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Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR
- No Longer Available
- B&H # ME50AF1P
- Mfr# MZ 50317PS
Product Highlights
- For Pentax DSLR Cameras
- GN of 50 for ISO 100/21° & 105mm
- Updatable via USB Port
- High-Speed Flash Synchro
- Wireless Full TTL Possible
- Autozoom Head: 24 to 105mm
Remember the Essentials
Batteries are required but not included with this item. Please be sure to purchase batteries for this item.
The Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR is a Metz shoe mount flash designed to be compatible with all digital Pentax SLR cameras, both current and future models. To better facilitate compatibility with current and future cameras, this flash now features a built-in USB port that allows for future firmware updates via the internet. A high quality metal base allows quick and easy attachment to the camera.
The 50 AF-1 is designed to fully support a Pentax digital SLR camera's TTL system. Both P-TTL flash mode and P-TTL remote mode (slave operation) are possible. It can be operated as a TTL slave unit that can be controlled by the camera's own built-in commander mode or as a manufacturer's flash with master capabilities.
The flash also features an auto zoom head from 24-105mm that can be set to match the camera's sensor, a full bounce and swivel head (with a fully swiveling reflector system which also contains a flip-out reflector card and a diffuser), a built-in wide angle diffuser for 12mm coverage, and in addition, full manual control with 12 variable power output levels.
Note! All features are dependent on camera's functionality
- Fully compatible with current and future digital Pentax cameras, updatable via USB port
- High-speed flash synchronization allows flash to be used with any shutter speed (only with appropriate camera bodies)
- Wireless full TTL triggering via a camera or flash with commander/master mode
- Autozooming head can cover from 24 to 105mm, and 18mm when used with the included wide-angle diffuser
| Mount | Shoe |
| Guide No. | 50' (15.24 m) ISO100 at 105 mm position |
| Angle of Coverage |
84° - 23° Wide-Angle Adapter: 100° |
| Vari-Power | 1/1 - 1/128 |
| TTL Dedication | Yes |
| Bounce Head | Yes |
| Swivel Head | Yes |
| Zoom Head | Full frame: 24 mm - 105 mm |
| Off Camera Terminal | None |
| Recycle Time | Approximately 5 - 6 seconds |
| Power Source | 4x AA Alkaline, Lithium, NiCad, Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 2.8 x 5.8 x 3.9" / 7.11 x 14.73 x 9.91 cm |
| Weight | 15.5 oz / 439 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 28 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
96%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Good power output (16)
- Easy to use (14)
- Fast recycling (10)
- Consistent output (9)
- Durable (9)
Cons
Best Uses
- General purpose (17)
- Fill flash (14)
- Portraits (10)
- Night photography (9)
- Indoors (4)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Photo enthusiast (16), Semi-pro photographer (7), Casual photographer (3)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (24)
Most Liked Positive Review
very nice flash!!!
i wanted a good quality flash that would work with wireless P-ttl and all that good stuff. this fit the bill nicely. it's roughly the same price as the pentax af360 flash, but has...Read complete review
i wanted a good quality flash that would work with wireless P-ttl and all that good stuff. this fit the bill nicely. it's roughly the same price as the pentax af360 flash, but has the all important swivel head. i've also been told by those who have used both that the metz units have superior build quality. i can't compare, but i can say that this metz flash feels very robust. also, the menu system isn't as awful as people say. the dreaded "double button" select won't really get used much unless you're changing to wireless slave mode. when using on camera p-ttl mode, the double button is rarely needed.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Kind of regretted buying it.
I bought this to replace my Pentax af360fgz. I was very excited about the tilt-and-swivel feature this flash overs over the 360. Granted with a much bigger GN, metal hot-shoe and at a very...Read complete review
I bought this to replace my Pentax af360fgz. I was very excited about the tilt-and-swivel feature this flash overs over the 360. Granted with a much bigger GN, metal hot-shoe and at a very affordable price, it seemed like a no-brainer.
But I was very disappointed when I received it. I though the 360 was pretty plasticky but the Metz was really worse. It just felt like you could easily pry it apart and the tilt-and-swivel head movements feels overly smooth and lifeless. There is a "Made in Germany" label but it feels in no way "Made in Germany". I was really expecting something more substantial. As solid as the metal hot shoe feels, it doesn't help given the overall poor built.
