Manual Flash Control

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 10:56 AM

Is it possible to manually set the flash power in a wireless configuration? I'm using the on-board flash to control a Metz AF-1 set to SLAVE. At first glance it seems as though just P-TTL is possible.

Any insight would be appreciated.

imtheguy · 02-07-2011, 11:41 AM

You dont say which camera or flash you are using but I can tell you that the Metz 48 AF-1 has no problem working in Manual mode while a slave. With a K20D or K-5 you can't set the manual level (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) from the camera using the built-in flash for wireless mode, you set it on the flash itself. If I am not understanding your question please restate and I will try again.

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 11:53 AM

I'm using both the K10D and K20D.

Originally posted by imtheguy

You dont say which camera or flash you are using but I can tell you that the Metz 48 AF-1 has no problem working in Manual mode while a slave. With a K20D or K-5 you can't set the manual level (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) from the camera using the built-in flash for wireless mode, you set it on the flash itself. If I am not understanding your question please restate and I will try again.

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 11:54 AM

How do you set the flash power for the AF-1 while in slave mode?

Originally posted by imtheguy

You dont say which camera or flash you are using but I can tell you that the Metz 48 AF-1 has no problem working in Manual mode while a slave. With a K20D or K-5 you can't set the manual level (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) from the camera using the built-in flash for wireless mode, you set it on the flash itself. If I am not understanding your question please restate and I will try again.

enoeske · 02-07-2011, 12:39 PM

Originally posted by krebsy97

How do you set the flash power for the AF-1 while in slave mode?

while it would be nice feature, I don't think that is possible. As you suspected, only p-ttl or manual (on flash) power control

imtheguy · 02-07-2011, 01:06 PM

You have to do it at the flash. Specifically for the Metz 48, press the Mode button until "M" is displayed instead of P-TTL. Then use the Select buttons, "-" and +"" to change to power between full (1/1) and lowest (1/128). If you are trying to change the power from the camera to the slave, as enoeske said, it would be nice but you can't do it with the built-in wireless controller.

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 01:27 PM

When the AF-1 is in SLAVE mode you cannot adjust the flash power. It's locked in SLAVE mode until you shut SLAVE mode off.

Perhaps I should try updating the firmware on my AF-1.

Originally posted by imtheguy

You have to do it at the flash. Specifically for the Metz 48, press the Mode button until "M" is displayed instead of P-TTL. Then us the Select buttons, "-" and +"" to change to power between full (1/1) and lowest (1/128). If you are trying to change the power from the camera to the slave, as enoeske said, it would be nice but you can't do it with the built-in wireless controller.

imtheguy · 02-07-2011, 01:59 PM

Take the flash off the camera and turn it on.
Set it to Slave,
Press MODE until it in "M" for manual.

Now what displays when you press the "-" button multiple times?

Out of curiosity, which Metz model is this (AF-1 is not the model).
Agree, update firmware to latest can't hurt but I don't think thats the issue.

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 02:10 PM

My bad, 48 AF-1.

I am using the flash off the camera wirelessly. That's why it's in SLAVE mode. Once it's in SLAVE mode I can't adjust anything other than turning SLAVE mode off.

Originally posted by imtheguy

Take the flash off the camera and turn it on.
Set it to Slave,
Press MODE until it in "M" for manual.

Now what displays when you press the "-" button multiple times?

Out of curiosity, which Metz model is this (AF-1 is not the model).
Agree, update firmware to latest can't hurt but I don't think thats the issue.

imtheguy · 02-07-2011, 02:26 PM - **1 Like**

I just went and walked though my current off camera set up from the beginning and owe you an apology a page long

. I STILL HAVE AN EXTENSION CABLE RUN TO THE FLASH. Since I alternate off camera between true Slave and cable (SO I CAN SET THE POWER MANUALLY) all I should have said in the first response is "Yes", can't set it manually once in SL mode. I am sorry for wasting your time without first checking my setup. Feel free to deduct 50 points from my Rep.

Sorry!

enoeske · 02-07-2011, 02:31 PM

So, when it's in slave mode (off camera) what power setting does it use? You can only use manual power modes when its on-camera???

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 02:31 PM

+1 for making the effort.

Originally posted by imtheguy

I just went and walked though my current off camera set up from the beginning and owe you an apology a page long

. I STILL HAVE AN EXTENSION CABLE RUN TO THE FLASH. Since I alternate off camera between true Slave and cable (SO I CAN SET THE POWER MANUALLY) all I should have said in the first response is "Yes", can't set it manually once in SL mode. I am sorry for wasting your time without first checking my setup. Feel free to deduct 50 points from my Rep.

Sorry!

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 02:31 PM

It's all automatic via P-TTL.

Originally posted by enoeske

So, when it's in slave mode (off camera) what power setting does it use? You can only use manual power modes when its on-camera???

krebsy75 · 02-07-2011, 02:33 PM

I haven't done it yet but I assume manual power off-camera is possible with a sync cable.

Originally posted by enoeske

So, when it's in slave mode (off camera) what power setting does it use? You can only use manual power modes when its on-camera???

enoeske · 02-07-2011, 02:33 PM

Originally posted by krebsy97

It's all automatic via P-TTL.

So, when off camera, you have no choice but p-ttl? Just trying to figure this out because I was going to pick up the 50 af-1 and just assumed that it worked like my cheap lumopro lp120.

02-07-2011, 10:56 AM	#1
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804	Manual Flash Control Is it possible to manually set the flash power in a wireless configuration? I'm using the on-board flash to control a Metz AF-1 set to SLAVE. At first glance it seems as though just P-TTL is possible. Any insight would be appreciated.

