just got a Metz 58 AF-2!

Eran.mrg · 03-27-2012, 04:45 PM

So after a long and careful thinking I told my family I want this flash as a birthday gift, So we went to the only store in my country (Israel)

that has new Pentax gear in stock (the Metz importer and its only the 50 & 58 flashes

). the damage was the equivalent to 500$, witch is the same price I'd pay if I had it shipped from B&H

.
And

I'm in love!
I have never believed I would enjoy using a flash on my K-5.
editing:
Thanks for every one how has helped me decide

Last edited by Eran.mrg; 03-27-2012 at 04:49 PM. Reason: Thanks

mccarvindh · 03-27-2012, 05:00 PM

I am sure it is one great flash! Enjoy! I have the 48 and absolutely love it.

Zafar Iqbal · 03-27-2012, 05:04 PM

Congratulations with your gift. I own it myself and love using it.

mtansley · 03-27-2012, 05:10 PM

It's a great flash once you come to grips with the manual. I always enjoy using Metz products, I have several flashes they produced during the 80s and an old flash my Dad had in the early sixties still works as well.

Lots of options on it, some I've still not really used in over a year!

Chaos_Realm · 03-27-2012, 05:26 PM

Yep I have to agree with the others. Metz flashes are fantastic, I have the AF-2 as well and it does everything I could want of it... And more, but I haven't quite figured those things out just yet

mtansley · 03-27-2012, 05:31 PM

Originally posted by Chaos_Realm

And more, but I haven't quite figured those things out just yet

And the manual is not exactly what you'd call 'clear & informative' is it.

Chaos_Realm · 03-27-2012, 05:54 PM

Originally posted by mtansley

And the manual is not exactly what you'd call 'clear & informative' is it.

I assumed that was just my incompetence and lack of flash knowledge... But sure, I like your view a lot better.

mtansley · 03-27-2012, 06:06 PM

Originally posted by Chaos_Realm

I assumed that was just my incompetence and lack of flash knowledge... But sure, I like your view a lot better.

It's not any incompetence or lack of knowledge, that I can assure you

, I think it has to do more with being translated from the original German.

Wonder if anyone around here knows German and has a Metz, I'd love to know if the manual makes more sense if you know the language.

**RKKS08** · 03-27-2012, 07:03 PM

I only have the German manual of the 40 MZ-2. It explains everything very accurately, but in parts uses a rather complicated structure of the sentences.

If I had to write the English manual (I wrote a lot of technical manuals in German and in English), I would tend to re-write instead of just translate. Our languages are closely related in words, but not at all in grammar. A sentence by sentence translation from German to English is often nearly impossible. Everyone who understands both languages can easily verify this by testing Google Translate; English -> German gets you reasonable results, German -> English only if it was "tabloid" speaking, otherwise the results are just rubbish.

mtansley · 03-27-2012, 07:06 PM

Originally posted by RKKS08

I only have the German manual of the 40 MZ-2. It explains everything very accurately, but in parts uses a rather complicated structure of the sentences.

If I had to write the English manual (I wrote a lot of technical manuals in German and in English), I would tend to re-write instead of just translate. Our languages are closely related in words, but not at all in grammar. A sentence by sentence translation from German to English is often nearly impossible. Everyone who understands both languages can easily verify this by testing Google Translate; English -> German gets you reasonable results, German -> English only if it was "tabloid" speaking, otherwise the results are just rubbish.

Hmm, very interesting.

I wonder how the English version was created then, rewritten or translated. The manual does contain lots of information, it just seems rather complicated to me (and others) in how it's presented.

Thanks for the insight.

benie · 06-16-2012, 03:10 AM

Hi Eran,

Just discovered your thread about the Metz 58 AF2. Congratulations, it's an awesome flash, and in my opinion it's the best flash there is today for Pentax cameras.
I have it too, so that makes (to the best of my knowledge) two of us in Israel who have it.
The operating manual that comes with the flash is unfortunately not the best and is missing the chapter on servo mode. Metz posted it separately on their website here:
Pentax: Metz.

I strongly recommend using Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries, along with a good charger such as one of the Maha chargers (I have a few and they're excellent).

Even though I've had the flash for over a year and use it quite frequently, I find that I have quite a lot to still learn on how to use it, especially in tricky lighting situations.

mtansley · 06-16-2012, 05:51 AM

Originally posted by benie

I strongly recommend using Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries, along with a good charger such as one of the Maha chargers (I have a few and they're excellent).

I'd agree completely on this. I use a load of eneloops for everything and the Maha charger is great. I love being able to program each of the four batteries individually.

Giklab · 06-16-2012, 02:30 PM

Originally posted by RKKS08

Our languages are closely related in words, but not at all in grammar. A sentence by sentence translation from German to English is often nearly impossible. Everyone who understands both languages can easily verify this by testing Google Translate; English -> German gets you reasonable results, German -> English only if it was "tabloid" speaking, otherwise the results are just rubbish.

Slightly off topic: I find it interesting that Translate does such a great job translating in some combinations. One that comes to mind is Finnish--> Slovene (due to a member here who only posts in Finnish). It's 99% readable, if you forget the quirks of the latter language.

