Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II
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Discontinued
The Metz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash is Metz's shoe mount flash designed to be compatible with all digital 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.
Designed by one of the leading industrial designers for technical products in Germany, this flash is equipped with many innovative developments. State-of-the-art secondary reflector technology, high-performance power management, newest-generation multi-zone AF metering flash, and a full vertical tilt reflector system all mean that this flash is ideal choice for professional photographers.
- Fully compatible with current and future digital cameras
- "Cobra Design" flash reduces the redeye effect
- High-speed flash synchronization allows flash to be used with any shutter speed (only with appropriate camera bodies)
- Evaluative preflash metering & Stroboscopic flash for previewing effect
- Wireless full TTL triggering
- Autozooming head can cover from 24 to 105mm, and 18mm when used with the included wide-angle diffuser
| Type | Shoe mount |
| Guide Number |
138' (42 m) at 50mm 192' (58 m) at 105mm |
| Angle of Coverage |
84 to 23° (24-105mm lenses in 35mm format) 100° (18mm) with included wide-angle diffuser |
| Auto Distance Range | Variable |
| Auto f/Stops | f/1, 1.4, 2, , 2.8, 4, 5.6, 8, 11, 16, 22, 32 & 45 |
| Variable Power | 25 Levels ranging from 1/1 to 1/256th |
| TTL Dedication | Yes (E-TTL II) |
| Bounce Head | Yes |
| Swivel Head | Yes |
| Zoom Head | 24-105mm (Auto zoom, flash senses focal length & adjusts; Manual zoom) |
| Off Camera Terminal | No |
| Recycle Time |
5 Seconds (based on fresh alkaline batteries & full power) 2.5 Seconds with optional P76 Power Pack (at full power) |
| Power Source |
Four 1.5-Volt "AA" batteries (alkaline, NiCad, NiMH & Lithium) Optional Power Pack P76 |
| Dimensions | 3 x 5.8 x 3.9" (71 x 148 x 99mm) WxHxD |
| Weight | 12.5 oz (355g) [w/o batteries] |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 35 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
97%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Consistent output (24)
- Fast recycling (18)
- Lightweight (17)
- Durable (15)
- Easy to use (11)
Cons
Best Uses
- Portraits (21)
- General purpose (17)
- Night photography (12)
- Fill flash (11)
- Photojournalism (8)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Semi-professional (9), Enthusiast (6), Professional (6), Semi-pro photographer (4), Pro photographer (3)
Most Liked Positive Review
Satisfied EOS 40D User
First of all, if you are a EOS 40D user, you will need to go on line and download a firmware update for EOS cameras offered at Metz. It downloads easily and when loaded...Read complete review
First of all, if you are a EOS 40D user, you will need to go on line and download a firmware update for EOS cameras offered at Metz. It downloads easily and when loaded it makes the flash unit work seamlessly with camera and the flash can be controlled from the camera, just like the EOS 1DS Mark III.
I tried the flash without the update and it gave me many unpredictable results. You will need the update, but it is easy and does not take long to down load and install by USB from your computer.
I was a little hesitant buying this Metz flash instead of the 580EX II, but I took the chance since it offered a feature I was especially interested in which the 580 EX II doesn't offer, a little fill flash strobe on the front of the camera. I do alot of indoor portraits on location and use bounce flash much of the time. I cringe when I have to shoot someone head on. I like my flash shots to be as unnoticable as possible. I love the little fill flash and in fact you can use it full, half or quarter power. It works great and adds that extra sparkle in the subject's eyes, very discreetly, I must say. It's a very nice feature.
The flash has a lock pin which holds it firmly on the camera mount.
Since most of my photography with flash is indoors, the 580 EX II water resistant mount is not important to me. The 40D is not water proof, so my flash does not have to be either.
Simply put, the flash has great power, and many professional features which you can read about in the description B & H has posted, plus it has won the european EISA award for 2007/2008, Best Buy. You can check that out on the Metz web site.
In short it's a great flash which should satisfy most professional, semi-professional and amature photographers.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Slow and doesn't work with radio slaves
Changing compensation or manual output levels require you to push a button 5 times. This is very slow and not very practical. Very important (and not noted anywhere else, even on the Metz ...Read complete review
Changing compensation or manual output levels require you to push a button 5 times. This is very slow and not very practical. Very important (and not noted anywhere else, even on the Metz web site) IT WILL NOT WORK WITH POCKET WIZARDS. For some reason the flash was designed so it won't fire unless it is attached to a camera or in wireless TTL mode.
