Toronto Photography Meetup Group

Has anyone had any experience with the Metz 15 MS-1 ringflash, or the Sigma EM-140?

The Minolta ringflash is impossible to find, and the Sony right light is frankly crap.

The Sony ringlight is actually pretty good for its uses (fill for macro work). And it works on pretty much all cameras.

Given the choice between a Metz and a Sigma, there is no choice. Get the Metz, it'll still be usable in 6 months.

It's been a while since I read up on this, but the Metz is NOT a true ring flash...it has two individual flashes in a ring. A proper ring flash has light all the way around.

The Sony ringlight is basically just an LED light with 2 or three brightness levels that just stays on. There is no body communication.

The Metz can actually understand *all* major optically triggered wireless ttl flash protocols, you just pick the relevant one in a menu and off you go. (especially beneficial for those two own more than one camera system, and does help retain resale value). I would end up having to get the new Sony 20 flash to act as commander for it on my a900, since the 58 seems just a little two big for this purpose to me. I've heard that it can be connected wired, but I don't know the limitations (ie if it's still ttl, or manual only). I have yet to find a review that explains it well. Also, I've heard that the Metz will only fit on a 72mm filter thread maximum (of course the Minolta 200/4 Macro is that size, and I expect any future Sony or ZA tele macro will be the same.



Indeed you are actually correct on this. I have yet to find a review that explains the perceptible difference this results in with the resultant image.

Actually, the dual-tube designs are superior as they can fire as one or in some cases be fired at independent power levels (not sure if the Metz supports this).

Quotes from Metz: http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics ... ation.html
[quote]The Metz mecablitz 15 MS-1 digital is suitable for all camera manufacturers (Canon, Nikon, Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax, Samsung and Sony-Alpha)

So I picked up the Metz MS-1 today, ordered in at Merkle Camera, and had a brief chance to dabble with it today.

The flash comes with 3 adapters to fit various lens front threads - 52mm, 55mm, 58mm. Other sizes available are 62, 67, and 72mm.

The flash is TTL capable, and is triggered via, and is compatible with all the major optical wireless flash protocols: Nikon CLS, Canon, Pentax, Olympus and in my case Sony. It can also be triggered by a pc sync, but no TTL.

The flash consists of two flash tubes (so it's more a twin flash than a ring flash), but there is a diffuser for making it more ring like. The flashes can also be controlled in ratios with one another, and the angle of the flashes can be adjusted (0, 10, and 20 degrees).

There is a button for an AF-assist LED light, but the manual also only recommends AF when using an internal focusing lens, which my Tamron 90 is not.

It comes in a very compact case.

Pros:
- Compatible for all wireless protocols, so of definite benefit to anyone who's shooting with more than one system.
- comes with blocker for visible light to mount on commander flash.
- 15 (metric) guide number seems to be enough light for Macro.

Criticisms:
- AAA batteries instead of AA
- The front of the adapters are not threaded, so you cannot attach a lens cap with the ringflash mounted.
- not a "true" ringflash in the strictest sense.

I've posted some quick and dirty shots on my flickr, but I'm still learning how to use this thing properly. Some shots have evident dark backgrounds.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/34353273@N ... ringflash/

I can probably let some tpmg members dabble with it when we do our next macro event.

see, its things like this that make me want to buy new toys

that shot of the dripping tap did it for me...

dripping tap is easy to do if you have any light source. I might look into ringflashes for my macros too, one day

I've found cheapies at the camera flea markets. I even found one with a modelling light, but as I already had one I paid $30 bucks for I wasn't going to buy another one (although now I wish I had).

where did you stumble upon camera flea markets?

They have been quite discussed here, in this thread:
http://tpmg.ca/forum/viewtopic.php?t=14321

The last one was just over a week ago.

The next one is Sunday May 16...see http://phsc.ca/fairs.html