I purchased an EOS-3 camera. I have a Metz 50MZ flash (I need to get the canon module, but it doesn't support E-TTL) I was looking into getting another flash with E-TTL, but I would still like to be able to use the metz as a slave (in plain TTL)

If I got a 550ex and used it as a controller would I be able to slave the metz?

Or would I need to get another Metz flash and the metz wireless module.

I used to use the metz 50mz with my Maxxum 7. I would use either the onboard flash or 5600HS flash as the controller to slave the metz. And it worked perfect.

-- Pete (gregarpp@icqmail.com), January 15, 2002

Answers

It's my understanding that Metz uses a different method of wireless TTL than Canon. The 550EX's communication pre-flashes and the E-TTL pre-flash would surely fire the Metz prematurely, and the 550EX won't work as a slave or master in TTL mode.

You could get an Ikelite Lite-Link TTL slave adapter for either the Canon or the Metz (with the Canon TTL module). That would give you wireless TTL for the off camera flash.

Sigma's EF-500 Super will work with the 550EX as a slave or master since it's wireless mode is compatible with Canon's. They're half the price of the Canon & have nearly everything the 550EX has.

So you can buy another Metz and loose everything that is E-TTL related (better metering, FEC, FP, etc.). Buy a Canon 550EX or a Sigma EF-500 Super, along with a Lite-Link to get wireless TTL and E- TTL otherwise. Or sell the Metz and get two Canon's. Or get 3.7 Sigmas for the same price.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), January 15, 2002.

The metz works with Minolta TTL. It is more then a plain slave flash. It will work with ratio and other functions. So it does have more built into it.

The 54mz metz is supposed to support E-ttl. maybe that one would work in wireless

-- Pete (gregarpp@icqmail.com), January 16, 2002.

The 54mz Metz is a great flash, and it is E-TTL capable, but from what I have read it's wireless mode is not compatible with Canon E- TTL wireless mode. But it should work with your 50mz in Metz's wireless TTL mode. The best thing about Metz is the ability to change modules if you change or add a new camera system.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), January 17, 2002.