Metz mecablitz 70 MZ-5

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I used 50Mz5 for 2 years and 70Mz5 for 8 years. I'm delighted with both of them. Compared with Canon or Nikon it's much better and price difference here in Europe is not that big. In USA you can buy three SB800 for one 76Mz5, but in Europe three SB800 for two 76Mz5.

Big and heavy. No TTL with Nikon/Canon DSLRs.

This review is for the 50MZ-5, which predeceded the 70MZ-5 and is almost identical to it except for the interface on the control module.

The 50MZ-5 is utterly reliable, offers about 1-2 stops more power than the best hotshoe flashes, recycles quickly, and produces excellent exposures in "auto" mode. The power allows me to use a Stofen Omnibounce AND bounce walls and ceilings in large spaces. Standing 20' away in a large room with a 30' ceiling, I lit a speaker at a podium by bouncing the 50 off the wall 20' behind me. That's 20' to the back wall, then bounce, then 40' to the speaker. That kind of power lets me create nice, soft light in all but the most cavernous event halls - I hate direct flash.

Used with a P50 power pack, the 50/70 recycles at full power in 4 seconds. At 1/4 power - roughly full power for a hotshoe flash - recycle is just 1 second. Mighty handy when I've got just 15 seconds to photograph a bride and groom motoring down the aisle.

I've got three 50MZ-5s, three P50s, and two 54MZ-3s - most bought used at a total cost of about $1,500 - and I wouldn't trade 'em for anything. Wireless sync is not entirely reliable, but it does allow me to use the third 50 on a stand to add directional light or bounce a wall or ceiling to fill large spaces. Precise manual control of output in 1/3 stops down to 1/256 power gives me a complete studio, along with two bodies, three lenses, stands, umbrellas, and a tripod in one LowePro Pro Roller 3.

Though I cannot afford the rather expensive new 76MZ-5 or P76 NiMH power pack, my thanks go out to Metz for making these things at all. I can't imagine doing event work without them.

Its rechargeable battery last only 40-60 shoots. For better performance P50 pack has to be used.

I cannot imagine shooting a wedding with different flash.
It is very well built and powerful. Auto mode works perfectly well, as it has been for 20 years.

P50 power pack is a must. The supplied rechargeable battery lasts for around 40-60 shoots.
It tilts and swivels, also it has a secondary flash to be used as a fill when main flash is bounced.
As most Metz units it accepts several modules to match almost every camera body on the market.

A bit heavy and large, using objective's zoom and holding the camera set. Doesn't support E-TTL.

This was my first external flash - bought it 2 years ago to accompany my previously owned Sony Digicam. Took pictures from 40-50 meters away from the subject, and it still worked like a dream.

As for any camera attached flashes, leaves heavy shadows when using max power and if not bounced. While bounce, second reflector can be adjusted to give 4 different amounts of light to fill in subject.

One of the best flashes there is. Flash takes quite much space from your gear set, sometimes you wish you would have something smaller to take with you. One thing I really miss is it doesn't support ETTL at time.