Metz Flash & P1 645

[Gary32]

Can anyone help establish the real situation regarding using a shoe mounted flash on the P1 645/P65+ with TTL/OFT exposure?

Metz say their flash units can only be used on the manual or auto setting if you're shooting with a digital back on a Mamiya or Phase One 645, so TTL/OFT isn't possible.

But in the Phase One P65+ brochure it talks about using hot shoe TTL/OFT flash on another camera (I think it might be the Contax 645), and advises that although a digital back has different reflectance to film, it's still possible to use TTL/OFT flash control, you just set a -2 exposure compensation on the flash unit. If this works for a Contax 645 surely it would work on a P1 645?

Any thoughts?

[Gary32]

In case anyone searches for this topic in the future I'll answer my own question!

I tried the Metz 54-3 on a P1 645 with a P65+ back and the SCA 3952 adaptor...and it all works perfectly. No adjustment is needed for a digital back versus film, and the TTL/OTF flash measurement serves up perfectly exposed shots frame after frame even at the full 1/125s synch speed.

One thing to be aware of though. There's a custom function that allows flash compensation to be controlled by the camera's exposure compensation controls. My experience is it's better to leave this at the default setting of "0", and manage flash compensation directly on the Metz. This seemed to deliver better and more predictable fill flash results.

[Christian192]

I really am struggling hard with this Metz flash. I am using the 54 MZ-4i combined with the SCA 3952 and TTL. I ALWAYS get 2 f-stop over-exposured images. If I set the flash compensation at the camera to -2, it works. But when it goes to stand by, it loses the settings and the next shot will just be over exposured again.... Is my flash unit broken?

[Gary32]

Christian, I've now used the Metz 54 MZ-3 with the SCA 3952 extensively, and I find it extremely reliable and predictable with the Phase One body and P65+ back. In fact it delivers a success rate that's comparable to when I use Canon flash units on Canon cameras.

There's often some small exposure compensation required depending on the background reflectivity or size of the main subject within the frame, but these are fairly easy to assess and generally amount to no more than half or two-thirds of a stop compensation up or down. I'm puzzled why you're not getting better results, especially as you're using a more modern Metz unit than mine.

[NNN634437738219732615]

Gary

Will this Metz and SCA adaptor work with a P45+ as well?

Sonny

[Mathias Montavon]

Hi,
I know this is an old thread but I hope someone could help me !
I meet the same issue as Christian192. I tried the Metz 40 MZ-3i with the SCA 3952 M and the SCA 3951 M. After that, I tried the Metz 54 MZ-3 (the one which is recommanded by PhaseOne) with both shoes. I always get 2 f-stop overexposed pictures. And as sayed Christian192, if I set the flash compensation at the camera to -2, it works.
I use the PhaseOne DF with a Leaf Aptus II-8 digital back. What is wrong with this system ?
The PhaseOne body firmware version is 1.07. Do you think that an upgrade to the last firmware would fix this issue ? Any solution to upgrade the body firmware without the V-Grip ?
Hey, what a mess to make a flash work properly !

[klickschick]

check this out. viewtopic.php?f=32&t=16434

Same issue with newest Firmware and newest Body (645DF+)

So I think firmware Update for your 645DF will not be a solution for this issue. By the way: Firmware Update is only possible with the VGrip. So contact your PO Dealer to perform the update.

regs

Matthias