I have a Canon Xti, and really needed a flash that could double for Macro as well. All I needed was a flash that tilted down. I would have simply bought a Canon Speedlite 430EX, but wouldn't you know it, it does not tilt down. And I was not going to spend the money on a 580EX just for the tilt down feature. Smooth move Canon.
This opened my eyes to other possibilities. The Metz 48 AF-1 was unfamiliar territory, but I was familiar with the name and did a little research. It seems to be more popular in Europe, so finding information was a little difficult. The only real criticisms I have seen are regarding the buttons/menu structure, and what some describe as a weak tilting mechanism. Now that I have had a chance to use this flash for 4 months I can tell you that in my experience, the tilting mechanism is not weak. I have a Lumiquest Softbox on it at all times and I need to push it to make it tilt down. However, one needs to tilt it until they feel a small "click" in the mechanism. There is an angle indicator, but don't use that as your only guide. There is more of a lock than my old 580EZ, which has no locking mechanism at all, and I never had trouble with it.
As far as the buttons go, some may like it, some may not. It was not a factor in my purchase. And like anything else, you learn the system and get used to it. I have found it most convenient to use the buttons having the camera strap around my neck, and to tilt the camera forward, letting the it rest against my stomach. It frees both hands to make fast adjustments. But the Flash Exposure Compensation can be done easily with one hand.
I have only three criticisms of this great product. One it that the buttons are not flush with the body, and can be exposed to damage, or unintended setting changes if the unit is laid on its back. Two, is that the power button seems a little wiggly (not a technical term). And three, the surface is too smooth. It can feel almost slippery in my hand. It has a very slight texture which reduces friction (sounds odd, but true). It needs either a flat finish, or some strategically placed grip material (could look pretty cool and rugged if done right).
Here are the things I love about this flash. The color reproduction is hands-down better than Canon flashes (in my experience). I always use a gray card for White Balance, and it is almost not necessary. The flash has an option to detect the sensor size of your camera. This saves battery power with a cropped sensor as the flash does not need to waste light in an area outside of what the sensor will detect. Metz customer service is also top-notch. I thought I had a problem, and emailed back and forth with the company in Germany. There was no problem, but they really wanted to see samples and make sure. I appreciated the fast response, and their concern.
And for those who find information on the web stating this product is not true Electronic Through The Lens metering (ETTL), that is not true. It most certainly is. And the proof is constant perfect exposures with a Lumiquest Softbox covering the flash.
I am giving this product 5 stars because none of my criticisms outweigh the fact that this is a superior product in its category and price point. You don't have to get a Canon Speedlite. You may find that some non-Canon products work even better, and this is one of them.
And the best part: it's called the MECABLITZ!!!
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