Thamks for the great information. Growing up i thought all plugs were the same till i joined the military.... then i learned i needed adapters when i deployed. Great times.

Good ol' Metz 45 CL-4! My favourite flash! Never used it with mains power, though. That's very useful info!

Thank you for a great video Peter.

Important thing to remember when reforming these flash capacitors is to regularly recharge & full flash it. Charge it up and flash it 10 times, then finally let it fully recharge once more, BUT then DON'T discharge/flash the gun! Just turn it off/disconnect the power/remove batteries. Job done.

Powerful flash gun, I remember having a chance to use one. Turned the head back to front and covered it up it still flashed brightly.

@dukenukem5768

Жыл бұрын

I don't know Metz units, but surely you can turn the power down? I have equivalent Sunpak units (555, 4500DX) and you can turn the manual power down to 1/64 which gives a Guide Number of only about 6 metres. The Auto power can also go down to this if that is all that is required.

@Resgerr

Жыл бұрын

@@dukenukem5768 I think 🤔 I remember a dial on top- but Metz are very bright, it used to be a favourite with the press because of its brightness. The tissue would be to replicate a soft box turning turning it into a fill. Think 🤔 we used the tissue only when it was faced forward. Turning the head backwards was I think to make it into a fill in flash

@dukenukem5768

Жыл бұрын

@@Resgerr I've never used a Metz, but I was curious and looked at the 45CL-4 instruction book (I'm not allowed to link). In its manual mode it can only be turned down to 1/4 power. That's only two stops down so still a lot (GN 22 metres), so it seems designed for the paparazzi, and close-up was not its strong point. However, the contemporary and slightly more powerful Metz 50MZ-5 hammerhead could go down to 1/256 power (8 stops down, GN ~3 metres).

@Resgerr

Жыл бұрын

@@dukenukem5768 yes the press did use it a lot when I got to try it it was with a regional newspaper I did a experience with as apart of my college course.

@Resgerr

Жыл бұрын

@@dukenukem5768 that’s why you had to turn it backwards when doing a portrait as it was still harsh

Another great informative video 👍

Thanks again Peter, you're a genius! Good info.

Oh wow, the Sunpak - one of these was my first flash unit back in early 80ies. It provided decent quality for the tight budget of a teenager. What a nice surprise to find it featured here on your channel, Peter. I had totally forgotten about it. The successors were Metz 45 CT4, 60 CT1 and 60 CT4 (the latter I still own), so there was no reason to look back. And thank you for the reminder about the capacitors, I will charge and fire my gear tonight and also set up a recurring task in my calendar.

@olafwDE

3 жыл бұрын

PS: If I may suggest: If you edit the video title and put "Metz" and "Sunpak" in there, it would be more specific and help photo enthusiasts find the brand names.

I did shoot many weddings with a Metz CL4 plugged in a Nikon F90x

Hi Peter. I have one of these Metz flashes and the previous owner sold it to me with a new battery he bought in... 1992 ! What I did was to order the individual cells online, dissassembled the whole battery and soldered the new cells. In fact, these batteries are just an assembly of 5 or 6 individual cells similar to AA batteries. I now have the benefit of a NiMH battery instead of a NiCad. I'm sure a guy like you could easily tackle this job.

@theoldfilmbloke

3 жыл бұрын

DAN -- I do have a soldering iron and might have a go !

@angelisone

2 жыл бұрын

You better make sure you do not use Ni-Cad charger to charge up Ni-Mh. What flash model do you have. By the way, Metz doesn't make 5 cells flashes. As a fact no one does.

@theoldfilmbloke

2 жыл бұрын

@@angelisone Interesting comment -- WHY should I not use a Ni-Cad charger for Ni-Mh cells ? I have several Metz 45 series now, CT-1, CT-3 and a CT-4 ( donated to me )

@angelisone

2 жыл бұрын

@@theoldfilmbloke The older Ni-Cad battery charger was made for only Ni-Cad. Ni-Mh didn't come out until a decade later. Same can be said you do not want to charge Ni-Cad Charger on Li-ion Battery. Nevertheless, there are some newer chargers (solid digital states) that can recharge many rechargeable batteries. They run beyond $75.00. Peter Elgar, you can buy cheap NI-Mh charger from like Costco, Sams, BJ that comes with AA and AAA for less than $30.00.

