Metz 45 CT-5

shutterfinger · May 9, 2017

Where can I get a service manual for this flash?

EdColorado · May 9, 2017

Looks like these guys have it...

http://www.user-manuals.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=METZ+45CT5

shutterfinger · May 20, 2017

POS manual unless you can read german as it is not translatable.
DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME WITH USER MANUALS.COM
unless you unusable garbage.

AgX · May 20, 2017

The image in that offer actually seems to be of a German one.

EdColorado · May 20, 2017

The link I sent was for an english manual. If it's not, and the company wont return your money then assuming you used PayPal contact them. they are normally very good about helping and can force a refund.

shutterfinger · May 20, 2017

ED, I used the link you provided, created an account, got the download all in english to this point then I opened the manual and found editing locked and the assumed german language.
I used their provided trouble link only to get a transaction completed reply.

There are some PITA workarounds I'm exploring.
I told them to close my account. I will not use them again.

mgb74 · May 20, 2017

Did you check the Butkus site?

AgX · May 20, 2017

Butkus only has filed operating manuals, not repair manuals.

(Many operating manuals can be downloaded for free from Mecatech themselves.)

mgb74 · May 20, 2017

I overlooked that part of the OP's request.

shutterfinger · May 21, 2017

Here's the workaround in Windows for PDF files that have text editing blocked/disabled.
Check that you have Microsoft XPS Document Writer installed on your computer. (programs and features>turn windows features on or off>click XPS services)
Open the PDF file in a PDF program such as Adobe Reader
Print>XPS document printer
Print the resulting document on paper
Scan the printed pages with an OCR program such as Abbey Fine Reader (ships with Epson software)
Convert (read) and save the scanned file to a rich text or txt doucment.
The text document(s) can now be translated with Google translator or similar program.

correction: the file on the download page is listed as English but the technical text is still in German.

bdial · May 21, 2017

Sounds like the PDF is built with encapsulated images from being scanned.
You could probably shortcut that process with an image conversion utility. You would have it convert the PDF to TIFF then run the tiffs through the OCR software (assuming the bundled OCR software will read from a file rather than the scanner). ImageMagick is one I've worked with that is free and works pretty well.

You can also export single pages of image PDF's with Photoshop and save them in a TIFF, but that would be pretty tedious for a whole manual. Plus, it can be a little goofy with bitonal tiff images.

John Tindle · Aug 27, 2023

.....years later! Shutterfinger , did you manage to get a circuit schematic for the 45CT5? I have one for the 45CT1, but having opened both up the evolution of the control part of the head seems to have evolved enormously (conversely the charge circuit and flash firing boards seem to have evolved hardly at all)

juan · Aug 27, 2023

Shutter finger unfortunately for us left all forums more than a year ago due to vision problems.

neilt3 · Aug 28, 2023

John Tindle said:
.....years later! Shutterfinger , did you manage to get a circuit schematic for the 45CT5? I have one for the 45CT1, but having opened both up the evolution of the control part of the head seems to have evolved enormously (conversely the charge circuit and flash firing boards seem to have evolved hardly at all)

juan said:
Shutter finger unfortunately for us left all forums more than a year ago due to vision problems.

Just a long shot , but you could try sending him a P.M .

John Tindle · Aug 29, 2023

neilt3 said:
Just a long shot , but you could try sending him a P.M .

Thank you Neil and Juan, that is truly tragic. I know personally a photographer who has suffered in the same way and how hard it is for him. I don't think that I will send a PM, seems a cruel thing to do. Looks like I will have to sharpen up my circuit tracing skills

Metz 45 CT-5

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