Metz Mecablitz 50 MZ-5 User manual

Rapid
TV•VIDEO•CAMCORDER•MECABLITZ
MECABLITZ 50 MZ-5
Operating Instructions

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Contents
Foreword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
1. Safety instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
2. Preparing the flashgun for use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.1 Attaching the control unit and the flashgun to the camera. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
2.2 Power supply and battery warning indicator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.3 Replacing and charging the battery. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
2.4 Switching the flashgun on and off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
3. TTL flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
3.1 TTL Easy-Mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
4. Automatic flash mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
5. Manual flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
6. Bounced flash . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
6.1 Bounced flash with secondary reflector switched on . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.2 Bounced flash in automatic and TTL flash modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
6.3 Bounced flash in manual flash mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
7. Cordless remote control mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
7.1 Cordless Metz TTL remote control mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
7.2 Cordless Metz automatic remote control mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
8. Winder mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.1 Using the winder facility in manual flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
8.2 Using the winder facility in automatic and TTL flash mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
9. Working with partial light output levels. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
9.1 Partial light output levels in automatic flash mode. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
9.2 Partial light output levels in manual flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
9.3 Macrophotography (close-ups) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
10. Stroboscopic flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
11. Fill-in flash in daylight . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
11.1 Fill-in flash in automatic mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
11.2 Fill-in flash in manual mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
11.3 Fill-in flash in TTL mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
12. Working with user programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
13. Special functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
13.1 AF measuring beam . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
13.2 Auto-check display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
13.3 Warning displays and audible warning signals. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
13.4 The buzzer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
13.5 Locking the controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
13.6 Changing over the distance dimension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
13.7 The zoom reflector . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39

