Strengths: - Sturdy, RELIABLE! - Fast recycle time, enough power for most uses - Bounce/swivel head with secondary lamp - Many modes to suit your needs - A standard in Europe for wedding photography - Repair and parts service

- Heavy and bulky, may not fit everybody's needs. Not just the unit to carry always in the bag. - Old-fashioned NI-CD battery with "memory" effect. and the charger is not intelligent, you have to remember when to disconnect it. - The accesories are expensive. But this is true for all brands, isn't it?

I bought this flash unit together with the 3402 SCA (for Nikon) and the TTL cable with AF assist light. I was working then as a semi-professional (extra incomings taking photos at weddings banquets). It has never failed. Sure, this flash is heavy, bulky and a bit expensive (with all the TTL accesories), but it's reliable and very suitable for the job. The recycle time is very short in usual conditions (so you're always ready to shot), the bounce/swivel head with secondary lamp is a must then you have a white ceiling above you, the metering (in auto mode) is very acurate and predictable, the rechargeable battery saves you money, and you can also use standard alkaline batteries when the main battery drains off. The arm places the head away from the lens axis, preventing red-eye effect and so the lighting is less flat. I usually use it in auto mode, changing the aperture to fit the light bounce. I rarely use TTL (as I get less predictable results), and the TTL mode supported in this flash is analog (old) TTL, not supporting the newer more advanced TTL modes such as 3D with preflash. But TTL works reliably, anyway, and it is a saver when you need to work really fast without having much time to thik, and specially when using filters. The AF assist light accesory is a great help when focusing in low light situations such as a dark church.

Customer Service

Never required, but available if necessary

Similar Products Used:

Metz 32 MZ-3 + SCA 3401 (red-eye effect!) Cullmann DC-25 + SCA 346 F80 built-in pop-up flash (just a toy)

Good power; TTL flash is superior for critical photography, where results determine your paycheck; bounce/swivel head, and Omni-Bounce has unit to fit. CL/4 has a bit better control panel layout than CT/4, otherwise they seem interchangeable from users standpoint. Seeem to last forever, work as they're supposed to; what's not to like? By the way--someone commented that they are not to be used with Quantom Turbo batteries...nonsense!!! I, and almost every wedding photographer this side of Pluto use that combo as standard gear. Like I said earlier, 40,000 pops and still running, and every one of them with the Turbo!

When I think of one, I'll post it.

This reviews both the Metz 45CL/4 and older 45CT/4. Used the 45CT/4 for tons of wedding and location shoots...figure about 40,000 pops and still going strong. Replaced it with the 45CL after noticing some burnt looking discoloration of the bulb and mirrored reflector surrounding it. Functioning was still perfect, but weddings are no place to have doubts in equipment or confidence, so obtained the 45CL/4 as main unit and retired the 45CT/4 to non-wedding use.

Customer Service

Haven't needed since 1988.

Power, accuracy, build quality

Price - you could get four Vivitar 283s instead.

Nothing to criticise about this gun at all! It has plenty of power and the auto sensor is pretty accurate. You don't really need the TTL adaptor. Buy the NiCd version, which comes with a spare battery cluster for normal alkaline cells in case your NiCds run out.

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Metz 45CT-1

- power - reliability - easily connected to other cameras - second reflector for macro shots

- NC-charge unit is not intelligent - short lifetime of the NCs - diffusor not very robust

I have owned the 45CT-5 and the actual 45CL-4. Both are perfect machines in terma of power, versatility and rugged design. The SCA-connectors link both flashes to my old Canon A1 or (CL-4 version only) to my EOS 3. I prefer using the A-TTL-mode of this flash over the e-TTL mode of the dedicated systems (my Canon 420EX flash) since the latter tends to unexpected under- and overexposures. Read the comments of some professionals on the 550EX systems VERY carefully! For macro photography, I use the Metz 45CL-4 not attached to the camera but hand-hold to obtain various directions of light. At distances below 0.8 m from the subject I simply turn the main reflector by 180° and use unly the second small reflector. Result: perfect macro exposures without ring light! I also don´t miss the motorized reflector for indoor photography since the brute power of the unit mostly allows a bounced illumination which I prefer by far.

Customer Service

- never needed

Similar Products Used:

Metz 60-CT1, 45-CT5, Canon 420EX

- Good power - TTL capability - easy-to-use Auto dial

- relatively slow recharging time

I use this with my Pentax 645. Since I shoot mostly 400 film indoor, the distance coverage is exactly what I need. I use it both with TTL and auto. I like the Auto setting much more than the color coding of Vivitar 285HV since I can set the f-stop and see the max. distance all in the same dial. This is especially convenient when doing fill flash outdoor. Also, the wide-angle diffuser couples with the distance scale to show the reduced distance coverage. I like the idea of having the battery in the flash since I don't need to carry an extra battery pack. The recharging time is long, but not too bad. I am planning to purchase the NiCad battery since Metz suggests against using any non-Metz battery pack, NiMH batteries, or Li battery.

Customer Service

Metz in Germany responded e-mail promptly.

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 285HV

1)built like a brick 2)very reliable 3)can double up as a riot control device

none.

bought mine second hand a couple of years back.failed only once... due to a faulty syncro cord.very good and reliable piece of kit.very accurate 2.i highly recommend it

Customer Service

none needed...

Similar Products Used:

metz 60 550ex

- Good recycle time, especially with NiCad batts. - Strong handle and metallic angle latch. - Compatible with 2fps winders, at minimum light power. - Secondary lamp. Very useful for fill-in flash when bouncing main beam. - Upgradeable to fit any modern TTL camera, though adaptors needed can be a little expensive.

None remarkable. Though if I have to mention one: bulky. You´ll need a medium to large photo bag to carry it.

An excellent lighting instrument. I bought it back in 1992 and it gave me those long years of satisfaction. Still use it frequently, and it wasn´t but some months ago that original NiCad batteries started to show worn. Nevertheless I did not replace them yet. Mechanically strong, you can rely on its handle to hold your camera, motor and a medium telephoto or zoom lens. Powerful enough for almost every situation.

Customer Service

Never needed it.

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Agfa shoemount, Philips.

overall build recharable battry packs. able to decitate to various brands i own both pentax and bronica and able to use to both cameras back up in australia the name saids it all able to use mains power also able to use dry battries briant for large group photos for fill flash also see my review for metz 40mz2(only complaint the silly names)

cost of accs

i love both my metz flashes i will never stray from this brand

Customer Service

exellent

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sunpac

Very powerful and durable flash unit providing great coverage. Interchangeable modules allowing the unit to work with different cameras. Swivel and bounce heads provide flexiblility in different lighting situaltions. Accessories are readily available for this popular flash among the professionals.

No auto-zoom head or other high-tech bells or whistles. The spring-clip locking the battery holder to the bottom of the handlemount broke after only a few use. A replacement is about $30.

A great powerful flash unit for the "enthusiast" amateur. The higher models in the Metz line like the 60 CT series are much more expensive. The 45 series does not require a seperate dedicated power pack, although using a Quantum battery is more desirable which provides excellent recycle time.

Customer Service

No experience

Similar Products Used:

None

Fast in recylcle time, perfect for sequences mode with my Nikon F5 (Even in Ch mode!).The bouncing head and the wide angle adapter help a lot when it comes to covering dead angles. Good and reliable connection by cord.6 batteries is perfect=More autonomy.Great flash.

I'd like to have more manual control. Only 1/1, 1/2 and 1/4, sometimes you just say "I just would like more control", but the auto mode is really good. Too big.

With the F5 and the flash attached my camera looks like a tank, but its all right.Skateboard pictures love this flash!

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None