Metz 58-AF-2 goes off by itself using HSS

Zafar Iqbal · 09-13-2016, 01:02 PM

I updated the firmware on my Metz today, so I can use HSS - beside that, I haven't used the Metz for a long time.

In P-TTL HSS mode and only in this mode, the flash behaves as if it's shot circuiting: it will trigger on it's own and if I twist and turn the flash (hotshoe), it flashes more frequently - however I haven't found a clear pattern and as mentioned, it only does this using HSS.

Sometimes it doesn't trigger at all when I take a picture, and it's not because the flash is charging. This happens also only when using HSS.

Has anyone else had similar issue?

**mattb123** · 09-13-2016, 01:07 PM

I think I have seen mine (58 AF-2) do this and I also updated the firmware. I don't use it a lot but when I do I'll see if I can pinpoint any more correlation.

**MSL** · 09-13-2016, 01:32 PM

Which camera and which version of firmware? There have been a lot of issues with the Metz over the years...
One earlier thread I found talked about double shots occurring for example.

Zafar Iqbal · 09-13-2016, 01:50 PM

I'm using K-3 II and firmware version 5.0 on the flash.

I had issues related with K-30 back in the days too. I can't remember if it was HSS only too, or something more, but had to wait quiet a while before they had an firmware update.

Looking at the changes history, there a jump from 2013 (K-30 and K-5 II) to 2016 (K-1). K-3/II isn't mentioned anywhere

Save

**mattb123** · 09-13-2016, 01:57 PM

I just updated to use with the K-1 and hadn't noticed the random flashes before then.

Zafar Iqbal · 09-13-2016, 02:01 PM

I had forgotten about the firmware for the camera and just updated that too. The flash behavior didn't improve

mattb123: So it worked fine before the update? That sucks

Save

**mattb123** · 09-13-2016, 02:09 PM

Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal

I had forgotten about the firmware for the camera and just updated that too. The flash behavior didn't improve

mattb123: So it worked fine before the update? That sucks

Save

Not on the K-1, it wouldn't fire much of the time. Now that is better but I did notice some random flashes when I used it last. Still better than before the update.

RAART · 09-13-2016, 02:19 PM

It looks like that Metz has again this problem. I had the same behaviour happen with K-3 and Metz 52... I reported that to Metz Deutschland and on my behalf they modified firmware to eliminate this. Here are some of the emails with them... just the relevant ones...

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Thank you very much for your e-mail and for details.

In the meantime we forwarded your e-mail to our development department.
Now, we also found that flash unit fires randomly by itself, however this happens very very seldom here.
To solve this problem we guess flash unit’s firmware needs to be improved. However, this may take some time. Unfortunately, a fast solution of this problem is not possible.

We will you inform by e-mail as soon as a new firmware version for your flash unit is available.

With kind regards

Wolfgang Becker
Technical Support

----------------------------------------------------------

As of now a new firmware version (1.3) for the flash unit mecablitz 52 AF-1 digital for Pentax is available by which the mentioned problem is solved. This new firmware can be downloaded from our homepage by following link:

http://www.metz.de/en/flash-units/firmware-download-flash-units/mecablitz-52...al/pentax.html
Best regards

i.A. Roland Laemmermann
Technical Support

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

It took them around 3 months to solve this. I had did also some tests with various lenses and submitted the results to them which helped them isolate the problem. I do not have K-1 or the Metz 58 to be more helpful with this.

The volks at Metz are good and if reported properly, backed up with solid and exact behaviour reference point they will take it right away into development centre for the resolution

Zafar Iqbal · 09-13-2016, 02:38 PM

I wrote to Metz too, back when I had K-30. I think it took longer but they got back to me with an update and it solved the issue I was having at that time.

Now I'm just thinking, the K-3/II have been out for a while and apparently no-one has made them aware of this issue in all that time.

I'll send them an e-mail.

Edit: Done - e-mail sent.

**MSL** · 09-13-2016, 06:59 PM

Any chance you've got the Metz set up as a Master? It seems there are limitations on using HSS and the Metz as a master, at least from my quick reading of a thread on a different site.