03-27-2012, 04:45 PM	#1
Eran.mrg New Member Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Herzliya Posts: 15	just got a Metz 58 AF-2! So after a long and careful thinking I told my family I want this flash as a birthday gift, So we went to the only store in my country (Israel) that has new Pentax gear in stock (the Metz importer and its only the 50 & 58 flashes ). the damage was the equivalent to 500$, witch is the same price I'd pay if I had it shipped from B&H . And I'm in love! I have never believed I would enjoy using a flash on my K-5. editing: Thanks for every one how has helped me decide Last edited by Eran.mrg; 03-27-2012 at 04:49 PM. Reason: Thanks

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03-27-2012, 05:00 PM	#2
mccarvindh Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Ohio, USA/ India Photos: Gallery Posts: 478	I am sure it is one great flash! Enjoy! I have the 48 and absolutely love it.

03-27-2012, 05:04 PM	#3
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	Congratulations with your gift. I own it myself and love using it.

03-27-2012, 05:10 PM	#4
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	It's a great flash once you come to grips with the manual. I always enjoy using Metz products, I have several flashes they produced during the 80s and an old flash my Dad had in the early sixties still works as well. Lots of options on it, some I've still not really used in over a year!

03-27-2012, 05:26 PM	#5
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	Yep I have to agree with the others. Metz flashes are fantastic, I have the AF-2 as well and it does everything I could want of it... And more, but I haven't quite figured those things out just yet

03-27-2012, 05:31 PM	#6
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by Chaos_Realm And more, but I haven't quite figured those things out just yet And the manual is not exactly what you'd call 'clear & informative' is it.

03-27-2012, 05:54 PM	#7
Chaos_Realm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Melbourne, Australia Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 1,251	Originally posted by mtansley And the manual is not exactly what you'd call 'clear & informative' is it. I assumed that was just my incompetence and lack of flash knowledge... But sure, I like your view a lot better.

03-27-2012, 06:06 PM	#8
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by Chaos_Realm I assumed that was just my incompetence and lack of flash knowledge... But sure, I like your view a lot better. It's not any incompetence or lack of knowledge, that I can assure you , I think it has to do more with being translated from the original German. Wonder if anyone around here knows German and has a Metz, I'd love to know if the manual makes more sense if you know the language.

03-27-2012, 07:03 PM	#9
RKKS08 Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Frankfurt am Main Posts: 1,241	I only have the German manual of the 40 MZ-2. It explains everything very accurately, but in parts uses a rather complicated structure of the sentences. If I had to write the English manual (I wrote a lot of technical manuals in German and in English), I would tend to re-write instead of just translate. Our languages are closely related in words, but not at all in grammar. A sentence by sentence translation from German to English is often nearly impossible. Everyone who understands both languages can easily verify this by testing Google Translate; English -> German gets you reasonable results, German -> English only if it was "tabloid" speaking, otherwise the results are just rubbish.

03-27-2012, 07:06 PM	#10
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by RKKS08 I only have the German manual of the 40 MZ-2. It explains everything very accurately, but in parts uses a rather complicated structure of the sentences. If I had to write the English manual (I wrote a lot of technical manuals in German and in English), I would tend to re-write instead of just translate. Our languages are closely related in words, but not at all in grammar. A sentence by sentence translation from German to English is often nearly impossible. Everyone who understands both languages can easily verify this by testing Google Translate; English -> German gets you reasonable results, German -> English only if it was "tabloid" speaking, otherwise the results are just rubbish. Hmm, very interesting. I wonder how the English version was created then, rewritten or translated. The manual does contain lots of information, it just seems rather complicated to me (and others) in how it's presented. Thanks for the insight.

06-16-2012, 03:10 AM	#11
benie New Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Central Israel Posts: 22	Hi Eran, Just discovered your thread about the Metz 58 AF2. Congratulations, it's an awesome flash, and in my opinion it's the best flash there is today for Pentax cameras. I have it too, so that makes (to the best of my knowledge) two of us in Israel who have it. The operating manual that comes with the flash is unfortunately not the best and is missing the chapter on servo mode. Metz posted it separately on their website here: Pentax: Metz. I strongly recommend using Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries, along with a good charger such as one of the Maha chargers (I have a few and they're excellent). Even though I've had the flash for over a year and use it quite frequently, I find that I have quite a lot to still learn on how to use it, especially in tricky lighting situations.

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06-16-2012, 05:51 AM	#12
mtansley Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Ajax, Ontario, Canada Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,139	Originally posted by benie I strongly recommend using Sanyo Eneloop rechargeable batteries, along with a good charger such as one of the Maha chargers (I have a few and they're excellent). I'd agree completely on this. I use a load of eneloops for everything and the Maha charger is great. I love being able to program each of the four batteries individually.

06-16-2012, 02:30 PM	#13
Giklab Veteran Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Slovenia Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,182	Originally posted by RKKS08 Our languages are closely related in words, but not at all in grammar. A sentence by sentence translation from German to English is often nearly impossible. Everyone who understands both languages can easily verify this by testing Google Translate; English -> German gets you reasonable results, German -> English only if it was "tabloid" speaking, otherwise the results are just rubbish. Slightly off topic: I find it interesting that Translate does such a great job translating in some combinations. One that comes to mind is Finnish--> Slovene (due to a member here who only posts in Finnish). It's 99% readable, if you forget the quirks of the latter language.