metz 45CL vs 60CT flashes (3 and 4)

[eddie gunks]

hi all,

i am trying to buy a new to me handle mount flash for aback up. i have a sunpack and i love it....BUT i was trying to buy another back up "better" flash so i was looking into a metz. (i bought acl3 from KEH but it does not work perfectly so i am sending it back.)

can some one give me any indication what the main differences between the 45 cl3 and 4 and the 60 ct4? i shoot nikon and an RB. power and fast recycle rate would be great.

what about the dryfit batteries? how long do they "keep" for? i have a line on a unit with an extra batt. or two but he has not used it for a few years....do you think they will charge up and work properly?

i will also consider other options so lay it on me. i am trying to keep it under/around the $200 mark.

thanks

eddie

 

[Chan Tran]

For Nikon film cameras the CL4 and the 60CT4 should be compatible with Nikon TTL. They use the same cable and module. I don't know about the CL3. I would go for the 60CT4 because it has more power. Full power recycling times are about the same for the 45 and 60 but the 60 has more power so it would recycle much faster at same distance and aperture.

 

[dpurdy]

You might need new batteries since they need to be emptied and recharged regularly to keep from dying. You can get the new battery at B&H for not a whole lot of money.

 

[cdholden]

Eddie,
What will you be doing with it? That bigger battery of the CT4 can be a burden if you're an active shooter. It's a great flash for a studio setting, or birdwatching from a stationary position, but if you're weighed down with gear (weddings, events, etc) this addition around your neck or over shoulder will be the source for many four letter words.

 

[MattKing]

I have a different take on the weight issue.

The advantages of the 60 series flashes are:
1) Power; and
2) Recycling time; and
3) Location of the weight.

The 45 series flashes have the batteries in the handle, while the 60 series flashes move the battery into a shoulder pack, thus splitting the weight. In total, the weight of the 60 series handle and power pack is greater, but if you attach the handle to the camera using a bracket, the handle plus bracket of the 60 series flash weighs less than the 45 series handle plus bracket.

For many years I used a Metz 202 and 402 combination. I then went to a Metz 60CT2. The 60CT2 gives me TTl with my Olympus OM2. Recently, I've added a 60CT1. I think the 60CT series units are great, and prefer them to the 45 series flashes.

With respect to the batteries, they are quite resilient. It isn't good to leave them unused for a long time, but you might be surprised.

The batteries are quite expensive ($70.00 US), but in my experience they last for a long time. There used to be a number of alternate sources (the batteries themselves are used in other types of equipment, with just minor (almost cosmetic) modifications), but I must confess I haven't seen them recently.

Matt

 

[Nick Zentena]

3 [CT or CL. The older CT is almost exactly like the newer CL. The indicator light was changed.] Is just the main flash head.

The 4 includes a wink light. That's it for difference. The 1 is non TTL.

The advantage of the 45 is it takes AA batteries. Get yourself a backup holder and some Nihms.

A used 45 should be much below $200 in todays market.

If you can find a Agfa 643csi it's a good option. More power then a Metz 60. Same Metz modules and cables. Takes 8 AA batteries.

 

[mgb74]

I believe - but I'm not certain - that the CL series flashes have a lower sync voltage. Should not be an issue with mechanical shutters.

 

[Nick Zentena]

Only the oldest CT-1 and I think CT-5 have high voltage. High voltage would fry the Metz 300/3000 modules I bet.

The serial numbers used to be on the Metz website.

 

[Chan Tran]

About the dryfit battery for the 60CT series, it holds charge for a long time unlike NiCad or NiMh.

 

[Q.G.]

I don't like the 60-series much at all.
The reasons were mentioned already:

Power - not even a full stop more output, compared to the 45-series units.
Yet a bigger and heavier unit.
Distributed, rather divided into separate parts, linked by cables.
A big and antiquated, proprietary battery, that needs looking after, instead of the AA batteries you can find in any inhabited place on this planet.

 

[wiltw]

Both the 60 series and the 45 series can use a wide variety of modules the tailor the flash to an even wider variety of brands and models of cameras, including full TTL functionality with film cameras and iTTL/eTTL compatibility with dSLRs. The 45CT can be configured to have a shoulder pack like the 60 series, and the advantage is getting 1 sec recycles using the Quantum Turbo battery pack. Or you can use with AA batteries or the Metz Nicad battery unit. Otherwise the difference between the two is power output (<1EV difference), and the fact that the 60 series only works with its dryfit pack.

 

[benveniste]

I don't think that any of the 60-series Metz's provide iTTL support, if that matters to you.

 

[geoferrell]

The dryfit battery for the CT1 and CT4 is fairly heavy and has to be carried with the flash so it can be stressful. I think, though, that the dryfit can deliver over a 1,000 strobes on one charge, and that it can be used as a budget studio flash with an umbrella for studio work.

 

[Smudger]

My 60 CT4 is going strong on two drycell batteries dated 1989 and 1994.They hold a charge for months when sitting around.
Like any lead-acid design they like to be kept topped up.Leaving them around discharged will kill them stone dead. Big plus : no memory problems.
The CT4 head is nice and light -and if you don't like the weight of the battery pack on a shoulder strap you can always fabricate a belt clip.