Metz 58 AF-1 wireless sucks

ohfrankyboy · 09-16-2009, 04:31 PM

Okay I have been using the Metz 58 AF-1 for a while and find that the wireless mode really sucks!!! I really hate the placement of the eye on the flash!!!
The camera needs to be close to the flash for it to fire wireless on slave mode, so it can't be far from the camera for it to fire.
Am I the only one who thinks the flash eye is really in the wrong place?

**Ash** · 09-16-2009, 04:41 PM

How far away from the camera does it start not responding?
Is anything in the way of the path between the control and slave flashes?
Under what lighting conditions are we talking about here? Full sunlight/Low-light?
What is your control flash? The built-in camera flash or another external flash unit?
All these things have bearing on how well the optical wireless system works.

ohfrankyboy · 09-16-2009, 04:47 PM

okay well just one easy exemple, ill put the camera beside the flash which makes the eye of the flash on the other side of the camera and voila it doesnt fire!!

**Ash** · 09-16-2009, 05:45 PM

So it's never worked at all, then?
Do you see a trigger flash to activate the Metz at all?
Have you ensured all settings (wireless on camera and on flash unit, and channels) are all synchronised?
Have you gone through all the steps of wireless flash operation as per the manuals?
Do this first and try and find out the problem.

ohfrankyboy · 09-16-2009, 06:08 PM

Both my camera and flash are on channel 1, the flash will trigger (IF) the flash is ahead of the camera and the flash eye is on the side of the camera but if the flash is ahead of the camera and the eye on the other side it will not fire!

**Ash** · 09-16-2009, 06:50 PM

Isn't that what you would expect?
If the "eye" of the flash is away from the line of fire of the control flash, the control will not be able to communicate with the slave.
It's not a problem, it's a limitation - it's optical, not radio.
If you really want this (which I can't see why you need it if you can turn the eye of the flash towards the control flash using tilt and swivel), then just get radio triggers.

ohfrankyboy · 09-16-2009, 06:55 PM

yes I know but I have another photographer friend who uses and older nikon flash and she can put the flash behind her back and it will fire.

**Ash** · 09-16-2009, 07:00 PM

How is it triggered?
I've been fortunate at times to have my slave (540) behind a solid object for backlighting, triggered quite reliably from over 10 feet using the built-in flash.
Just depends on the circumstances as per my first response.

Fl_Gulfer · 09-16-2009, 07:09 PM

My Metz 58 AF-1 is the same way, it very bad in wireless mode. I mean who wants the flash unit in the photo.
I'm going to have to spend more money for a wireless trigger.

ohfrankyboy · 09-16-2009, 07:36 PM

yes Fl_Gulfer its really bad, I think I'll do the same buy a wireless trigger, thou its bad to see we have to buy that when the flash already cost 700$, can't they have 2 eye on both side of the flash!!??

D W · 09-16-2009, 08:16 PM

Try having the "eye" face the camera flash and aim the flash head at where ever you need it?

**Ash** · 09-16-2009, 11:22 PM

That's what I was saying earlier, but perhaps it's still not so good.
I can certainly recommend the Pentax AF540FGZ, it's got great range and even when things are in its path just seems to pick up the signal well.

LeDave · 09-17-2009, 07:35 AM

I own a Metz 48 AF-1, and this is one thing that dissapoints me also, the wireless sucks and fails most of the time I try to fire it wirelessly. I think it's either because the infrared location is just bad on the flash, or it can't handle being more than a few feet away from the camera.

Fl_Gulfer · 09-17-2009, 01:59 PM

Anyone suggest a good wireless trigger to invest in?

SOldBear · 09-17-2009, 04:43 PM

Originally posted by ohfrankyboy

okay well just one easy exemple, ill put the camera beside the flash which makes the eye of the flash on the other side of the camera and voila it doesnt fire!!

I know it's frustrating. But the flash does have a rotating head, right?

I don't have the Metz 58AF-1, but when I use my Pentax 540 units as slaves, I always turn their sensors toward the master flash.

