Metz Mecablitz 50 MZ-5 Operating Instructions Manual
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Metz Mecablitz 50 MZ-5 Operating Instructions Manual

Metz mecablitz 50 mz-5 camera flash operating instructions
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MECABLITZ 50 MZ-5
Operating Instructions

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Summary of Contents for Metz Mecablitz 50 MZ-5

  • Page 1 TV • VIDEO • CAMCORDER • MECABLITZ MECABLITZ 50 MZ-5 Operating Instructions...

  • Page 2: Table Of Contents

    Cordless remote control mode ....... . . 20 Cordless Metz TTL remote control mode ......22 Cordless Metz automatic remote control mode .
  • Page 3 Contents 13.7.1 The Ex-Zoom mode (extended zoom) ......39 13.8 The „Rapid“ function......... . 40 13.9 The ML function (modelling light) .

  • Page 4: Foreword

    Foreword and general instructions Congratulations on purchasing this Metz flashgun, and thank you for your confidence in Metz equipment. It is only natural that you should want to use your flashgun straight away. However, it will be well worth your while to study these Operating Instructions beforehand to ensure that you can operate the flashgun effectively and without any problems.
  • Page 5 Foreword and general instructions General operating instructions The subsequent instructions are of a general nature. The procedures identified by red numbers must be completed when using a system camera in conjunction with an SCA 3000 adapter. All steps identified by red numbers and • are completed with the 301 standard base. All steps identified with an asterisk * must be additionally adjusted, depending upon the given type of camera.

  • Page 6: Safety Instructions

    1. Safety Instructions • NEVER fire a flash in the immediate vicinity of the eyes! Flash fired directly in front of the eyes of a person or animal can damage the retina and lead to severe visual disorders - even blindness! •...

  • Page 7: Preparing The Flashgun For Use

    2. Preparing the flashgun for use Fig. 1: Mounting the components, and removing the standard base or SCA adapter 2.1 Attaching the control unit and the flashgun to the camera The control unit can only be mounted on the camera with the 301 standard base (5) or with an SCA-300 or SCA-3000 adapter (Special Accessories).

  • Page 8: Power Supply And Battery Warning Indicator

    2.2 Power supply and battery warning indicator The flashgun can only be operated with a Metz NiCad Battery Pack 50-40 or the Power Pack P 50 (optional accessory). A charger for the Metz battery pack is supplied with the flashgun.

  • Page 9: Switching The Flashgun On And Off

    2. Preparing the flashgun for use Fig. 3: Unlocking and inserting the battery • Connect the charger to the charging socket of the NiCad battery, and then plug into the mains. - The charger's timer is switched on when the device is plugged into the mains. - The red LED remains illuminated all the while the battery is being charged.

  • Page 10: Ttl Flash Mode

    The mecablitz 50 MZ-5 offers two TTL flash modes: the TTL Mode and the TTL Easy Mode. The TTL flash mode is only possible with cameras that feature this function. The control unit must be fitted with a corresponding SCA adapter (see „SCA 3000...
  • Page 11 3. TTL flash mode Fig. 5: Adjusting procedure for TTL Easy-Mode We recommend the TTL Easy-Mode when using an SCA 300 adapter. Distance indication in the LC display is not possible in this mode. Adjusting procedure for TTL Easy-Mode: • Adjust the camera according to the manufacturer’s operating instructions. •...
  • Page 12 3. TTL flash mode Fig. 6: Adjusting procedure for TTL flash mode Adjusting procedure for TTL flash mode: • Adjust the camera according to the manufacturer’s operating instructions. • Fit the control unit to the corresponding SCA adapter, and mount on the camera. •...
  • Page 13 Notes...

  • Page 14: Automatic Flash Mode

    4. Automatic flash mode Fig. 7: Measuring procedure for automatic flash mode In the automatic flash mode the sensor (4) of the control unit measures the light reflected from the subject. The flash is cut off as soon as sufficient light has been emitted for a correct exposure.
  • Page 15 4. Automatic flash mode Fig. 8: Adjusting procedure for automatic flash mode Some cameras automatically transmit the ISO, aperture and zoom values to the control unit also in the auto flash mode if an SCA 3000 adapter is used. No settings have to be adjusted on the control unit where this is the case.

