The Metz 54 MZ 4 hot shoe flash is about as fully dedicated and feature laden as you can buy from any firm. It's offered with dedicated contact shoes compatible with major film and digital system cameras.

Features include HHS (High Speed synchronization) capability for use with faster-than-normal shutter speeds; wireless synch compatibility, nine automatic settings, power ratio control down to 1/256 power, stroboscopic mode, second curtain synch, modeling light, and flash bracketing. It has a small secondary flash that fires straight forward to provide some direct fill light when the larger flash head is used in bounce or swivel mode, but this can be switched off when not wanted.

A wide-angle diffusion panel that spreads the light for down to 20mm lenses is stored just below the flash head. An extra-large LCD panel on the back provides detailed operating information and can be illuminated for better visibility in dim lighting.

The control buttons are identified well and several are multipurpose to eliminate excess controls. An exceptionally detailed multi-language instruction book comes with the camera and is about the size of a paperback book. Optional accessories include remote slave adapter, bounce screen, and several power packs.

We tested the Metz 54 MZ 4 hot shoe flash on a Canon EOS A2 SLR camera. It produced exceptional, even illumination across the field of wide-angle lenses and remained even at telephoto settings. Exposures were consistently proper both inside when the flash was the primary illumination and outdoors when used in synchro sunlight conditions.

Warranty
1 year