09-16-2009, 04:31 PM	#1
ohfrankyboy Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 76	Metz 58 AF-1 wireless sucks Okay I have been using the Metz 58 AF-1 for a while and find that the wireless mode really sucks!!! I really hate the placement of the eye on the flash!!! The camera needs to be close to the flash for it to fire wireless on slave mode, so it can't be far from the camera for it to fire. Am I the only one who thinks the flash eye is really in the wrong place?

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09-16-2009, 04:41 PM	#2
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	How far away from the camera does it start not responding? Is anything in the way of the path between the control and slave flashes? Under what lighting conditions are we talking about here? Full sunlight/Low-light? What is your control flash? The built-in camera flash or another external flash unit? All these things have bearing on how well the optical wireless system works.

09-16-2009, 04:47 PM	#3
ohfrankyboy Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 76 Original Poster	okay well just one easy exemple, ill put the camera beside the flash which makes the eye of the flash on the other side of the camera and voila it doesnt fire!!

09-16-2009, 05:45 PM	#4
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	So it's never worked at all, then? Do you see a trigger flash to activate the Metz at all? Have you ensured all settings (wireless on camera and on flash unit, and channels) are all synchronised? Have you gone through all the steps of wireless flash operation as per the manuals? Do this first and try and find out the problem.

09-16-2009, 06:08 PM	#5
ohfrankyboy Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 76 Original Poster	Both my camera and flash are on channel 1, the flash will trigger (IF) the flash is ahead of the camera and the flash eye is on the side of the camera but if the flash is ahead of the camera and the eye on the other side it will not fire!

09-16-2009, 06:50 PM	#6
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	Isn't that what you would expect? If the "eye" of the flash is away from the line of fire of the control flash, the control will not be able to communicate with the slave. It's not a problem, it's a limitation - it's optical, not radio. If you really want this (which I can't see why you need it if you can turn the eye of the flash towards the control flash using tilt and swivel), then just get radio triggers.

09-16-2009, 06:55 PM	#7
ohfrankyboy Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 76 Original Poster	yes I know but I have another photographer friend who uses and older nikon flash and she can put the flash behind her back and it will fire.

09-16-2009, 07:00 PM	#8
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	How is it triggered? I've been fortunate at times to have my slave (540) behind a solid object for backlighting, triggered quite reliably from over 10 feet using the built-in flash. Just depends on the circumstances as per my first response.

09-16-2009, 07:09 PM	#9
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	My Metz 58 AF-1 is the same way, it very bad in wireless mode. I mean who wants the flash unit in the photo. I'm going to have to spend more money for a wireless trigger.

09-16-2009, 07:36 PM	#10
ohfrankyboy Forum Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Quebec, Canada Posts: 76 Original Poster	yes Fl_Gulfer its really bad, I think I'll do the same buy a wireless trigger, thou its bad to see we have to buy that when the flash already cost 700$, can't they have 2 eye on both side of the flash!!??

09-16-2009, 08:16 PM	#11
D W Veteran Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Hogtown, ON, Canada Posts: 329	Try having the "eye" face the camera flash and aim the flash head at where ever you need it?

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09-16-2009, 11:22 PM	#12
Ash Loyal Site Supporter Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Toowoomba, Queensland Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 23,920	That's what I was saying earlier, but perhaps it's still not so good. I can certainly recommend the Pentax AF540FGZ, it's got great range and even when things are in its path just seems to pick up the signal well.

09-17-2009, 07:35 AM	#13
LeDave Veteran Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Minneapolis - St. Paul Photos: Gallery Posts: 3,067	I own a Metz 48 AF-1, and this is one thing that dissapoints me also, the wireless sucks and fails most of the time I try to fire it wirelessly. I think it's either because the infrared location is just bad on the flash, or it can't handle being more than a few feet away from the camera.

09-17-2009, 01:59 PM	#14
Fl_Gulfer Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Florida Gulfer Photos: Albums Posts: 3,054	Anyone suggest a good wireless trigger to invest in?

09-17-2009, 04:43 PM	#15
SOldBear Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Alameda, CA Posts: 3,206	Originally posted by ohfrankyboy okay well just one easy exemple, ill put the camera beside the flash which makes the eye of the flash on the other side of the camera and voila it doesnt fire!! I know it's frustrating. But the flash does have a rotating head, right? I don't have the Metz 58AF-1, but when I use my Pentax 540 units as slaves, I always turn their sensors toward the master flash.