Review on Metz Mount Digital Cameras Number by Clayton Morris

This review focuses on the Metz 48 AF-1 Mecablitz flash for Sony Alpha cameras. I've used this flash's big sister, the 58 AF, on Pentax bodies for the past few years, so I have experience with two Metz flashes. 58 is also available for Sony and I assume it works more or less identically to the Pentax version. So as I write this review I have both devices in mind - the more expensive (best-in-line) 58 and the more affordable 48. Verdict: The 48 is very good, especially if you're just looking for a single flash. units, and especially considering its quite reasonable cost. (At the time of this writing in November 2010, the Metz 48 is around $225, the Metz 58 is around $400, and the Sony F58AM is around $300.) * As a simple hot shoe, the Metz 48 works very well. I filmed a wedding reception last month and it worked well. The head tilts and rotates fairly easily, allowing me to bounce at will. In this respect it is similar or identical to more expensive models. The Metz 58 is more powerful (higher guide number). I've photographed barn weddings where a higher guide number could really make a difference. So I'm not sure yet how well the 48 will perform when I need the extra power. The Metz 48 supports Sony TTL metering and does its job well. The exposures were good. And the Metz 48 also supports Sony's optical wireless sync. For example, you can detach the Metz 48 from your camera and place it on a tripod, then activate it as a controller with your Sony DSLR's pop-up flash. As far as I can tell, however, the Metz system doesn't offer the excellent light control that the Sony F58AM offers. (Sony Flash lets you control multiple external strobes as well as adjust the power factors of different strobes, which can be important when working in the studio. When I'm working with multiple strobes in the studio, I just put everything in manual mode and take test shots until I got everything right, but that alone makes me tempted to buy Sony flashes.) * The Metz menu system is NOT a plus on either model. The 48's menus are actually very basic, in the sense that you don't have a lot of options. But that's exactly the point of my complaint: you actually have quite a few options, they just aren't apparent on the back of the flash. As with my Metz 58, I've found it absolutely essential for me to read, not just read but study, the Metz 48's owner's manual to understand how to do the basic things. And leadership is not a pattern of clarity. But I managed, with a little effort, to figure it all out. And it all works very well once you figure it all out. I'm about to get a second (and possibly third) flash and haven't decided yet whether to buy another Metz or switch to the Sony F58AM. For me, as I expect to buy more flashes soon, the Sony F58 might be a better choice, even if it's more expensive. But for Sony photographers who just need a durable and efficient flash, the Metz 48 is probably the best deal.