  • Page 16: Manual Flash Mode

    5. Manual flash mode Fig. 9: Shot with direct flash light In this mode the flashgun will emit its full power, provided that partial light output has not been adjusted. Adaptation to the picture shooting situation is by setting the corresponding aperture on the camera.
  • Page 17 5. Manual flash mode Fig. 10: Adjusting procedure for manual flash mode Adjusting procedure for the manual flash mode: • Adjust the camera according to the manufacturer’s operating instructions. • Switch on the flashgun with the main switch (16). Adjust the operating mode selector (28) to M. •...

  • Page 18: Bounced Flash

    6. Bounced flash Fig. 11: Bounced flash (The photo was shot with the flash bounced off the right-hand wall) Photos shot with full frontal flash are easily recognized by their harsh, dense shadows. This is often associated with a sharp drop of light from the foreground to the background. This phenomenon can be avoided with bounced flash because the diffused light will produce a soft and uniform rendition of both the subject and the background.

  • Page 19: Bounced Flash With Secondary Reflector Switched On

    6. Bounced flash Fig. 12: Bouncing the flash with switched-on secondary reflector 6.1 Bounced flash with secondary reflector switched on The secondary reflector (11) provides frontal fill-in light in increments of 1/4, 1/2 and 1 with bounced flash. The use of the secondary reflector is only expedient with bounced flash. The secondary reflector will only flash when the main reflector has been turned or tilted.

  • Page 20: Cordless Remote Control Mode

    Remote control Metz remote control TTL remote control ‘A’ remote control Minolta remote control 40 MZ . . 40 MZ . . Minolta Minolta 50 MZ-5 50 MZ-5 50 MZ-5 50 MZ-5 adj. to TTL adj. to TTL flash control unit...

  • Page 21: Cordless Remote Control Mode

    TTL flash mode is extended to all slave flashguns. The Metz remote control mode permits joint, cordless flash control of several off-camera flashguns of the type 40 MZ . . and 50 MZ-5.

  • Page 22: Cordless Metz Ttl Remote Control Mode

    7.1 Cordless Metz TTL remote control Fig. 14: Adjusting procedure for the Metz TTL remote control mode Adjusting procedure for the Metz TTL remote control mode: • Adjust the camera according to the manufacturer’s operating instructions. • Set a shutter synch speed of 1/60th sec. or slower on the camera.
  • Page 23 Flash readiness has been reached when the flash-ready light (18) on the slave unit 50 MZ-5 flashes. Switching off the Metz TTL remote control mode: • Press the Remote button on the control unit twice. • Switch off the slave for at least 5 seconds.

  • Page 24: Cordless Metz Automatic Remote Control Mode

    7.2 Cordless Metz automatic remote control mode In the Metz automatic remote control mode the master flashgun at the camera controls the additional flashguns (slaves) in such a manner that the auto flash mode is transferred to all slave units. Exposure is controlled by the sensor (4) of the control unit. To implement this mode all 40 MZ .

  • Page 25: Winder Mode

    8. Winder mode Definition: The winder mode involves shooting a sequence of pictures at a rate of several frames per second. The winder mode uses partial light output levels. Table 3a of the Technical Data indicates which partial light output level is suited for a given frame frequency (frames per second = flashes per second).

  • Page 26: Working With Partial Light Output Levels

    9. Working with partial light output levels Definition: Partial light output levels are manually adjustable fractions of full light output. The recycling times are shorter when partial light output levels (see Table 1 of the Technical Data) are adjusted instead of full flash power. At the same time the guide number of the flashgun is diminished, together with the flash-to-subject distance and flash range, because only part of the flash power is emitted.
  • Page 27 9. Working with partial light output levels 3 + 5 Fig. 16: Adjusting partial light output levels Adjusting procedure for flash with partial light output: • Adjust the camera according to the manufacturer’s operating instructions. • Switch on the flashgun with the main switch (16). Adjust the operating mode selector (28) to A, TTL or M.

  • Page 28: Stroboscopic Flash Mode

    10. Stroboscopic flash mode Fig. 17: The stroboscopic mode In this mode several flash exposures can be made on the same frame. This is particularly interesting for motion studies and for special effects (fig. 17). The stroboscopic mode fires several flashes at a certain flash frequency. Consequently, this function is only possible with a partial light output level of maximum 1/4 or less.
  • Page 29 10. Stroboscopic flash mode 3 + 5 Fig. 18: Settings for the stroboscopic mode - Adjust the operating mode selector (28) to A. - Press the ISO button (30), and adjust the film speed with the + or - button (24). Adjust the operating mode selector (28) to stroboscopic mode •...

