Metz 48 AF-1 Shoe Mount Flash for Sony Alpha Digital Cameras, Guide Number 158'

by Metz

Product Details

• Item Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 7 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B0010SPKBU
• Item model number: MZ48317S
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

State-of-the-art, the 48 AF-1 allows photographers to stay current and effortlessly make firmware updates via the internet and the flash s unique USB connection. The flash features a powerful guide number of 158 and for added versatility, is powered by four, readily available AA batteries. The 48 AF-1 C is designed to support Canons E-TTL and E-TTL II technology. The 48 AF-1 is fully compatible with TTL digital remote systems and can also be operated as a TTL slave unit that can be controlled by the camera s built-in commander mode, a manufacturers flash with master capabilities, or from a Metz 58 AF-1. The 48 AF-1 also features an auto zoom head from 24-105mm that can be set to match the cameras sensor, a full bounce and swivel reflector head, a built-in wide angle diffuser for 18mm coverage, and of course, full manual control with 12 partial light output level

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, sturdy, powerful flash, November 19, 2010

By 

William Porter (Dallas, TX USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Metz 48 AF-1 Shoe Mount Flash for Sony Alpha Digital Cameras, Guide Number 158' (Electronics)

This review is about the Metz 48 AF-1 Mecablitz flash for Sony alpha cameras. For the last couple of years, I've used this flash unit's bigger cousin, the 58 AF, on Pentax bodies, so I have experience with two Metz units. The 58 is available for Sony as well and I assume works more or less identically to the Pentax version. So as I write this review, I am thinking about both units -- the more expensive (top of the line) 58 and the less expensive 48.

Bottom line: The 48 is very good, especially if you are simply looking for a single flash unit, and especially considering its very reasonable cost. (As of this writing in November 2010, the Metz 48 is about $225, the Metz 58 is about $400, and the Sony F58AM is in between at around $300.)

*

As a basic hot shoe flash, the Metz 48 works very well. I shot a wedding reception with it last month and it worked fine. Head tilts and swivels fairly easily so I was able to bounce the way I like to. In this respect it's similar or identical to the more expensive models.

The Metz 58 model is more powerful (higher guide number). I have shot wedding receptions in barns where the higher guide number really may have made a difference. So I'm not yet sure how well the 48 will perform when I need that extra power.

The Metz 48 supports Sony TTL metering and does a good job there. Exposures were good. And the Metz 48 also supports Sony's optical wireless triggering. You can for example take the Metz 48 off the camera and place it on a stand, and then trigger it using your Sony DSLR's pop-up flash as a controller. As far as I can tell, however, the Metz system doesn't provide the excellent lighting control that the Sony F58AM provides. (The Sony flash lets you control multiple off-camera flash units and you can control output ratios of different flashes, which can be important for studio work. Doing multi-flash work in the studio I simply put everything into manual and take test shots until I get things right. But I'm tempted to start buying the Sony flash units just for this reason.)

*

The Metz menu system is NOT a plus, on either model. The menus on the 48 model are really quite simple, in the sense that you don't appear to have very many options. But that's precisely the point of my complaint: You actually have a fair number of options, they're just not obvious from the back of the flash unit. As I did previously with my Metz 58, I found that I absolutely had to read the user's guide for the Metz 48, not just read, but study, to figure out how to do basic things. And the manual isn't a model of clarity. But I was able, with some slight effort, to figure everything out. And it all works really well once you do figure it out.

I will soon be buying a second (and eventually third) flash unit, and I have not yet decided whether I'll be getting another Metz, or going with Sony's on F58AM. For myself, since I expect to be buying more flashes soon, the Sony F58 might have been a better choice, even though it's more expensive. But for a Sony photographer who simply wants a single flash unit, sturdy and effective, the Metz 48 is probably the best deal available.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Metz for sony a better value, July 17, 2008

By 

Michael B. Ryan "gadgetman" (spokane, wa) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

Initial impression:

Pros: lots of functions, lots of manual control. Good communication to the camera. Good power. Head swivels horizontally and vertically. Good for bounce flash. Seems a much better value that the sony for my sony alpha
Cons: virtually worthless manual. Obviously English not the primary language here. Poor explanation of custom connection to camera.

Overall it seems good to great but I will wait on that till I use it more.