The battery compartment is also poorly designed such that it does not hold the batteries in place as you insert them in.
I am returning the product based on the reasons above and skipping the chance to put it to actual use on the field. I'll probably stay away from Metz for a long time...
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 28 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I just got this flash so I've not had much of a chance to use it but so far it seems great.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Bulky
- Heavy
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I haven't used it extensively, but from what I can tell it works exactly like it is supposed to. Just slide it on the hot shoe and tighten it, and you are ready to go with a variety of options which are simple to change. Or put it on a stand and control it wirelessly, it works just as well.
That being said, my only negative is that it seems slightly heavy, but considering how much it does I'm neither suprised nor irritated.
This is an excellent flash, and I would
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast Recycling
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I have a K-5 and the K-5 has some flash issue that is why I get inconsistent exposure, while bouncing the flash
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
Bought this flash to upgrade from the pop-up flash. Great recycle time and power. Feels very solid and well built.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I use the product to take photos. And so far I have not been disappointed.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
- Night Photography
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I've only had this flash a short time, but in general I find it superior to my Pentax AF360fgz, though I may be bitter due to that flash's laughable battery compartment construction. The controls and display are simple and user-friendly. I haven't needed to look at the manual at all for my purposes. Rotating head is great!I wasn't blown away by the build quality, though it is more than sufficient. I think my much cheaper (though not p-ttl) Chinese Yongnuo 560-II is better built. I use the Metz mostly for macro work with an off-camera cord, sometimes with the Yongnuo as wireless slave.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Fast Recycling
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
Works great as on-camera flash using P-TTL. Looking forward to using it for off-camera strobist lighting.
The flash is well-constructed and has a nice quality feel. Also, the unit has a lot of features which are relatively easy to access once you become familiar with the menu system.
I'd buy it again ;-)
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
Great Flash with wireless capabilities......perfect
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Macro with bouncer
- Night Photography
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
Easy to use. Good value for money. Not very heavy.
Solid build.
Cons:
With usual batteries it takes considerable time to charge between shots.More then on board flash on K-5.
Does not come with a stand.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Full Slave Functionality
- Good Color Value
- Powerful
- Settings Stay Memorized
- Uncluttered Back
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
Bought this in the Pentax version. After I got it, I discovered it won't function as a master or controller in wireless mode -- didn't read the wireless and high-speed sych sections in the on line manual carefully enough before purchase -- but it does make a great wireless slave or stand-alone, camera-connected (hot shoe or cable) flash. One must buy the 58 AF-2 for master capability, and apparently its master setting, at least in the Pentax version, is limited to shutter speeds at normal flash synch or less, and no controller setting (which is why I bought a Pentax AF540FGZ, which will control slaves in high-speed synch and function only as a controller if desired).
The flash seems solid, but then I never considered flashes as items to be banged around, even with my cheap, totally manual (with a circular dial on the back that indicated which f-stop to use based on distance from the subject) K-Mart (Focal) flash purchased in the mid 70s for my Mamiya/Sekor 1000 DTL. I'd much prefer to have the flash foot break off rather than destroy the hot shoe or other items on the camera body.
The uncluttered back, two buttons and on-off switch, is nice, and the menu is pretty straigtforward, though some of the fonts are tiny. Lots of sliding switches or buttons are handy for quick changes, but they are mechanical items that can break or get dirty.
I'm pleased with the color of the light emitted, and the flash is plenty powerful for my amateur needs (mostly taking flash photos of a black Lab puppy as he grows, inside the house). With the *istD, the camera flash can be configured as a controller for remote slaves, so my baby dog doesn't go running to another room, as he did when he saw me coming with the camera-and-flash combo.
Settings remain in memory when the flash is turned off, or when batteries are removed, which I consider a plus.
In short it's a great standalone flash or slave, at a great price, but I went with the Pentax 540 for full master/control functionality rather than the Metz 58. If I need another slave, it'll be a Metz 50.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attach Securely
- Durable
- Powerful
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
Has a metal shoe, great exposures in most circumstances.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I have a Pentax AF360, Mecablitz 50 AF-1 and a Sigma 610 Super for my pentax camera.
