Have I won a Metx 45 CL-4 flash for a reasonable amount?

ted_smith · Mar 5, 2012

Hi

I have won a Metz 45 CL-4 flash gun via an industrial auction from a recently closed government department.

I won the item for £56 but VAT and collection charges are likely to make it about £100. All things considered, is that (£100) a reasonable amount to pay for a flash gun of this type? From ym reading I gather Metz are one of the best flash gun manufacturers and they often seem to fecth prices of around £400 new.

Ted

mgb74 · Mar 5, 2012

Values can vary by location and, of course, condition. Also, on whether all the "pieces" (battery tray, cords, camera plate) are included. But the CL series go for more than the CT series.

benjiboy · Mar 5, 2012

You should have asked before you bought it Ted, Ffords have this in Ex+ condition for £75 http://www.ffordes.co.uk/product/11012313280931 they deliver before noon the next day, and give six months warranty on their used equipment.

Steve Smith · Mar 5, 2012

benjiboy said:
You should have asked before you bought it Ted, Ffords have this in Ex+ condition for £75.

No harm in having two!

Steve.

ted_smith · Mar 5, 2012

Benji

Darn!!

Ed Bray · Mar 5, 2012

There are 2 Metz 45CL4 models, the older original and the newer 'Digital', if yours is the newer Digital madel then you got a steal as it sells for circa £400 new the older model (which you can still buy new in some places) sells for circa £150 ish with secondhand models starting from £75 or so.

ted_smith · Mar 5, 2012

The info was rather sparse in the auction, described as "Metz 45 CL4 flashgun with battery, charger, cable & SCA 3000C shutter release" ( irealise there's an additional adapter needed for use with my F5) . Picture here if it helps? : http://www.troostwijkauctions.com/uk/flashgun/03-16161-8934-1760227/

They had several for sale (all listed here : http://www.troostwijkauctions.com/uk/photographic-equipment/02-16161-8934/?p=3). Not sure if any of you can tell from these pictures if they're digital or not?

I also got stung due to being used to eBay. I submitted what I thought was my max bid of £56 and it just jumped straight to it, even though the previous high bid was £25. I expected it to go to something like £30, then £35, like it does with eBay. So I could probably have won it for £30.

Then I rang a courier company to enquire how much collection of the item from Barnsely to Derby (where I live) would be....£75 + VAT!! So I am going to have to take a day off work to collect it by car.

So all in all this has been a very sorry experience for me. Especially given that the only reason I am having to buy new kit is because it was all stolen last year :-(

benjiboy · Mar 5, 2012

ted_smith said:
The info was rather sparse in the auction, described as "Metz 45 CL4 flashgun with battery, charger, cable & SCA 3000C shutter release" ( irealise there's an additional adapter needed for use with my F5) . Picture here if it helps? : http://www.troostwijkauctions.com/uk/flashgun/03-16161-8934-1760227/

They had several for sale (all listed here : http://www.troostwijkauctions.com/uk/photographic-equipment/02-16161-8934/?p=3). Not sure if any of you can tell from these pictures if they're digital or not?

I also got stung due to being used to eBay. I submitted what I thought was my max bid of £56 and it just jumped straight to it, even though the previous high bid was £25. I expected it to go to something like £30, then £35, like it does with eBay. So I could probably have won it for £30.

Then I rang a courier company to enquire how much collection of the item from Barnsely to Derby (where I live) would be....£75 + VAT!! So I am going to have to take a day off work to collect it by car.

So all in all this has been a very sorry experience for me. Especially given that the only reason I am having to buy new kit is because it was all stolen last year :-(

It looks like the rechargeable one which is more expensive than the normal AA Alkaline battery version, I have both but I find with my rechargeable one that since I don't use it so often my rechargeable one is often flat if not used for long periods and that for occasional use the AA battery version is better, and to add insult to injury I just found this http://www.carmarthencameras.co.uk/...etzequipment/cccc9b1e27cb8c66fd752223a51cc516 they are great flashguns and a alternative Metz battery holder can be bought from Amazon if you want to use it with AA batteries, and the digital model has no advantage when used with a Hasselblad..

MattKing · Mar 5, 2012

If it is any consolation Ted, as long as it is working well it will be a really good flash .

Certainly better than anything new you might buy for what you have spent.

Just be careful with the trigger voltage - if it is the new "Digital" model the voltage will be new, but if it is the older version, it is listed at about 17 volts and labelled "your call" in this linked list: http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

benjiboy · Mar 5, 2012

MattKing said:
If it is any consolation Ted, as long as it is working well it will be a really good flash .

Certainly better than anything new you might buy for what you have spent.

Just be careful with the trigger voltage - if it is the new "Digital" model the voltage will be new, but if it is the older version, it is listed at about 17 volts and labelled "your call" in this linked list: http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

I think that as long as you use the correct SCA adaptor they have right voltage reduction electronics in to make them compatible with the particular camera, the trigger voltage of my Canon T90 is 6Volts and with my Metz 45 CL4 which is 17 Volts using the SCA 311which is the correct adaptor it's no problem.

ted_smith · Mar 5, 2012

Hi Matt and others

Thanks for words of hope. I did a lot of reading up before hand and read that the CL4 is a great flash unit, both digital and the older one. As it happens, my main reason for having it is to use with my Hasselblad 501CM which Benjoboy rightly states the digital would be of no real benefit. I gather I connect the flash to the lens of the Hasselblad for "Off the Film" explosures? Need to work all that out and buy a cable etc.

I'd also like to use it with my Nikon F5, which once I have bought the adapter, I should be able to do.

Well fingers crossed - lets just hope it is working OK when I get it. Can I buy new bulbs for it easily enough?

benjiboy · Mar 5, 2012

ted_smith said:
Hi Matt and others

Thanks for words of hope. I did a lot of reading up before hand and read that the CL4 is a great flash unit, both digital and the older one. As it happens, my main reason for having it is to use with my Hasselblad 501CM which Benjoboy rightly states the digital would be of no real benefit. I gather I connect the flash to the lens of the Hasselblad for "Off the Film" explosures? Need to work all that out and buy a cable etc.

I'd also like to use it with my Nikon F5, which once I have bought the adapter, I should be able to do.

Well fingers crossed - lets just hope it is working OK when I get it. Can I buy new bulbs for it easily enough?

I think you mean flash tubes Ted, Metz is imported by Hasselblad UK who have service facilitys , but it would probably be cheaper to replace the flash gun if it went , I bought mine second hand more than twenty years ago and the flash tube has never gone. Your Hasselblad 500 CM has no "off the film" flash capabilitys only the standard PC sync. connection, for your F5 and the appropriate SCA adaptor and connecting lead you will get TTL flash metering.

Have I won a Metx 45 CL-4 flash for a reasonable amount?

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