will be 12 mm
- auto power off function
- modeling backlight function for checking future shadows
- metal foot (stable design for frequent installation of the flash)
- works from 4 AA elements
- guide number 52 at ISO 100 and 105 mm focal length (from which it is called)
- USB port for software updates
- auto focus assist light
- support high speed sync (only for cameras that support Nikon FP)
- support for second or first curtain synchronization (only for cameras that support this function)
- automatic standby
- Metz Mecablitz 52 AF-1 manufactured in Germany
- Metz categorizes this flash as a professional line
- the model is also available for Olympus, Panasonic, Leica, Pentax, Sony (multi-interface) and Canon cameras
My experience
To start:
- Not sure why you need an extra flash? Then read the section 'firstexternal flash'.
- My recommendations on choosing and buying original Nikon SpeedLight flashes can be found in the 'What flash to choose for Nikon cameras'.
In general, the flash works well, but the inconvenient controls (due to the low sensitivity of the touch screen) make this flash the most uncomfortable I have ever used. About other disadvantages:
- the battery compartment is inconveniently implemented in it - you need to carefully look closely, or remember the location of the polarities for the batteries. This compartment is found in most Metz flares of the same period.
- inconvenient way to fix the flash on the camera. The clamping mechanism does not allow you to quickly remove or install the flash. Native Speedlight SB series flash units have a special locking lever, which allows you to quickly and painlessly fix the flash in the hot shoe of the camera.
- there is no temporal latch button for turning the head. Over time, especially with active use, the flash head begins to spontaneously change its horizontal rotation angle. Temporal gray buttons are simply trompe l'oeil, part of the body design that copies the original flashes.
- it is very inconvenient to get and install a reflector card and / or a diffuser card
- low backlight to improve auto focus
- sometimes it takes too long to recharge (about 4 seconds with new batteries during shooting with a power of 1/1)
The last few years, when shooting with an external flash, where you need speed, and therefore automatic mode, I always use the 'Aperture-priority auto for Nikon flashes'. For Nikon, this feature I have only seen in flashes Nikon SB-800, SB-900, SB-910, SB-5000.
Prices
You can see prices for Metz flashes in popular online stores at this link. On Bhphoto Metz Mecablitz 52 AF-1 sells for space prices - $ 320. In the countries of the former CIS, the price tag for the outbreak is much lower and is about $ 210.
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Results
Metz Mecablitz 52 AF-1 - functional external flash. I do not recommend it because of the inconvenient controls associated with the weak sensitivity of the touch screen.
Material prepared Arkady Shapoval. Training/Consultations | Youtube | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Telegram
The touch screen is a terribly inconvenient nonsense.
Once again I am convinced that those Chinese are right who copy the Canon flashes, for example, giving users a normal body and control for less money. And attempts to find "your way" lead to such outbreaks :)
Arkady correct, plz typo:
Metz Mecablitz 55 AF-1 - functional and good flash
And ask "Bomber" 64 model :)
It would probably be worthwhile in the review to test for such an important indicator as the flash point and its stability.
Incidentally, I beat the series on 50 and 58 models using normal Turnigy LSD batteries. At the same time, the reload speed is quite acceptable.
Fixed
There is also a leading 12 and a card - isn't it a mistake?
The diffuser (which travels near the card) gives an angle of 12 mm lens
flash zoom is 24 to 105 mm
By what miracle does 12 mm suddenly appear?
zoom 24 and diffuser additionally diffuses up to 12 mm
Where is it written about?
http://metz.com.ua/metz-product/system-flash/mecablitz-52-af-1-digital.html?___SID=U
And the battery cover is clearly not comfortable, you have to press each battery separately to push it in.
no need to push anything, the lid is clearly and easily closed. but changing the batteries without removing the flash from the camera will fail. the lid does not completely open the compartment and rests against the camera body (tested on Pentax K-50).
This is not a problem :) Two troubles: control and speed of installation / removal on the camera.
For me, it’s quite convenient with the exception of fastening it with a screw to the carcass, it sometimes sticks and terribly annoying. A comfortable wardrobe trunk does not protrude like the SB 700, though you can’t put a leg in there. The main drawback in my opinion is poor compatibility with Nikon carcasses, after the last software update it got better, but still after I bought the SB 700, I rarely take it.
Square, practitioner, gut ... already in the past. The era of sensory devices for fashionable majors has come.
Arkady, you may have forgotten to include a flash stand in the package. I have in my kit (version for Pentax). But unlike the Canon Speedlight 430, for some reason it does not fit into the flash cover (not provided). As for the polarity: if you mix it up (at least one battery), then the compartment lid simply will not close. Everything is simple. But first, yes, annoying. And over time, the hands already remember which side and where to put what. And the rest I agree. Thanks for the objective approach.
In this kit - no.
Very strange.
I can’t understand why Metz does flash for Nikon at the price of relatives?
Relatives are definitely better.
SB700 even costs less.
Riddle.
The leading number of the Mets covers the native flash like a bull to a sheep
52 at 105 mm or 35 at 35 mm, which is more? Not the fact that the Mets are more powerful.
The maximum guide number is measured at the long end.
And on ISO 100
Nikon measures 35 mm, as indicated in the instructions
Guide number: 25 (EVEN) / 28 (STD) / 30 (CW) (FX format, ISO 100, m, at a focal length of 35 mm). Maximum Guide Number: 38 (STD, FX format, ISO 100, m, with a focal length of 120 mm).
38th
I don't even know where you got it from, but anything is possible. Official data only for ISO 100/200 at 35 mm. SB-700 gives 28, 800 - 37, 5000 - 34.5
There are many more nuances here.
For example, how well the flash works in FP mode. How quickly it recharges, how quickly the batteries run out, how accurately it calculates power. If the touch display is not good enough, then in general the meaning disappears in it. There is no time to poke a finger once again. No time to tinker with battery replacement. Especially when every second literally counts.
I don’t hesitate to sacrifice a leading number for all this. Moreover, if you constantly need an impulse for all the power, then you are clearly doing something wrong.
If you illuminate the foreground of the landscape, there might not be enough))) Although I have not had such problems so far (thank God). I think that all on-camera flashes are more or less the same in power (+ - of course), and if it is badly enough, then we need a studio bandura for many joules. And the big leading numbers are more advertising-temptation with small letters below
An external flash is needed for many reasons.
For example, so as not to drain the camera’s battery. Or direct to the ceiling. Attach the diffuser. From her general lighting is better. FP literate, again.
Anyway, the camera flash is not suitable for work. If only when there is no way out.
I called the external camera))
model is also available for Olympus, Panasonic, Leica, Pentax, Sony (multi-interface) cameras, can you help me what is “Sony (multi-interface)”?
Sony on some cameras uses a shoe with non-standard contact group locations for other cameras, called a multi-interface, since not only flash units, but also other devices, such as electronic viewfinders, can be inserted there.
Good day.
But how can I check whether a particular flash supports Nikon i-TTL BL (Nikon BL auto balanced fill flash mode)?
I want to buy a new Metz Mecablitz 52 AF-1 Flash FOR NIKON Camera, can I purchase if you have pls .
Regards
silvio