  • Page 30: Fill-In Flash In Daylight

    11. Fill-in flash in daylight Fig. 19: Fill-in flash in daylight (left without - right with mecablitz) The mecablitz can also be used for fill-in flash in daylight to soften harsh shadows and lower the contrast, thereby producing a more balanced exposure when shooting against the light. Various possibilities are open to the user for this purpose.

  • Page 31: Fill-In Flash In Manual Mode

    11. Fill-in flash in daylight 11.2 Fill-in flash in manual mode The partial light output levels can be used in manual flash mode to achieve the brightening effect of fill-in flash. Complete illumination of shadow areas Use the camera, or a hand-held exposure meter, to establish the required aperture and adjust this value on both the camera and the control unit.

  • Page 32: Working With User Programs

    Constantly recurring situations (e.g. birthday parties at home, etc.) are typical for flash photography. The mecablitz 50 MZ-5 enables the user to store the flashgun settings for such standard situations in the form of user programs so that they can be instantly recalled at any time.
  • Page 33 12. Working with user programs Adjusting procedure to store a program: • Select the required settings (aperture, zoom, operating mode, etc.) for subsequent application. • Press the Prog. button (33); „Prog.“ flashes. The secondary functions STO and RCL assigned to the buttons Remote (22) and P (29) are only displayed after the Prog.

  • Page 34: Special Functions

    13. Special functions Fig. 21: The AF measuring beam 13.1 AF measuring beam As the release or other sensory control of the camera is operated, the integrated AF measuring beam (3) is automatically activated in the event of a low lighting level or a low-contrast subject. The transmitted measuring beams are projected onto the subject (fig.

  • Page 35: Warning Displays And Audible Warning Signals

    13. Special functions Fig. 22: Exposure o.k. This facility can also be used with TTL mode without having to produce test exposures. The control unit is adjusted to automatic flash mode, and the correct aperture is then determined with a test flash in the previously described manner. The established aperture is transferred to the camera, and the control unit is then readjusted to TTL mode.

  • Page 36: The Buzzer

    13. Special functions Fig. 23: Adjusting the acoustic flash-ready signal 13.4 The buzzer The buzzer can be used to indicate certain flashgun functions acoustically. An acoustic signal may be selected to indicate the following situations: • Flash readiness • Correct film exposure • Incorrect operation (alarm function) An acoustic alarm is possible in the following situations: •...
  • Page 37 13. Special functions Fig. 24: Signal for acoustic exposure control Adjusting the signal for acoustic exposure control: Press button (31) twice. The signal for acoustic exposure control can be switched on or off with the + or - button (24). Display for active acoustic exposure control signal: 1 and o.k.

  • Page 38: Locking The Controls

    13. Special functions Fig. 26: Locking the controls 13.5 Locking the controls Push the locking switch (23) forwards to lock the settings made on the control unit. This ensures that the settings cannot be inadvertently changed during operation. The LCD light button (27), the manual firing button (35) and the operating mode selector (28) are not locked.

  • Page 39: The Zoom Reflector

    13. Special functions 13.7 The zoom reflector (main reflector) The camera can automatically adjust the zoom reflector (1) to the focal length of the lens, or this can be controlled manually with the manual Zoom button (32) and the + or - buttons (24). Zoom 24: Light pattern for wide-angle (for 35mm, from 24 mm focal length onwards) Zoom 28: Light pattern for wide-angle (for 35mm, from 28 mm focal length onwards) Zoom 35: Light pattern for wide-angle (for 35mm, from 35 mm focal length onwards)

  • Page 40: The „Rapid" Function

    13. Special functions Fig. 27: Adjusting procedure for the Ex-Zoom mode Adjusting procedure for the Ex-Zoom mode: • Switch off the flashgun with the main switch (16) for approx. 5 seconds. Hold down the zoom control button (32) on the control unit (2). •...

  • Page 41: Exposure Corrections

    14. Exposure corrections The automatic exposure systems are adjusted to a reflection factor of 25%, this being the average reflection factor for subjects shot with flash. Dark backgrounds that absorb a lot of light, or bright backgrounds that reflect a great deal of light (e.g. backlit scenes), can result in subject overexposure or underexposure, as the case may be.

  • Page 42: Parallax Compensation

    15. Parallax compensation Fig. 28: Parallax compensation The camera bracket can be reversed to compensate the difference in parallax between the camera lens and the main reflector (1) with close-ups and macrophotography. Procedure: • Detach the camera bracket from the camera. •...

