Metz for Olympus... Use it on my Canon?

Hey all,

Just wondering if anyone can tell me why I shouldn't use my Metz 48 AF-1 Flash gun (For use on Olympus/Panasonic/Leica) on my Canon?


I bought the flash gun for the Olympus E-420 and that's all fine and well (though admittedly, it's seen little to no use) and of course, out of boredom, I've stuck it on the Canon 20D aswell, just to see.


And, well, aside from a black line across the bottom of some images (due to the shutter speed, I believe, which can be sorted by using Shutter priority or Manual mode) is there any reason why I shouldn't use this flash gun on both cameras whenever I feel?


Or am I overlooking some eletrical or technical issue that could cause a problem? Metz also do a 48 AF-1 for Canon, so... It strikes me as merely a branding thing, to get people to buy multiple guns, 'just incase'? Am I being too naive?

Borderfox

Different voltage, can make camera fuct

Personal experience Keith?

DaireQuinlan

some older flashguns needed quite high trigger voltages that could fry modern cameras if attached directly. If it's a modern strobe and was originally designed for your olympus you can probably attach it to the canon with no problems. I'm guessing you'll lose all the communication between the flash and the camera, so you're best off using the camera and flash in manual and chimping the shots unless you have a flash meter handy. Just make sure your shutter speed never goes above your cameras sync speed and you ought to be grand.

Cheers. The Olympus won't go above 180 with the flash attached, so I'd assume it'd be safe to follow the same guideline with the Canon?

Can I ask, to bring this thread in a whole different direction, but still related to my Metz 48 AF-1... Can anyone tell me...

Thanks to the slave function, the 48 AF-1 digital can even be used detached from the camera. In the respective camera-specific wireless TTL mode, it can thus be used as a slave unit.

(Quote from; http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/mecablitz-models/system-flash-units/mecablitz-48-af-1-digital/product-information.html)


How do I use it as a slave/removed from the camera? What do I need to buy and is there anything i need to check on my Olympus E-420 to make sure it's capable of using a flash detached?

Would like to try it out, and whilst I'm sure it's fairly simple, I haven't a bean where to start.

Also.. is "slave" = wired or wireless? If it's wired, can I go wireless, or would that be expensive and only available on pro gear?


Cheers

Borderfox

A synch cable if there is a connector on the flash

nilhg

Deleted User wrote: »

Cheers. The Olympus won't go above 180 with the flash attached, so I'd assume it'd be safe to follow the same guideline with the Canon?

Can I ask, to bring this thread in a whole different direction, but still related to my Metz 48 AF-1... Can anyone tell me...





(Quote from; http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/mecablitz-models/system-flash-units/mecablitz-48-af-1-digital/product-information.html)


How do I use it as a slave/removed from the camera? What do I need to buy and is there anything i need to check on my Olympus E-420 to make sure it's capable of using a flash detached?

Would like to try it out, and whilst I'm sure it's fairly simple, I haven't a bean where to start.

Also.. is "slave" = wired or wireless? If it's wired, can I go wireless, or would that be expensive and only available on pro gear?


Cheers

As I understand it the camera uses short pulses from the pop up flash to control the external flash (your metz), you'll need to enable RC mode first on both the camera and flash then position the flash so it can communicate with the camera.

http://www.ehow.com/how_5732984_use-olympus-wireless-flash.html