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chirpy · 12-10-2008, 03:57 PM

The Metz 15 MS-1 is available in the UK now for ~£250 - intriguing but I'd like to see some reviews on how it fares first. It seems the Pentax is probably going to be around £399 - I really hope it isn't

Tom S. · 12-10-2008, 05:32 PM

Tri State camera has the Metz listed for $400.

Metz | 15 MS-1 DIGITAL WIRELESS MACRO SLAVE FLASH | MZ15110 | Tri-State Camera, Video, and Computer

Blue · 12-10-2008, 06:16 PM

Tri State's reseller rating is less than stellar. TriState Camera, Video and Computers - tristatecamera.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings I'm wondering if they actually have those Metz in stock and if the have the one for the Pentax. They are coming in cheaper than I thought they would. I was making my guess based on the Metz 58 pricing.

Tom S. · 12-11-2008, 06:46 AM

Originally posted by Blue

Tri State's reseller rating is less than stellar. TriState Camera, Video and Computers - tristatecamera.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings I'm wondering if they actually have those Metz in stock and if the have the one for the Pentax. They are coming in cheaper than I thought they would. I was making my guess based on the Metz 58 pricing.

I never checked their rating - I was just interested in the fact that at least the flash is starting to show up in ads. We will probably start seeing more after the first of the year, which my budget says is just as well.

Blue · 12-12-2008, 08:35 AM

The Sigma was by the door when I got home yesterday. That darn Santa snuck up on me.

I haven't had the opportunity to use it in a "real" situation chasing bugs and snakes. It will definitely be a very usable system. So far the only thing I don't like is that the lamps (left, right, both) have to be selected through a menu instead of a switch. The thing has 9 switches on it so I fail to see why the couldn't have put one on the ring itself. It could be that the lamps are so processor driven regarding intensity.

Edit: The EM 140 will control my Metz 48 as a wireless slave.

roelof · 12-13-2008, 12:12 PM

Over here (the Netherlands) the Metz now costs about half the price of the Pentax unit....

EUR 259 - Metz Mecablitz 15 MS-1
EUR 329 - Sigma EM-140 DG Macro Flashlite (Pentax version)
EUR 499 - Pentax AF-160FC

CameraNU.nl - Metz - Flitser

The site lists it as being on back-order, but they do show the price.

I think I will order one; I always wanted a macroflash, but was put off by the high prices up until now.

Tom S. · 12-14-2008, 06:17 AM

Originally posted by roelof

Over here (the Netherlands) the Metz now costs about half the price of the Pentax unit....

EUR 259 - Metz Mecablitz 15 MS-1
EUR 329 - Sigma EM-140 DG Macro Flashlite (Pentax version)
EUR 499 - Pentax AF-160FC

CameraNU.nl - Metz - Flitser

The site lists it as being on back-order, but they do show the price.

I think I will order one; I always wanted a macroflash, but was put off by the high prices up until now.

That's a great price! Of course they could advertise it for free if they don't have any to sell.

Hopefully the price will remain the same when they get them in stock.

roelof · 12-14-2008, 06:29 AM

Originally posted by Tom S.

That's a great price! Of course they could advertise it for free if they don't have any to sell.

Hopefully the price will remain the same when they get them in stock.

I ordered it for this price, which means they have to deliver it for that when it comes in.

I found it for the same price on another Dutch website which did have them in stock, so it seems that this is going to be the retail price over here. I wonder where the huge price difference is coming from. AFAIK Metz is an A-brand too.

Tom S. · 12-14-2008, 03:26 PM

Originally posted by roelof

I ordered it for this price, which means they have to deliver it for that when it comes in.

I found it for the same price on another Dutch website which did have them in stock, so it seems that this is going to be the retail price over here. I wonder where the huge price difference is coming from. AFAIK Metz is an A-brand too.

Metz is definately a quality product! Let us know when you get it and post some pictures taken with it so I can drool and dream!

mattdm · 12-14-2008, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by roelof

Over here (the Netherlands) the Metz now costs about half the price of the Pentax unit....

Looks like Pentax missed the mark on price and feature set here. I encourage people to e-mail them about that issue and particularly about the lack of wireless options.

Blue · 12-14-2008, 05:27 PM

Originally posted by mattdm

Looks like Pentax missed the mark on price and feature set here. I encourage people to e-mail them about that issue and particularly about the lack of wireless options.

