Metz’s Mecablitz 58 AF-1C Flash is money in the bank!

[Varzi Network]

I have been shopping for lighting and was really going for a Canon 580EX II. The girls at the local Canon shop (the owner loves Canon obviously) told me the Metz was really worth looking at. The money i ended up saving just for my flash paid about half the cost of my new battery grip. After looking at the chart on the page below the value of this product is pretty clear. They also have models for other cameras for those interested.

Shutterbug: Canon’s Speedlite 580EX II & Metz’s Mecablitz 58 AF-1C Digital;

[thebes]

Looks like an interesting flash. Have you found the second flash head useful? What ratios can you put out to it (ie, can it go 1/8th, 1/16th, or lower to the secondary head?)

I'd be a bit hesitant to get the Nikon version instead of another SB-800... I wonder why Metz chose to use a plastic hotshoe and thumbwheel, I really like the locking lever on my Nikon flash and my experience with plastic hotshoes (on admittedly much older flashes) always leaves me feeling they are too week for heavy use. OTOH, the Nikon version is priced right about what a SB-800 is, so there wouldn't be the savings like you had vs the Canon.

[Varzi Network]

The fill flash below the main flash is a nice bonus which the Canon 580EX II does not offer. Its mainly used to fill in hard shadows where you don't want to much direct light. The Metz has the exact same hotshoe as the old 580EX and it works just fine. The USB Flash port may or may not allow the Metz to be expanded and work with new devices in the future. They have already released one Firmware update so obviously that served some use. I don't know about ratios on the fill flash but you can read the manual (search for fill-in flash) at this link to get more understanding.

http://www.metz.de/fileadmin/fm-dam/..._NL_GB_I_E.pdf

I ended up saving about $75 over what i would have paid for the Canon 580EX II Speedlite at some big name retail store.

[wildwebcamgirls]

As amazing as that sounds I still feel that you don't need to overshop for a digital cam or digital vid cam. I use a fujifilm and casio exilim and both provide excellent video. I didn't pay more than $200 for either. Hot girls make hot videos, hot cameras don't make ugly girls hot.

[Varzi Network]

Originally Posted by wildwebcamgirls

As amazing as that sounds I still feel that you don't need to overshop for a digital cam or digital vid cam. I use a fujifilm and casio exilim and both provide excellent video. I didn't pay more than $200 for either. Hot girls make hot videos, hot cameras don't make ugly girls hot.

I would rather buy an expensive camera that can shoot amazing pictures with affordable light. Rather then a cheap camera that needs amazing light to take good pictures.

[thebes]

Originally Posted by Varzi Network

I would rather buy an expensive camera that can shoot amazing pictures with affordable light. Rather then a cheap camera that needs amazing light to take good pictures.

Absolutely. I will take much better pictures with my D70s and Sb-800 than with any consumer point and shoot. But, with the right light (try camera on night mode and use a hand-held manually triggered flash bounced off a wall for example)- I can take very nice photos with a cheap camera too.

Good photography requires someone who knows how to make a good image. If I took the average unskilled consumer and swapped cameras, I am confident I would still make far nicer images with their p&s than they could with all of my gear.

Btw, I've shot some women who were quite "ugly" by many standards and made them look good (in their own way). You can't make a 40-year-old plumper into a nubile- but you can make them look like an attractive bbw milf or a strict dominatrix. This is a LOT more about the skill of the photog than the gear.

[micho]

Interesting toy, great