I have a Canon EOS 1DMarkII with a 580EX flash that only comes out with me for serious shooting trips and assignments. Most of the time I just carry around my Canon SD 800IS camera. What limits most point and shoots is the lack of a proper flash. Forgot that crap in the manual about built-in flash good for 12ft, yeah right, who measured that?The Metz flash is about the same size as my SD800 or slightly thicker than a pack of playing cards (easy to carry around). It's a lot of plastic, but then again my 1DMarkII and 580EX is a back breaker to carry around. The Metz flash is probably no more susceptible to damage from drops as any digital camera. It works beautifully on auto mode, most point and shoot digital cameras can be trained to work with it, on my Canon SD800 this means firing off a test shot with the Metz in learning mode. There are numerous advanced functions that the Canon external flash for point and shoots don't have, this is why I chose Metz. To be quite honest, when I'm using a point and shoot, I want everything to just work on auto and this is where the Metz excels. If you've never heard of Metz, just speak to pro wedding photographers, this company knows how to make flashes and has been doing it for years.
If the photo is too dark or bright after the flash fired, just press the + or key to immediately adjust and reshoot. It's that simple! The flash head is probably at least 5x larger than the flash on my SD800IS so it does reach beyond 12ft. It comes with wide-angle and telephoto reflectors that are compact and easy to clip on. Flash is rated to 100 shots on 2 fresh batteries; so far I've taken 50 shots and no problems. Easy enough to carry around extra batteries if required.
So you're asking yourself why you don't just dial the ISO to 400 or 800? Almost all point and shoots have crappy grainy images at high ISO and my Canon SD800 is no exception. With the Metz flash I can leave my camera set to ISO 100 all the time and get the sharpest highest resolution photos that my camera can output! Worried about whether you'll actually carry it around? I use 2 $10 neoprene fitted cases I found on eBay to store both my camera and flash and it's hardly noticeable in my jacket pocket. This is a great product that every point and shoot camera owner should have!
****** Jan 2008 Update ******
After 1yr of use I still love this little flash. I see that Canon has made their own small point and shoot flash. The advantage of this Metz flash is that it is not limited to use with any one brand. It syncs with Canon, Nikon, Olympus etc so if you ever change brands you don't have to buy another small flash again.
Buy Metz MZ 52822D 28 CS-2 Digital Flash Now
This flash was purchased for my Canon Powershot A590 IS. After considering the Canon equivalent of this flash, I purchased the Metz and am very happy with it. The fold-up camera stand stays with the flash, so there is no fear of losing it. The stand length and screw location are adjustable for just about any type of compact camera.What really sold me on this model was the ability to adapt this flash to a variety of cameras. Although it cost a little more, I like that flexibility.
After a few test shots I was very impressed with the output. I turned off the lights in a small room and used only the camera and Metz flash, with the Metz off to the side and bounced off the ceiling. The room was completely filled with light but there were no harsh shadows. For this flash newbie that is a huge improvement!
The "Easy" mode really is easy. Hit "plus" for more light or "minus" for less, and adjust after reviewing the picture on your camera. One thing that is a little confusing at first: the camera will remember your last setting and make it the new "0." If your last setting was at the highest output, it will appear that only "minus" settings are available for the next picture.
At first the "manual" and "auto" modes did not seem to work. I re-read the manual and finally adjusted the time that the flash measures between pre-flash and flash. This worked, although I am not sure why, since these modes still worked after adjusting back to the original setting.
"Manual" mode allows for adjustments based on desired power output (full power down to 1/16th power); "auto" mode allows for exposure compensation to be set in 1/3 stops, to plus or minus three stops. Camera settings are input in these modes also. (A fourth mode only works with a special master flash.)
One final note: the manual states that the flash must be turned on for 10 minutes once every three months.
Although it took a few tries to get everything working correctly, I am very happy with this flash. A lot of control will be there when I need it. Am looking forward to being able to use flash rather than avoid it.
Read Best Reviews of Metz MZ 52822D 28 CS-2 Digital Flash Here
I highly recommend the Metz 28CS-2 flash. I now have two of them in addition to my Canon 580 EX Speedlite.The Metz is a slave flash with no master required. This is not really an oxymoron but This flash is triggered by any on-camera flash, even a flash on a point-and-shoot camera. I use this flash off-camera with both my Canon S90 and my Canon 550D.
Having a slave flash that can be triggered by any on-camera flash is a rare luxury as you usually have to purchase a master flash to trigger an off-camera slave flash and may also have to plug a slave mechanism into a slave flash to use it off-camera.
One caveat is that the accompanying user manual for this flash is nearly impossible to comprehend and may have been written by someone from another planet. Just joking. But do not fear. I try to keep it simple. Here are two ways I have discovered to use this flash.
1. I would suggest using this flash in Manual mode combined with "Preflash suppression" mode with am on-camera flash triggering it. If you do this, be sure to first disable the AF Assist Beam on your DSLR or your point-and-shoot camera.
2. Since I cannot disble the AF Assist Beam on my S90, I use a different mode for this camera. If you cannot disable the AF Assist Beam, you can use it in Manual mode combined with "No preflash suppression" mode with a point-and shoot camera or a DSLR Mounted speedlite. It triggers prematurely with the on-camera flash on my DSLR in this mode when the AF Assist Beam is enabled.
I think one of the two above combinations will work for most cameras.
For either of the methods I just described, I set the exposure manually using the "P1" function. It has an exposure range from 1/1 to 1/16.
This flash is so simple to use and does not require buying into any complicated/expensive flash system to use. I hope Metz does not discontinue this flash although I do see dwindling supplies and think it may be on its way out.
Want Metz MZ 52822D 28 CS-2 Digital Flash Discount?
I received the shipment of the flash unit in short order. I have used the 28 CS-2 about four times. It really makes a difference in my photos. I use it with a small point and shoot Fuji F20 camera which takes real good pictures in low light. The CS-2 flash makes all the difference though as fill flash or as a flash from a different angle it removes alot of shaddow. It also throws light far beyond the limits of the built in flash, of the F20, which is by comparison quite weak. I was in the habit of just turning off the built in flash and forcing the camera to select a slow shutter speed and lower f-stop. It is easy to set up and the learning function is super. The unit is great because it gives you alot of control over the flash. There is a function to control the level of light output and manual settings are provided. It is compact and the bracket, which is collapsable, screws into the tripod mount and is adjustable for length.Save 7% Off
No comments:
Post a Comment