The Mecablitz and Sigma both gave 1 stop under-exposed results consistently, while the Pentax AF360 gave the worse result, always more the 1 stop under-exposure.
However, only Mecablitz allow up to 3 stop compensation for the exposure, which may overcome the under-exposure problem.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Powerful
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
still learning to use the flash on my kx and I'm a photo noob. but it feels solid and made of good quality.
Pros
- Good price value
Cons
Best Uses
- Indoors
- Low Light
- Night Time
- Outdoors
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I am very pleased with the overall product. The construction is very good, and access to all the functions is not too complicated (do not worry too much about the 2 buttons to press to access specific features).
Currently I have used this flash indoor for family birthday, and portraiture. The results are fantastic compared to the pop-up flash (I use a Pentax K5)!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Attach Securely
- Great Features
- Light weight
- Powerful
Cons
- Poor control interface
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
This product works fine and is well-built and I think it's a solid choice, especially compared to the equivalent Pentax flash. I've been using it mostly on the camera, but some experimentation off-camera with wireless P-TTL has worked better than expected so far. The battery life has been pretty good, but I haven't had to use it really intensively yet.
This flash is very feature-rich, but the interface is the biggest downside. You have to cycle through lots of menu items to get to what you want, and some of them should really be in a separate setup menu (ft/m display, crop/ff display, etc.) There's no reason to have to go past those things when you want to set wireless mode or rear curtain sync.
Other cons are that it can't act as a wireless controller and the battery compartment is annoying, but those aren't big issues.
All in all, I think this flash presents very good bang for the buck. It's reasonably powerful, feature-laden, and well-made.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Flexibility
- Lots of power levels
- Powerful
Cons
- Menu navigation
Best Uses
- General Use
- Indoors
- Low Light
- Night Time
- Outdoors
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I needed a flash with all the trimmings, but without the price tag. This flash fits the bill!! Hundreds of $$ less than the Pentax original, but still manages to reatain all the functionality. Heaps of power levels, all the P-TTL function. Getting to some of the menu's can be a bit tricky, but once you're used to it, no big deal.
I use remote off-camera flash in the studio a lot, and this one is easy to use and works well. It feels well built, looks great ... my best purchase this year.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Powerful
Cons
- Flimsy
Best Uses
- Indoors
- Low Light
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I much prefer to get by with available light, but I needed a good flash to use for indoor shots of education programs I help run, and it does the trick. I've used it straight ahead to reach the front of a small auditorium from the back row, and the diffuse/bounce functions work for active shots in closer quarters.
I considered the Pentax 360, but chose this Mecablitz instead because of the swivel head, and it was a really good call.
It's a good balance of features, ease of use, and cost. As with other hot shoe flashes I've seen, I wouldn't mind if the construction felt a little sturdier.
Pros
- Attach Securely
- Good Color Value
- Powerful
Cons
- Large
Best Uses
- Indoors
- Low Light
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I have a Pentax K-m and this is my first flash. So I didn't really know how they work and what I was getting into, but I was able to put this right on and make it work. I read a bit of the manual which came with it, and it was much more helpful than I expected. I am sure I will still need to get someone who knows flashes to show me everything it can do, but for now, I am very pleased and finally able to take decent pictures inside. :)
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I've only had it for a couple of months so I can't vouch for it's long term durability but it's well made and I don't anticipate any problems. I like the uncluttered control panel even though you have to push two buttons at once sometimes. I'm using it on a K20D and everything works fine.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 50 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash for Pentax SLR:
I have the Pentax AF-360 and a Sigma DG-530-ST but wasn't 100% happy with any of them because the Pentax doesn't have a swivel head and the Sigma only has very limited manual functionality.
Now the Metz 50 AF-1 ticks all boxes. I also like the fact that the manual settings go down all the way to 1/128 power.
I also feel that P-TTL is more consistent with this flash but that might only be my perceiption after some limited testing.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Batteries & Power
Show more >Required item:
- Price: $1.23
- Price: $14.50
Flash Diffusers
Show more >
- Price: $9.95
Softboxes
Show more >
- Price: $20.75
Bouncers
Show more >
- Price: $14.95
Reflectors
Show more >
- Price: $24.95
Flash Mounting
- Price: $7.95
Sync Cords & Flash Remotes
Show more >
- Price: $39.95
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