I have bought EOS 3 , with Metz MZ-40 (almost 1.5 yrs back) and all my lenses are Sigma make....I always thought my camera is underexposing when the flash is mounted...but was not sure....last weeks I went to a reception of my friend and shot a roll for him...only 4 pictures came out...I used E-TTL & Program mode on a Tripod ...I was pissed off and sent the Camera to Canon for repairs...with the proof of the prints...they sent back the camera after couple of weeks..saying that they fixed some stuff...

I shot a roll again with the Flash on indoor...just to test...and I only got 6 photos...out of the 24...in both cases you can see the light is not enough and the pictures are under exposed...

can some body tell me what will be the best test to locate the problem..

thanks a lot...

-- murali k. talasila (tmkris@hotmail.com), March 01, 2001

Answers

The first thing I'd do is to head for a Canon dealer and mount a 550EX and take some pictures right there.

Lots of luck.

Paul

-- Paul Ferrara (paul@columbusoft.com), March 01, 2001.

I second Paul's advice - get a Canon 550EX flash. You'll be amazed at the difference.

Also, if your Sigma lenses are older than the camera, they could also be a potential problem source; the lack of compatibility between Sigma lenses and EOS cameras has been well documented on various web sites.

It always puzzles me when people buy expensive professional camera bodies and then outfit them with cheap third-party lenses and accessories, and wonder why they don't get professional results?

-- Cliff LeSergent (cliff_l@telusplanet.net), March 03, 2001.

It is not your camera, It is the Metz MZ 40, which is a copy of the Canon 540 EZ. The EZ series of flashes and their independent imitators do not have the circuitry for E-TTL. When used with a EOS 3 or Elan 7 or other camera capable of E-TTL, the flash will only operate in straight TTL. The best way to use these (EZ series) flashes is to set the camera on Manual (1/60 at f/11) and let the flash calulate the exposure alone. The Metx 54 is the equivalent of the Canon 550 EX. Also, through experimentation I've found out that the Quantum T2 flash with the Canon QT13 module also works as a EX series flash. One other note: In your EOS 3 instruction manual, Canon explains that some cameras are now listed as Type l and Type ll cameras. I don't have the manual with me, but I think the cameras that use the EX flashes with E-TTL are Type l cameras. Recheck your manual about this.

Marcus J. Wilson

-- Marcus J. Wilson Sr. (marcus.wilson@dtra.mil), March 06, 2001.

You might want to try the Metz 54 MZ-3. It's the equivilent of the 550 EX exept for one or two options that you might not need. I want to buy a 550Ex or this 54 MZ-3 soon. I'm still reading and looking for good and bad things. So far no disturbing info on the Metz. One thing is for sure. Metz is famous for their flashes, and is much cheeper!

Good luck

Peter

-- Peter den Hartog (P.R.denHartog@astro.uu.nl), March 08, 2001.