User manual METZ MECABLITZ 54 MZ4-4I

[. . . ] The following pages give details for the correct operation of the mecablitz flashgun and summarize its fields of application. Please read these operating instructions carefully, even if, at first sight, some points may not appear to be of interest. Our design work placed particular value on ensuring that operation of the mecablitz is as simple as possible, but it should be noted that the system cameras for which the flashgun is intended offer a great diversity of capabilities. We wish you much pleasure with your new Metz flashgun in conjunction with a Minolta Dynax system camera to light up the darkest points, and for creative flash lighting. [. . . ] 1 Preconditions The mecablitz must only be used with TTL flash controlled cameras!The sensor of TTL flash controlled cameras measures the light reaching the film through the camera lens and instantly cuts out the flash when the film has been correctly exposed (see also page 29). Please refer to the camera's operating instructions to find out whether your camera features this function. If there is a flashgun integrated in the camera it must be switched off or completely folded down when the mecablitz is used. 2 Switching the flashgun on and off, film speed ON/OFF switching: Turn on the mecablitz with the I switch. The green operating light will light up. The orange flash ready light illuminates when flash readiness is reached. press the 0 switch to turn off the flashgun. The green and orange lights are instantly switched off. No flash will be fired for the next shot if the mecablitz remains in this state on the camera. 26 Setting the film speed on the mecablitz: Adjust the speed of the film loaded in the camera on the back of the flashgun by selecting the required value in the , , ISO Window" with the aperture slide. A strip of film must be loaded in the camera if tests are to be conducted in TTL flash mode. The effective flash range can only be checked by the correct-exposure display (o. ) if the flash is triggered by the camera and not with the manual release on the flashgun!With automatic film speed setting (DX): ISO 32/16° Different modes of flash synchronisation are possible, depending on the camera model. Please refer to the camera's operating instructions to find out how the individual modes of synchronisation are set on the camera. With normal synchronisation, switching to the camera's flash sync shutter speed is automatic. The shutter speed may vary from 1/30th and 1/250th seconds, depending on the camera model. Flash shots at low lighting levels and fast shutter speeds (normal flash sync speed) can often result in overexposed subjects in front of a very dark background. 30 The slow-sync function allows the use of slow shutter speeds right up to 30 seconds, to significantly enhance the background as a result of the extra ambient light. Auto program mode with flash (P-function) In this mode, the camera automatically activates the flash function when the ambient light level is too low, it automatically adjusts the aperture and shutter speed, and triggers the flash when the shutter release is pressed. the flashgun is not triggered in the creative program modes PA/PS! [. . . ] ⷠDepending on the prevailing ambient light, either the AF illuminator of the camera or that of the flashgun will be activated whenever the autofocus measuring facility becomes necessary. ⷠThe range of the autofocus measuring flash depends on the speed of the lens (maximum aperture)!Tilting the reflector: Hold the mecablitz firmly with one hand, and then pull the reflector head out to the front of the case with the other hand. 1 Bounced flash Contrary to the dense shadows associated with full frontal flash as a result of the sharp drop of light from the foreground to the background, bounced flash will produce a soft and uniform rendition of both the subject and the background. [. . . ]