The one thing I may like about the Pentax unit compared to Sigma or Metz is the straight forward controls. But that may be due to the lack of wireless features etc. Operating the Sigma is a lot like operating the Metz 48. For what its worth, the Metz is made in Germany and the Sigma is made in Japan and that is a plus to me for both since I like to see photographic equipment made in Germany or Japan.

You are absolutely right about the price point on the Pentax unit. They need to get it down.

pentaxk10duser · 12-21-2008, 01:54 PM

I found a video of the Metz 15ms-1 digital macro ring flash. check it out . Metz 15MS-1 digital macro ring flash overview on Yahoo! Video

chirpy · 12-23-2008, 02:59 AM

I've seen some photo's taken with the Metz 15 MS-1 on flickr and am not sure I like the twin flash reflections you get from it in macro work. A ring can be a problem, but seems more appealing than what I've seen so far from the Metz.

I'm really waiting to see what the AF160C reflections look like before making a decision.

John Kovarik · 01-07-2009, 09:28 AM

So I decided to get a Macro flash and after much thought ordered the Sigma from B&H, which will arrive tomorrow.

Then I began to have second thoughts and have concluded that the Pentax is the better product for me even at a quite higher price. This is based partly on design and partly on expected performance. So the Sigma will go back.

I just spoke to the PTX folks at Golden (call ctr in NC) but they were unable to give me a release/ship date. just.............soon.

CertEdFriday · 01-13-2009, 02:22 AM

Still await delivery - latest forecast is delivery in January. Unfortunately they don't say what year!
I also found it on this site - price is a bit scary though...

Pentax AF160 FC Ring Flash

12-14-2008, 06:29 AM	#23
roelof Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leiden, the Netherlands Posts: 26	Originally posted by Tom S. That's a great price! Of course they could advertise it for free if they don't have any to sell. Hopefully the price will remain the same when they get them in stock. I ordered it for this price, which means they have to deliver it for that when it comes in. I found it for the same price on another Dutch website which did have them in stock, so it seems that this is going to be the retail price over here. I wonder where the huge price difference is coming from. AFAIK Metz is an A-brand too. Last edited by roelof; 01-03-2009 at 07:28 AM. Reason: test sig

01-07-2009, 09:28 AM	#29
John Kovarik Veteran Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: West Virginia Photos: Gallery Posts: 338	Ring around the Macro So I decided to get a Macro flash and after much thought ordered the Sigma from B&H, which will arrive tomorrow. Then I began to have second thoughts and have concluded that the Pentax is the better product for me even at a quite higher price. This is based partly on design and partly on expected performance. So the Sigma will go back. I just spoke to the PTX folks at Golden (call ctr in NC) but they were unable to give me a release/ship date. just.............soon.

01-13-2009, 02:22 AM	#30
CertEdFriday Senior Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: UK - Somerset Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 175	Pentax AF160FC AUTO MACRO RING Still await delivery - latest forecast is delivery in January. Unfortunately they don't say what year! I also found it on this site - price is a bit scary though... Pentax AF160 FC Ring Flash

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12-10-2008, 03:57 PM	#16
chirpy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK, Berkshire Posts: 143	The Metz 15 MS-1 is available in the UK now for ~£250 - intriguing but I'd like to see some reviews on how it fares first. It seems the Pentax is probably going to be around £399 - I really hope it isn't

12-10-2008, 05:32 PM	#17
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Tri State camera has the Metz listed for $400. Metz \| 15 MS-1 DIGITAL WIRELESS MACRO SLAVE FLASH \| MZ15110 \| Tri-State Camera, Video, and Computer

12-10-2008, 06:16 PM	#18
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377 Original Poster	Tri State's reseller rating is less than stellar. TriState Camera, Video and Computers - tristatecamera.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings I'm wondering if they actually have those Metz in stock and if the have the one for the Pentax. They are coming in cheaper than I thought they would. I was making my guess based on the Metz 58 pricing.

12-11-2008, 06:46 AM	#19
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Originally posted by Blue Tri State's reseller rating is less than stellar. TriState Camera, Video and Computers - tristatecamera.com - Reviews, Ratings and Prices at ResellerRatings I'm wondering if they actually have those Metz in stock and if the have the one for the Pentax. They are coming in cheaper than I thought they would. I was making my guess based on the Metz 58 pricing. I never checked their rating - I was just interested in the fact that at least the flash is starting to show up in ads. We will probably start seeing more after the first of the year, which my budget says is just as well.

