Metz 50MZ-5 Flash Unit w/LCD Controller Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

Christiano
( Professional)

Review Date
June 15, 2004

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 1 of 8

Price Paid: $325.00 from bingo foto

Summary:

Its a prof flash of a very high quality and the prints i get with my Pentax 67 and this Metz flash is very good looking not yellowish or blue but white and clean! i use it for fashion ,portraits and weddings and find it very good to work with! Its still a very pro flash even compared to other brands and i will always choose this although The Vivitar 283/285 comes close. Go for Metz-its german quality.

Strengths:

White Light

Weaknesses:

a bit heavy

Similar Products Used:

many from national canon vivitar and others

Customer Service:

Nope

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Richard Weber
(Expert)

Review Date
May 21, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 2 of 8

Price Paid: $749.00

Summary:

I use this constantly in sport, Banquet, wedding, group portraits, plays and many school functions.
With Metz bounce attached (50-23) there is plenty of power for all of the above. The metz flash producer the most natural lighting of any flash. The nikon flashes tend towards yellow and photos compared side by side are like day and night. Nikon flashes are obvious. The metz flash often makes a scene look like natural light and there is no harshness at all. Value rating under new pricing at B&H moves value rating from 4-5 stars but at price I paid can only give 4 star value rating. Extremely versatile flash

Strengths:

Power, Weight, Flexability.Quality of lighting

Weaknesses:

Fires camera and flash for no reason on Nikon F5 & N90s Loose 3-4 frames for each roll of film. Brackets cheap feel

Similar Products Used:

Nikon SB26
Nikon SB28

Customer Service:

Have not had time to send in for repair of random firing in constant use.

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Walt Hubis
(Professional)

Review Date
May 3, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Review 3 of 8

Price Paid: $800.00 from Mail Order

Summary:

Very flexible and powerful flash, but it's big. Biggest gripes are the proprietary NiCad, non-universal charger, and bracket design. I broke the block where the camera plate attaches to the flash - it's a bad design. It's especially worrisome with larger cameras- F5 and medium format. I now carry an extra attachement block with me (provided gratis by Bogen). I use this when I can, but use the SB-28 when I travel or need to go light. Great flash for weddings, groups, and large areas where you need the power. Especially nice when using the StoFen diffuser.

Strengths:

Powerful, Full Featured, Accurate

Weaknesses:

Big and Heavy. The battery charger is not a "universal" type, so I have to buy a second charger for overseas. Concerns about the bracket strength. Proprietary NiCads.

Similar Products Used:

Mikon SB-28

Customer Service:

Prompt, knowledgeable technical support from Germany, good support from US distributor (Bogen).

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: bobby magalad
(Expert)

Review Date
March 11, 2001

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Visitors rate this review
1.00 of 5,
1 votes

Review 4 of 8

Price Paid: $400.00 from freestyle

Summary:

it may not be the powerful portable flash around but, you can good results with or without the lcd control....at manual mode you get the best out of this flash

Strengths:

powerful flash and accuracy is good as long as u have the lcd control. At manual the flash is powerful enough for weddings, portraits and parties

Weaknesses:

does not sync high enough action photography/

Similar Products Used:

lumedyne, dynalites and sunpaks

Customer Service:

never tried it yet coz mine never broke down on me

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.

Rating
Reviewed by: Alexander Koedijk
(Intermediate)

Review Date
September 21, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Review 5 of 8

Price Paid: $500.00 from Foto Konijnenberg

Summary:

Probably the best flash around, it sounds like overkill if you want to use it for "daily" work, but it's a pleasure to work with. The SCA system makes it unbeatable for all original brands. The quality is even better.

Strengths:

Power, flexability of the SCA system, lost of features, additional powerpack, "little" weight for all the power and features, good price ratio.

Weaknesses:

None except the lack of support of the 1/8000 shuttertime support.

Similar Products Used:

Metz, Minolta, Nikon, Canon

Customer Service:

Not needed, they're giving good information even about the weak points (SCA incompatabilities)

Would you like to Comment?
Join PhotographyReview for a free account, or Login if you are already a member.