  • Page 43: Trouble-Shooting Hints

    16. Trouble-shooting hints Meaningless displays? Should the LC display indicate meaningless information, or the flashgun not work as it should in the individual modes, then proceed as follows to RESET the flashgun: • Switch off the flashgun with the main switch (16). •...

  • Page 44: Technical Data

    18. Technical data Guide numbers at ISO 100/21°: 118 128 138 164 197 210 230 (feet) n zoom position 85 105 (see Table 6, p. 50) 12 auto apertures at ISO 100/21°: f/1.4 f/2 f/2.8 f/4 f/5.6 f/8 f/11 f/16 f/22 f/32 f/45 Flash durations: •...
  • Page 45 18. Technical data Partial light output Flash duration Guide No. (ft) at LC-display in seconds ISO 100, zoom 50 mm P = Flash power 1/200 1-1/3 1/2 + 1/3 1/500 1/2 - 1/3 1/4 + 1/3 1/1000 1/4 - 1/3 1/8 + 1/3 1/2000 1/8 - 1/3...
  • Page 46 18. Technical data APERTURE 1 1,4 2 2,8 4 10-12-16 1 1,4 2 2,8 4 11 16 20-25-32 1 1,4 2 2,8 4 11 16 22 40-50-64 1 1,4 2 2,8 4 11 16 22 32 80-100-125 1 1,4 2 2,8 4 11 16 22 32 45 160-200-250 1,4 2 2,8 4...
  • Page 47 18. Technical data Examples relating to Table 3: You intend to produce a stroboscopic exposure with 7 flashes at a frequency of 3 flashes per second. Procedure: After having completed the first six settings described in „Adjusting procedure for stroboscopic mode“, press button N (30).
  • Page 48 Flashes/sec Number of flashes f [Hz] 1/15 1/15 1/15 1/15 1/15 1/15 1/15 Table 4: Camera shutter speeds in stroboscopic mode...
  • Page 49 Partial light Active Number of Frequency Prog. Mode Zoom Aperture Remarks output alarm flashes (N) f (Hz) – – – – – – P 16 – – – – – – P 16 – – – P 32 – – 5 frames/s yes, except STROBO...
  • Page 50 18. Technical data Zoom setting - Main reflector Film speed ISO 6/9° 8/10° 10/11° 12/12° 16/13° 20/14° 25/15° 32/16° 40/17° 50/18° 64/19° 80/20° 100/21° 125/22° 160/23° 200/24° 250/25° 320/26° 400/27° 500/28° 650/29° 800/30° 1000/31° 1250/32° 1600/33° 2000/34° 1033 2500/35° 1058 1159 3200/36°...
  • Page 51 18. Technical data C a m e r a f o r m a t Zoom setting 6 x 6 cm / 6 x 7 cm 4,5 x 6 cm 10 x 12 cm Main reflektor 6 x 8 cm / 6 x 9 cm (20) 40 mm 50 mm...

  • Page 52: Special Accessories

    19. Special accessories Malfunctions and damage caused to the mecablitz 50 MZ-5 due to the use of accessories from other manufacturers are not covered by our guarantee! • Bounce diffusor 50-23 (Item No. 000050237) To soften heavy shadows by reflected light.

  • Page 53: Index

    Flash duration, 44 oom reflector, 39 Flash frequency, 28, 47, 48, 49 Flash programs, 32 Flash readiness, acoustic, 36 ndirect flash, 18 ocking function, 38 acrophotography, 26 Manual flash mode, 16 Metz remote TTL flash mode, 22 Motion studies, 28...
  • Page 54 Main or zoom reflector (1) Intake opening for fan Venting slot for cooling Control unit (2) AF measuring beam (3) Secondary reflector (11) Sensor (4) Power pack connection (12) Standard base or Sensor for cordless SCA adapter (5) remote control (13) Knurled nut (6) Wrist strap Camera...
  • Page 55 The LC display Program place: 0 = Work surface 1-9 = User programs Symbol for fill-in flash (depends on camera model) Symbols for switched on secondary reflector Mode display Alarm function switched on Distance in Zoom reflector meters or feet setting Aperture Acoustic exposure...
  • Page 56 In exceptional cases the unit can be damaged if these contacts are touched. TV • VIDEO • CAMCORDER • MECABLITZ Initiative für natürliche Umwelt METZ-Werke GmbH & Co KG Ritterstraße 5 • 90763 Fürth / Bay. • Telefon 0911/9706-0 Telefax 0911/9706-340 Internet: http://www.metz.de Printed in Germany O 794 47 0044.A4...

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