Metz 45 CL-1 Query

[Steve Smith]

I picked up a 45 CL-1 for not much money at an outdoor sale today. It seems to work as it charges up and fires when I press the button on the back.

It did not come with a sync. lead but I don't think that is a problem as they appear to be available on eBay.

Can anyone tell me how to set it up or could an owner scan the relevant pages of the instructions for me?

The dial on the top has five automatic selections and one manual. The manual setting is obvious i.e. set to correct ISO and read off aperture next to distance.

I am assuming (from the relative light levels) that the automatic settings are full, half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth power. Am I close to understanding it?


Thanks,

Steve.

 

[craigclu]

The 45 series has at least a couple of synch cord end styles that look visually similar... Don't ask me how I found that out some years back! That's one tid bit for you.

 

[Steve Smith]

Yes. I have just noticed that the bottom three pins on mine are spaced to form a triangle but the socket I was looking at on eBay has the pin on its own lower down.

I have worked out that the lower two pins are the sync. connection so as a last resort, a spare lead, a soldering iron and some gaffer tape could be employed!

I have also noticed that although the box says CL-1, the flash is labelled CT-1. Any real difference or is it just a model upgrade?


Steve.

 

[MattKing]

Steve:

Here is a link to the page on the Metz site that has a bunch of downloadable manuals:

http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/instruction-manuals.html

I think I see both the 45-CL1 and 45-CT1 there. (Edit - actually, I only see the CL1- oops) They are the usual format for Metz manuals, which means they include the same information in each of a number of languages, but only one set of diagrams or photos.

One caution to keep in mind. In some cases, the older Metz flashes have a much higher trigger voltage than some of the newer ones. For that reason, some of the older ones can fry the circuits of more modern electronic cameras (including film cameras).

Hope this helps.

Matt

P.S. here is another link which might help - if I had to guess I would say that the CT1 was probably a contemporary of my older 60-CT1, and therefore the older of the two models:

http://www.pentaxuser.co.uk/forum/topic/Metz-45CT1-3747

 

[mgb74]

The CL series came after the CT I believe. I also understand that the flash voltage is lower on the CL series.

 

[Nick Zentena]

I don't remember if early CL-1 might be high voltage or not but the info is on the Metz website along with the serial numbers. Early CT are high voltage. Later CT-3 and 4s are low voltage but the change for the -1s came later IIRC.

Use is normal auto flash. Set the head to the right EI. Then the dial to the right F/stop. That's it unless you feel the need to correct for black cats or white snow.

For fill adjust either the EI or the F/stop.

The Metz automodes are very good.

 

[Q.G.]

The dial on the top has five automatic selections and one manual. The manual setting is obvious i.e. set to correct ISO and read off aperture next to distance.

I am assuming (from the relative light levels) that the automatic settings are full, half, quarter, eighth and sixteenth power. Am I close to understanding it?

Nope.
Full, half, etc. would be manual settings.
Which these are not. The other settings are indeed auto settings, i.e. bias the internal metering electronics.When setting the dial to one of these, you see the index both indicating an aperture value - which you set on the lens - and a distance - which is the maximum distance the flash will be able to bridge with sufficient output to get good results.

After setting the aperture on the lens to match the one you selected on the flash (or the other way round), the flash will use a sensor built into the head to meter the flash output, and cut it off when the subject has received enough light. Automatic exposure, controlled by the flash unit itself.

 

[Steve Smith]

Thanks to you all.

It all makes sense now.



Steve.