Zafar Iqbal · 09-13-2016, 08:49 PM

No, it's set to Off

09-13-2016, 01:02 PM	#1
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229	Metz 58-AF-2 goes off by itself using HSS I updated the firmware on my Metz today, so I can use HSS - beside that, I haven't used the Metz for a long time. In P-TTL HSS mode and only in this mode, the flash behaves as if it's shot circuiting: it will trigger on it's own and if I twist and turn the flash (hotshoe), it flashes more frequently - however I haven't found a clear pattern and as mentioned, it only does this using HSS. Sometimes it doesn't trigger at all when I take a picture, and it's not because the flash is charging. This happens also only when using HSS. Has anyone else had similar issue?

09-13-2016, 02:19 PM	#8
RAART Veteran Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Oakville, ON Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,095	It looks like that Metz has again this problem. I had the same behaviour happen with K-3 and Metz 52... I reported that to Metz Deutschland and on my behalf they modified firmware to eliminate this. Here are some of the emails with them... just the relevant ones... --------------------------------------------------------------------- Thank you very much for your e-mail and for details. In the meantime we forwarded your e-mail to our development department. Now, we also found that flash unit fires randomly by itself, however this happens very very seldom here. To solve this problem we guess flash unit’s firmware needs to be improved. However, this may take some time. Unfortunately, a fast solution of this problem is not possible. We will you inform by e-mail as soon as a new firmware version for your flash unit is available. With kind regards Wolfgang Becker Technical Support ---------------------------------------------------------- As of now a new firmware version (1.3) for the flash unit mecablitz 52 AF-1 digital for Pentax is available by which the mentioned problem is solved. This new firmware can be downloaded from our homepage by following link: http://www.metz.de/en/flash-units/firmware-download-flash-units/mecablitz-52...al/pentax.html Best regards i.A. Roland Laemmermann Technical Support -------------------------------------------------------------------------- It took them around 3 months to solve this. I had did also some tests with various lenses and submitted the results to them which helped them isolate the problem. I do not have K-1 or the Metz 58 to be more helpful with this. The volks at Metz are good and if reported properly, backed up with solid and exact behaviour reference point they will take it right away into development centre for the resolution Last edited by RAART; 09-13-2016 at 02:28 PM.

09-13-2016, 02:38 PM	#9
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229 Original Poster	I wrote to Metz too, back when I had K-30. I think it took longer but they got back to me with an update and it solved the issue I was having at that time. Now I'm just thinking, the K-3/II have been out for a while and apparently no-one has made them aware of this issue in all that time. I'll send them an e-mail. Edit: Done - e-mail sent. Last edited by Zafar Iqbal; 09-13-2016 at 02:43 PM.

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09-13-2016, 01:07 PM	#2
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	I think I have seen mine (58 AF-2) do this and I also updated the firmware. I don't use it a lot but when I do I'll see if I can pinpoint any more correlation.

09-13-2016, 01:32 PM	#3
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	Which camera and which version of firmware? There have been a lot of issues with the Metz over the years... One earlier thread I found talked about double shots occurring for example.

09-13-2016, 01:50 PM	#4
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229 Original Poster	I'm using K-3 II and firmware version 5.0 on the flash. I had issues related with K-30 back in the days too. I can't remember if it was HSS only too, or something more, but had to wait quiet a while before they had an firmware update. Looking at the changes history, there a jump from 2013 (K-30 and K-5 II) to 2016 (K-1). K-3/II isn't mentioned anywhere Save

09-13-2016, 01:57 PM	#5
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	I just updated to use with the K-1 and hadn't noticed the random flashes before then.

09-13-2016, 02:01 PM	#6
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229 Original Poster	I had forgotten about the firmware for the camera and just updated that too. The flash behavior didn't improve mattb123: So it worked fine before the update? That sucks Save

09-13-2016, 02:09 PM	#7
mattb123 Site Supporter Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Colorado High Country Photos: Gallery Posts: 10,872	Originally posted by Zafar Iqbal I had forgotten about the firmware for the camera and just updated that too. The flash behavior didn't improve mattb123: So it worked fine before the update? That sucks Save Not on the K-1, it wouldn't fire much of the time. Now that is better but I did notice some random flashes when I used it last. Still better than before the update.

09-13-2016, 06:59 PM	#10
MSL Site Supporter Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Greater Toronto Area Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 4,749	Any chance you've got the Metz set up as a Master? It seems there are limitations on using HSS and the Metz as a master, at least from my quick reading of a thread on a different site.

09-13-2016, 08:49 PM	#11
Zafar Iqbal Veteran Member Join Date: Oct 2010 Photos: Gallery Posts: 1,229 Original Poster	No, it's set to Off