12-12-2008, 08:35 AM	#20
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377 Original Poster	The Sigma was by the door when I got home yesterday. That darn Santa snuck up on me. I haven't had the opportunity to use it in a "real" situation chasing bugs and snakes. It will definitely be a very usable system. So far the only thing I don't like is that the lamps (left, right, both) have to be selected through a menu instead of a switch. The thing has 9 switches on it so I fail to see why the couldn't have put one on the ring itself. It could be that the lamps are so processor driven regarding intensity. Edit: The EM 140 will control my Metz 48 as a wireless slave.

12-13-2008, 12:12 PM	#21
roelof Inactive Account Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Leiden, the Netherlands Posts: 26	Over here (the Netherlands) the Metz now costs about half the price of the Pentax unit.... EUR 259 - Metz Mecablitz 15 MS-1 EUR 329 - Sigma EM-140 DG Macro Flashlite (Pentax version) EUR 499 - Pentax AF-160FC CameraNU.nl - Metz - Flitser The site lists it as being on back-order, but they do show the price. I think I will order one; I always wanted a macroflash, but was put off by the high prices up until now.

12-14-2008, 06:17 AM	#22
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Originally posted by roelof Over here (the Netherlands) the Metz now costs about half the price of the Pentax unit.... EUR 259 - Metz Mecablitz 15 MS-1 EUR 329 - Sigma EM-140 DG Macro Flashlite (Pentax version) EUR 499 - Pentax AF-160FC CameraNU.nl - Metz - Flitser The site lists it as being on back-order, but they do show the price. I think I will order one; I always wanted a macroflash, but was put off by the high prices up until now. That's a great price! Of course they could advertise it for free if they don't have any to sell. Hopefully the price will remain the same when they get them in stock.

12-14-2008, 03:26 PM	#24
Tom S. Veteran Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: S.E. Michigan Photos: Albums Posts: 4,317	Originally posted by roelof I ordered it for this price, which means they have to deliver it for that when it comes in. I found it for the same price on another Dutch website which did have them in stock, so it seems that this is going to be the retail price over here. I wonder where the huge price difference is coming from. AFAIK Metz is an A-brand too. Metz is definately a quality product! Let us know when you get it and post some pictures taken with it so I can drool and dream!

12-14-2008, 04:53 PM	#25
mattdm Veteran Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Boston, MA Photos: Gallery Posts: 2,948	Originally posted by roelof Over here (the Netherlands) the Metz now costs about half the price of the Pentax unit.... Looks like Pentax missed the mark on price and feature set here. I encourage people to e-mail them about that issue and particularly about the lack of wireless options.

12-14-2008, 05:27 PM	#26
Blue Moderator Site Supporter Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Florida Hill Country Photos: Gallery \| Albums Posts: 17,377 Original Poster	Originally posted by mattdm Looks like Pentax missed the mark on price and feature set here. I encourage people to e-mail them about that issue and particularly about the lack of wireless options. The one thing I may like about the Pentax unit compared to Sigma or Metz is the straight forward controls. But that may be due to the lack of wireless features etc. Operating the Sigma is a lot like operating the Metz 48. For what its worth, the Metz is made in Germany and the Sigma is made in Japan and that is a plus to me for both since I like to see photographic equipment made in Germany or Japan. You are absolutely right about the price point on the Pentax unit. They need to get it down.

12-21-2008, 01:54 PM	#27
pentaxk10duser Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Kentucky Photos: Albums Posts: 165	I found a video of the Metz 15ms-1 digital macro ring flash. check it out . Metz 15MS-1 digital macro ring flash overview on Yahoo! Video

12-23-2008, 02:59 AM	#28
chirpy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: UK, Berkshire Posts: 143	I've seen some photo's taken with the Metz 15 MS-1 on flickr and am not sure I like the twin flash reflections you get from it in macro work. A ring can be a problem, but seems more appealing than what I've seen so far from the Metz. I'm really waiting to see what the AF160C reflections look like before making a decision.

Pentax AF160FC AUTO MACRO RING

Win a Pentax Limited Lens: Raffle Now Live!