02-07-2011, 01:06 PM	#6
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	You have to do it at the flash. Specifically for the Metz 48, press the Mode button until "M" is displayed instead of P-TTL. Then use the Select buttons, "-" and +"" to change to power between full (1/1) and lowest (1/128). If you are trying to change the power from the camera to the slave, as enoeske said, it would be nice but you can't do it with the built-in wireless controller. Last edited by imtheguy; 02-07-2011 at 01:53 PM.

02-07-2011, 02:26 PM - 1 Like	#10
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	I just went and walked though my current off camera set up from the beginning and owe you an apology a page long. I STILL HAVE AN EXTENSION CABLE RUN TO THE FLASH. Since I alternate off camera between true Slave and cable (SO I CAN SET THE POWER MANUALLY) all I should have said in the first response is "Yes", can't set it manually once in SL mode. I am sorry for wasting your time without first checking my setup. Feel free to deduct 50 points from my Rep. Sorry!

02-07-2011, 02:31 PM	#12
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804 Original Poster	+1 for making the effort. Originally posted by imtheguy I just went and walked though my current off camera set up from the beginning and owe you an apology a page long. I STILL HAVE AN EXTENSION CABLE RUN TO THE FLASH. Since I alternate off camera between true Slave and cable (SO I CAN SET THE POWER MANUALLY) all I should have said in the first response is "Yes", can't set it manually once in SL mode. I am sorry for wasting your time without first checking my setup. Feel free to deduct 50 points from my Rep. Sorry!

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02-07-2011, 11:41 AM	#2
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	You dont say which camera or flash you are using but I can tell you that the Metz 48 AF-1 has no problem working in Manual mode while a slave. With a K20D or K-5 you can't set the manual level (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) from the camera using the built-in flash for wireless mode, you set it on the flash itself. If I am not understanding your question please restate and I will try again.

02-07-2011, 11:53 AM	#3
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804 Original Poster	I'm using both the K10D and K20D. Originally posted by imtheguy You dont say which camera or flash you are using but I can tell you that the Metz 48 AF-1 has no problem working in Manual mode while a slave. With a K20D or K-5 you can't set the manual level (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) from the camera using the built-in flash for wireless mode, you set it on the flash itself. If I am not understanding your question please restate and I will try again.

02-07-2011, 11:54 AM	#4
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804 Original Poster	How do you set the flash power for the AF-1 while in slave mode? Originally posted by imtheguy You dont say which camera or flash you are using but I can tell you that the Metz 48 AF-1 has no problem working in Manual mode while a slave. With a K20D or K-5 you can't set the manual level (1/1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16) from the camera using the built-in flash for wireless mode, you set it on the flash itself. If I am not understanding your question please restate and I will try again.

02-07-2011, 12:39 PM	#5
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by krebsy97 How do you set the flash power for the AF-1 while in slave mode? while it would be nice feature, I don't think that is possible. As you suspected, only p-ttl or manual (on flash) power control

02-07-2011, 01:27 PM	#7
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804 Original Poster	When the AF-1 is in SLAVE mode you cannot adjust the flash power. It's locked in SLAVE mode until you shut SLAVE mode off. Perhaps I should try updating the firmware on my AF-1. Originally posted by imtheguy You have to do it at the flash. Specifically for the Metz 48, press the Mode button until "M" is displayed instead of P-TTL. Then us the Select buttons, "-" and +"" to change to power between full (1/1) and lowest (1/128). If you are trying to change the power from the camera to the slave, as enoeske said, it would be nice but you can't do it with the built-in wireless controller.

02-07-2011, 01:59 PM	#8
imtheguy Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Virginia Beach Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 2,950	Take the flash off the camera and turn it on. Set it to Slave, Press MODE until it in "M" for manual. Now what displays when you press the "-" button multiple times? Out of curiosity, which Metz model is this (AF-1 is not the model). Agree, update firmware to latest can't hurt but I don't think thats the issue.

02-07-2011, 02:10 PM	#9
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804 Original Poster	My bad, 48 AF-1. I am using the flash off the camera wirelessly. That's why it's in SLAVE mode. Once it's in SLAVE mode I can't adjust anything other than turning SLAVE mode off. Originally posted by imtheguy Take the flash off the camera and turn it on. Set it to Slave, Press MODE until it in "M" for manual. Now what displays when you press the "-" button multiple times? Out of curiosity, which Metz model is this (AF-1 is not the model). Agree, update firmware to latest can't hurt but I don't think thats the issue.

02-07-2011, 02:31 PM	#11
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	So, when it's in slave mode (off camera) what power setting does it use? You can only use manual power modes when its on-camera???

02-07-2011, 02:31 PM	#13
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804 Original Poster	It's all automatic via P-TTL. Originally posted by enoeske So, when it's in slave mode (off camera) what power setting does it use? You can only use manual power modes when its on-camera???

02-07-2011, 02:33 PM	#14
krebsy75 Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Chester County, Pa. Posts: 804 Original Poster	I haven't done it yet but I assume manual power off-camera is possible with a sync cable. Originally posted by enoeske So, when it's in slave mode (off camera) what power setting does it use? You can only use manual power modes when its on-camera???

02-07-2011, 02:33 PM	#15
enoeske Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Surprise, Az Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,136	Originally posted by krebsy97 It's all automatic via P-TTL. So, when off camera, you have no choice but p-ttl? Just trying to figure this out because I was going to pick up the 50 af-1 and just assumed that it worked like my cheap lumopro lp120.