Contents
13.7.1 The Ex-Zoom mode (extended zoom) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
13.8 The „Rapid“ function. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
13.9 The ML function (modelling light) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
14. Exposure corrections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
14.1 Exposure correction in automatic flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
14.2 Exposure correction in TTL flash mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
15. Parallax compensation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
16. Trouble-shooting hints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
17. Care and maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
18. Technical data. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
19. Special accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
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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.
Please also open the back cover page with the illustrations.
This flashgun can be used with:
• All cameras with a hot shoe
• All cameras with accessory shoe without hot-shoe contact, and with a synchronizing cable
• System cameras
Optimal adaptation to your camera is achieved by using an SCA adapter. The enclosed
SCA 300/3000tablewillindicatetheadapteryourequireforyourparticularcameramodel.This
tablealso indicatesthe special flash functions that can thenbe completedby thegiven system.
Brief survey of the operating functions:
Configuration Operating modes possible
• 50 MZ-5 with 301 standard base: Automatic flash mode, ch. 4, p. 14
Manual flash mode, ch. 5, p. 16
Metz automatic remote control, ch. 7.2, p. 24
Stroboscopic mode, ch. 10, p. 28
• 50 MZ-5 with SCA 300 adapter: Automatic flash mode, ch. 4, p. 14
TTL flash mode*, ch. 3, p. 10
TTL Easy Mode*, ch. 3.1, p. 10
Manual flash mode, ch. 5, p. 16
Metz TTL remote mode*, ch. 7.1, p. 22
Metz automatic remote mode, ch. 7.2. p. 24
Stroboscopic mode, ch. 10, p. 28
*If the camera performs this function.
• 50 MZ-5 with SCA 3000 adapter: Automatic flash mode, ch. 4, p. 14
TTL flash mode*, ch. 3, p. 10
TTL Easy Mode, ch. 3.1, p. 10
Manual flash mode, ch. 5, p. 16
Metz TTL remote mode, ch. 7.1, p. 22
Metz automatic remote mode, ch. 7.2. p. 24
Stroboscopic mode, ch. 10, p. 28
The SCA 3000 adapter is the most convenient link to your camera! The ISO, zoom and aperture
data are transmitted, depending upon the camera configuration!
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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.
When manual settings are necessary on the control unit it is always first necessary to press the
corresponding button assigned to the given function. The symbol of the selected function will
flash for approx. 5 seconds. The value of the function has to be changed with the + buttons
during these 5 seconds, otherwise the existing value will be retained
.Example: The zoom setting is to be changed.
1.Press the manual zoom control button (32) - Zoom will flash for approx. 5
seconds.
2.As long as zoom is flashing press the + button (24) to raise the value, e.g. from
50 to 70. Zoom stops flashing after 5 seconds and the changed value is stored.
NOTE: These instructions show illustrations of the LC display. The distances indicated in
these illustrations are only examples and not binding!
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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!
• Never open or short-circuit rechargeable batteries!
• Do not expose batteries to excessive heat, for instance sunshine, etc.!
• Never throw exhausted batteries on a fire!
• Do not expose the flash unit and charger to dripping and splashing water!
• Protect the flashgun against excessive heat and humidity! Do not store the flashgun in
the glove compartment of a car!
•Never cover the ventilation slots and intake openings on the flashgun!
A built-in cooling fan is automatically switched on when the temperature inside the
flashgun exceeds 40°C.
•As a result of the high light energy of a series of flashes shot with full light output in
quick succession, the diffuser becomes intensely heated in zoom positions of 35 mm
and less. In such an event the flash recycling time is automatically extended in order
to protect the mecablitz against overheating.
• Never place material that is impervious to light in front of, or directly on, the reflector
screen. The reflector screen must be perfectly clean when a flash is fired. The high
energy of the flash light will burn the material or damage the reflector screen if this is
not observed!
• NEVER dismantle the flashgun! DANGER: HIGH VOLTAGE!
There are no components inside the flashgun that can be repaired by a layperson.
• To remove the control unit’s cable, press the gray
release button against the cable’s plug while
pulling out the cable.
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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).
Always switch off the camera and the flashgun before mounting or removing the
flashgun. The red-light adapters (see also ch. 7, p. 20) of the SCA 300 System, as
well as the SCA 356 and the TTL Multiconnector SCA 305 A, can only be used if the
SCA 300 D spacer is mounted between the adapter and the control unit.
Push the control unit, with attached adapter or 301 standard base, into the camera’s accessory shoe
and clamp into position with the knurled nut (6). Insert the plug of the control unit’s cable into the
flashgun’s handle.The control unit is fitted with the 301 standard base for simple flash synchronization.
Mounting the flashgun:
•Fasten the camera bracket (8) with the bracket screw (7) to the camera’s tripod bush.
•Press the unlocking catch (14) on the Nicad battery, and turn the battery cover (10) anti-
clockwise until the 1st lock-in position is reached.
•Insert the holder block of the camera bracket into the guiding groove of the flashgun.
•Fasten the holder block with the locking screw (9).
•Turn the battery cover (10) clockwise until it is once again locked. The rectangular projection
then covers the opening of the guiding groove.
Removing the control unit, the standard base or the SCA adapter:
To remove the control unit’s cable, press the gray release button against the
cable’s plug while pulling out the cable.
1Push the locking lug upwards towards the control unit.
2Remove the standard base or SCA adapter
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2. Preparing the flashgun for use
Fig. 2a: Battery cover Fig. 2b: Battery warning indicator
Attaching the standard base or SCA adapter:
• Take hold of the battery cover (fig. 2a, only when using the SCA 3000 adapter) in the middle
and unclip.
• Push in the SCA adapter or the 301 standard base all the way in.
The control unit is automatically synchronized with the camera when it is inserted in the
camera’s accessory shoe.
Synchronization of cameras without hot shoe is possible with a synch cable (36-50, short or
36-51. 1 m long, Special Accessories) in the socket of the 301 standard base.
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.
The battery warning light only comes on when the Battery Pack 50-40 is being used. The
operating light (17) in the handle starts flashing when the battery is exhausted, and the battery
warning light on the LC display becomes illuminated.
The flashing battery symbol (fig. 2b) on the LC display indicates that the Nicad
battery is almost exhausted.
Spent batteries must not be thrown into the dustbin! Contribute to the protection
of the environment and discard spent batteries at the appropriate disposal points!
2.3 Replacing and charging the battery
• Switch off the flashgun with the main switch (16).
• Press the unlocking catch (14) on the Nicad battery; turn the battery cover (10) by 45° anti-
clockwise until it becomes audibly disengaged at the 2nd lock-in position, and remove.
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battery cover
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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.
- After approx. 6 hours the charger is switched over to trickle charging.
- A flashing red LED (4 sec. "ON", 20 sec. "OFF") indicates that the battery is in trickle
charge mode and is ready for operation.
• Turn the battery cover (10) anti-clockwise until the 2nd lock-in position is reached before the
battery is returned to the handle.
• For insertion the battery’s charging socket must be inside the extension of the aluminium rail
of the handle.
• After insertion turn the battery cover clockwise and lock in position.
To identify an exhausted battery: Turn the battery cover clockwise until the stop point is
reached.
Toidentifyanewlychargedbattery:Turnthebattery coveranti-clockwiseuntilthestoppoint
is reached.
2.4 Switching the flashgun ON and OFF
The flashgun is switched on with the main switch
(16). The flashgun is permanently on in the ON
position, and the operating light (17) shines. Push
the main switch (16) to the lower position to switch
off.
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3. TTL flash mode
Fig. 4: Measuring method for TTL mode
Perfect flash exposures can be shot in a simple manner in the TTL mode.
The exposure readings in TTL mode are made by the sensor built into the camera (fig. 4). This
sensor measures the light reaching the film through the camera lens. As soon as the film has
been exposed by the correct amount of light an electronic control circuit within the camera
transmits a stop signal to the control unit, and the flash is instantly cut out.
The advantage of this flash mode is that all factors influencing the exposure of the film (filters,
change of aperture and focal length with zoom lenses, extensions for close-ups, etc.) are
automatically taken into account.
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
System“ instructions and SCA survey table) for this purpose.
A film must be loaded in the camera to test the TTL functions.
Exposure corrections may be necessary with pronounced differences in contrast,
for instance dark objects in snow (see ch. 14, p. 41).
3.1 TTL Easy flash mode (EM = Easy Mode)
This is the simplest way to operate the mecablitz in TTL flash mode. All buttons on the control
unit are locked, with the exception of the LCD light (27) and the manual firing button
(35).
In TTL Easy-Mode with the SCA 300 adapter, the zoom position is constantly adjusted to 28 mm to
ensure that the subject is always adequately illuminated.
In TTL Easy-Mode with the SCA 3000 adapter, the zoom setting is matched to the focal length of the
lens, and the distance range is indicated, provided that the camera supplies the zoom information.
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