Problems Encountered: Doesn't work with radio slaves.VERY slow to operate, major functions are buried DEEP in menus.
Previous Equivalent Items Owned: 580 EX, 540 EZ, SB 800, SB 600, Q-flash, Agfatronic
REVIEWS
Reviewed by 35 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
Cons
- Flimsy
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I own the Metz 58 Af-1 for Canon, I bought it for the catch light and it was 100.00 cheaper that its Canon rival. About 3000 flashes, and one week out of warranty it blew up, cost almost half the new price to get fixed. I was ok while it lasted but my old 430ex is more reliable, 10,000+ flashes. Flimsy head, Instruction book can be rough, but rereading helps
Pros
- Easy To Use
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
What's so great about this flash is that it let's you upgrade the firmware from your computer online. new functions and what not.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
Cons
- Plastic Shoe
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
The ETTL is spot on and consistent. If you are coming from a Canon flash, the menu system is very different, but it is easy to use and straight forward once you get used to it. Not quite as powerful as the 580EX II, but the wink light makes up for that in my opinion.
It has a great Auto mode that works well for using fill flash outside.
I have used the 580EX II and love the features, but bottom line this flash is just as capable and is much more consistent. I used Metz gear shooting weddings through the 90's on medium format and they were just workhorses and I never had a single problem with them.
Being able to upgrade the firmware via USB is pretty cool.
My only gripe is I wish they would make this with a metal shoe.
Don't let the different menu scare you away, this is a really nice flash.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
use by intermediate level photographer. This is a great flash, I couldn't be happier with it. Well made & sturdy, easy to use, fast recycling, great for fill. Basically, if you're looking for something simple to pump out a LOT of light, this is it!
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
This is a great flash, I couldn't be happier with it. Well made & sturdy, easy to use, fast recycling, great for fill. Basically, if you're looking for something simple to pump out a LOT of light, this is it!
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
- Photojournalism
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I bought this as a backup to my canon flash units..I normally use my canon flash in ETTL mode and for me that works nicely...but
I wanted the ability to work in auto mode when the lighting fools the ETTL system and so far this works beautifully as promised..
Well made unit with a nice finish and it seems a little smaller than the canon counterpart.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- non
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Wedding photography professional.Did buy 2 Canon Flashes before.This metz is consistant,a lot of power,auto or TTL,Manual
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Less solid as Canon 580
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I got it because of the catch light in the front.
This is what Nikon had in the 80's with the SB16A.
That was a great flash and so far, the Metz 58AF-1 has perform as advertised.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
After sufferning for 2 wedding seasons(inconsistancy in exposures, lack of basic futures like Auto !) with Canon 580mk2 that also needet an exensive repair that took 5 weeks(they told parts are beeng ordered) I found my self selling the lousy 580mk2.Then with some research i got the Metz 58i.What a flash ! Every frame is accurate ! TTL,AUTO,it proiduces quality !Did not try it on MANUAL yet.No surprises here ! Concidering i steel got my other Metz flashes from 14 and 15 years ago that never needed a single repair ! Thank Metz !
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Not Interchangeable
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I purchased my mecablitz 58 to use as part of a strobist type setup using several older Metz 54s that were upgraded to work with my Canon 5D Mk II. A setup using E-TTL is impossible because Canon and the older Metz use different systems to communicate among flash units. The best work around is to simply use the 58 as a flash trigger with all units on manual control. I have tested the 58 with newer Canon flashes, and it works very well -- everything can be controlled direcltly from the camera. If you use E-TTL with multiple flash units you need to use all 58s or a mix of 58s and Canon flashes.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Master
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I actually bought this flash last year. I like the flash but the menu is a little irritating to navigate. One of the reasons I bought this over the 580 was that it had the potential to be updated via USB. Recently Metz released an update that will give you full control over the flash though your Canon body. I can now change all the settings like mode types, zoom, power, hi-sync, etc on the flash by entering the "flash control" on my 40D. I can also now use it to control the wireless ETTL compatible slave flashes through the 40D using the A:B C ratios!
