54MZ-4C Flash Kit for Canon Digital SLRs

by Metz

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00020CQF0
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: November 25, 2005

Product Description

The 54MZ-4 offers cutting edge technology with features such as Canon s E-TTL flash control, and high-speed synchronization (HSS). The 54MZ-4 is a special version of Metz s 54MZ-3 series flash that has been specifically designed for Canon series digital SLRs, and comes complete the SCA 3102 module for Canon. The 54MZ-4 has a built-in secondary flash that can be used as fill to produce wraparound lighting when the main flash, with its built-in tilt/swivel function, is bounced off a wall or ceiling. The main flash s Auto Zoom feature works with lenses in the 24-105mm range, producing a Guide Number of 177 (feet) at ISO 100 at maximum zoom setting and a Guide Number of 131 (feet) at ISO 100 at 50mm. This new flash unit retains the user-friendly operation control panel of the 54MZ-3 and offers nine different Automatic settings and well as a variable Manual mode, offering ratios down to 1/256th power. The 54MZ-4 is user-friendly with only two buttons, and a single thumb wheel controls the logically arranged menu system. The illuminated LCD panel is large and easy-to-read and only displays the pertinent mode information. Special features of the 54MZ-4 includes the display of focal length for the lens in use in the LCD screen. This display can be adjusted from feet to meters, or to various film/digital formats for standard 35mm, APS digital , 645, or 6x6. Other features are auto flash bracketing, auto shut-off, and lockable keypad eliminating accidental setting changes. Item Includes: Light reduction filter Carrying case Canon SCA3102 adapter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, but you do need to pay attention, March 7, 2006

By 

Chris (Alameda, CA, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: 54MZ-4C Flash Kit for Canon Digital SLRs (Electronics)

Before I bought this flash I didn't do much indoor photography, the standard flash on the Canon EOS20D just isn't enough for the sort of events I attend and you typically can't get close enough for it to do a reasonable job.

It took me a while to find the trick to getting the flash into E-TTL mode (select TTL mode then use the roller to add the E), but once I had I turned my combination of flash, Tokina 24-200 and EOS20D and battery grip into one big point and shoot. It's certainly not a light weight setup. I photographed a company party in a room about 100x60 feet on my first outing. Mostly I used bounce flash at short focal lengths, the flash zooms to match the lens. Sometimes I used 200mm focal length from 60' or more away and even did some whole room shots. About 95% were properly exposed. I still need to learn some more about the bounce flash and sometimes I think the E-TTL metering can be fooled, but that's the camera and not the flash. 279 flash pictures and all on the same set of four 2500mAh NiMH rechargeables.

4.0 out of 5 stars Mtz 54 MZ 4C, June 19, 2008

By 

John H. Bui "American Eagle" (Atlanta, Georgia USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 54MZ-4C Flash Kit for Canon Digital SLRs (Electronics)

work great, give me more control of the flash, easy to use I like it

4.0 out of 5 stars Metz 54 MZ-4C TTL Shoe Mount Flash, June 26, 2007

By 

Gary A. Hall (Ft. Lauderdale, FL) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: 54MZ-4C Flash Kit for Canon Digital SLRs (Electronics)

I purchased this flash and has taken 4 months to wade through the most illogical and poorly written instruction manual. This manual has to rate as one of the worst - by far.

I had to resort to being mentored by a professional that also uses one. Most of the Metz features are not in the book in any form that can be understood by a college graduate.

If you do not know flash units, as was my case, you will never figure out how the darn thing works.

The flash perform very well and recommend it over the Canon flash units.

I use it on a Canon 5D. Glad I got it, but I would have been constantly calling the Company to get a handle on its use [if it were not for friends help].

Note: After dropping it I purchased a Canon 580EX II. The 580 is a superior flash, but was not available when I got the Metz 54. I also retract my comment about the Metz being better than Canon. The Metz does not have Ettl capabilities like the 580.