@theoldfilmbloke

2 жыл бұрын

@@angelisone Thanks for that Information !

I own a 60 CT-2 and I have no idea on how to make it flash again. Any suggestion please? Is there a wall mount option or should I go for the battery itself? Thanks

peter, can you tell me what the little capacitor or resistor is in the alkaline battery holder for the Metz 45-cl3/4, its quie small in the wall of the chamber?

@theoldfilmbloke

Жыл бұрын

NO SORRY have no idea about such 'Electronic' things.

WOW !! I completely FORGOT my OLYMPUS AC adapter 2 for my OM Film Camera system -- it was in its box on a rack in my Darkroom / Computer Room -- I can show it on a new Video reviewing my OLYMPUS OM-Series Flashes with cameras.

I got the 45CT4 flask and is good to have

Interesting to see these in use, but those mains adaptors are hard to find and tend to go for silly prices - usually more than the flash unit itself. The adaptor problem looks like a pain. There are all sorts of reasons why _"wall bricks"_ (transformers that plug directly into the wall socket rather than having an intermediate mains lead) are a PITA, and you have demonstrated one of them.

I have a Metz N20 power unit available on eBay now. With all the leads and 2 Metz flashes! Take a look.

Help, I have a young girl that has used Metz 45CT-1 (I do not have this model, but other), anyone knows the PC Sync Contact's Leads? She & you all, if you don't have a PC Sync Cable by Metz, the flash is useless. On the right side there are five leads, which is Center (positive), which is Ground (negative)? 1. * 2. * 3. * 4. * 5. * You will need a DMM (DVM) to check.

The best from ATG & still being use today around the world & have the power over the weak speedlites are Metz 60CT-4 & Quantum QFlash T2. Companies do not want want to know so that only posted in GN (guide number) not in WS (watt second). For example the overpriced Canon EL-1 is only 80ws. They will not post what is the GN based @ 35mm with ASA/ISO100. No why to equal ATG's 60CT series.

Those Metz hammerheads were big, tough, and ugly. You could use them for anti-tank ammunition. Metz, Sunpak and Vivitar were the best flash brands in the 1980s and 90s (in that order), generally better than camera makers' own. Metz were expensive, the CL-4 cost £220 in 2000, like £375 today. There were AA battery holders that fitted the CL-4, might find one on Ebay in a non-working model.

Don't put those Metz flashes on a modern digital camera. It will damage the electronics in the camera. It will works very well on analog cameras.

@theoldfilmbloke

3 жыл бұрын

I have another 45CT-1 my 'Original' Metz which DOES have the high Voltage (you can find out by the Serial Number) BUT my later ones such as 45CL-i and 45 CL -3 and 4 have a much LOWER trigger voltage and I successfully use one on my DIGITAL Pentax K10D from 2007 and Olympus E-500 from 2005. Thanks for your comment.

@angelisone

3 жыл бұрын

You will have no problem by using ATG Auto2 mode techniques on digital cameras. We use ATG Gold 60CT-4, Metz 60CT-4, Metz 45CT-5 down to Vivitar 283 on Hasselblad & Fuji & Sony.

@dukenukem5768

Жыл бұрын

Indeed. The CT-1 has over 200v although the CL-4 has around 18v. I would not be happy with anything over 10v on a modern camera. There is a website with a huge list of old flash unit voltages. I can't link because YT removes comments with external links - in fact it just did, so this is my 2nd attempt. A clue is that it is run by a guy called Botzilla.

@ShedOfDreams

Жыл бұрын

Not comply correct, I've used my ct 4s and ct 60 on Nikon's and my Fuji xt1 for years. Look up Botzilla, it will give you trigger voltages at foot if shoe, it's easy to measure the voltage , research it. Nikon digital can usually take 250v the ct 4 has a trigger votage of about 6v! So it's fine, same goes with the Fuji. Canon DSLR a are the ones that have a low trigger voltage. If in doubt you can fire them from a cheap slave flash sensor set off by the built in camera flash! Every photographer should have the joy of a big Metz.

@totenvt

Жыл бұрын

use a wireless hotshoe adapter