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Craftsmanship
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Remote Triggering
- Versatile
Cons
- No PC Socket
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- Portraits
- Weddings
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
First I should say that this flash replaces my 430 EX. Second, Shutterbug magazine a few months back did a head-to-head test on the 580 EX II and this flash. The Canon is superior. The 580 has a much stronger sealed foot, a PC socket, and is less particular about direct line of sight for remote triggering. OK.
It's not fair to compare my 430 EX, which has served me very well, to this Metz Flash! This flash is incredible. Here're are the two worst things I can say about it. Navigating the menus is a little weird. I put in a fresh set of Duracells and the unit's low-bat indicator was on. Put in a new set, same thing - but it works just fine. These were new batteries. Now my favorite parts. The Auto-fill feature is fantastic. I tend to get trigger happy at weddings. This flash can keep up with my 40D in the 3-5 frames per second range (in auto-fill mode). Awesome! When I first tried this flash out, my jaw was literally hanging a few times. The strobe feature is fully programmable and fast. Also really like the results and accuracy when using the eTTL features.
If money is no problem for you, buy a 580 EX II. Heck, buy two of them. If, however, you seek to maximize your dollar, the Metz is tough to beat.
Pros
- Audible Signal
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- USB Update Firmwire
- Versatile
Cons
- Menu Controls not clear
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I use the flash indoors, in the evening, and day time fill, and it means I always carry it with my camera. Although the control is not very user friendly, or a little confusing, it is funtions are better than Canon 580EX. It's 2 heads make brounce flash also has sparking eyes on models. The remote is also compatible with Canon's, and I use it with 580EX without problem. The construction feels not as good as Canon. Possible to update firmware via usb makes it be with you longer even if you upgrade you camera.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I have never used an external flash, this is amazing and very simple.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Firmware updating superb
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Confusing manual
- Takes lots of power
Best Uses
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
If you're looking for a flash with power, this is the one to get. My previous flash was the Canon 550 EZ, no comparison. I use it for weddings and let me tell you, I had it on a 70-200 mm @ 200 mm range with my subject being about 30 feet away and WOW, you want to talk about detail in your image. I also use it for some modeling jobs on location which I usually have the flash hooked up to a Pocket Wizard. No problem at all. Image looks like I'm in a studio.
My complaint about this flash is the instruction manual is not user friendly. Changing exposures is like going through red tape, yes, it gets very confusing. And, because it takes so much power, you'd better make sure you have a LOT of AA batteries available or a strong battery pack or two.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Fast Recycling
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I love this flash. I briefly owned a Canon Speedlight 580EX but found that it underexposed most shots. Instead of working around the Canon's issues I got the Metz. No complaints. Works well in ETTLII with my 40D. The auto mode is also great and very useable particularly for fill flash outside. The integrated small second flash comes in handy if you want to add some sparkle to someone's eyes when bouncing the main flash off the ceiling. I love the menu. For a Speedlite user it may require a little adjustment but it is very quick and logical. Firmware upgradeability via USB port is also a plus. The included DVD - TTL flash facts - is very informative with great hands-on advice. The build quality is solid but in this department the Canon 580 has an advantage.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Fast Recycling
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Sports Photography
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Does what I bought it for. Menu can be a pain, but all and all a good flash.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easily Interchangeable
- Easy To Clean
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Quiet
- The 2nd lamp
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
I simply love it. I use it with CANON EOS 400D camera. The Menu is a little different comparing to Canon and other flashguns, but easy to use.
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Fast Recycling
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
Great power, secondary flash
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Extra Strobe
- Fast Recycling
Cons
Best Uses
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
- Sports Photography
Comments about Metz mecablitz 58 AF-1 TTL Shoe Mount Flash (Guide No. 138'/42 m at 50mm) for Canon E-TTL II:
This flash was far better than I expected! I was looking at getting the 580ex II, but decided on this flash because it has Master controls & an extra strobe in the front. The flash also has a white bounce card like the 580. I use this flash to control my 430ex flashes perfectly! I also like the ability to update the flash firmware to add new abilities in the future. I didn't find navigating the menu system hard, it made sense to me and I can work through it with ease.
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What's in the Box
- Soft Case
- 1-Year Warranty
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