Metz sca system for 10D
 

I hpoe someone can put me right,i've just purchased a second hand Metz CL-4 flash with sca 300c and sca 3102,i'm using it with a Canon 1D and 10D,mainly on the 10D, it works fine using just the flash sync cord and pre set apertures but when i attach the sca system to the camera hot shoe to use TTL nothing happens the flash wont even fire,surely an elaberate setup like the sca has got to be better than a simple sync cord,or is it?,what am i doing wrong?,Thanks for reading,Martin

Martin, it could be possible there is a incompatibility problem, it could be a trigger voltage problem I would check the link out before using on a digital camera. Older flashguns can be a higher voltage and can cause problems.

http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html

Another factor is that a number of different flash systems were developed for the Canon EOS. Some of the older systems are not compatible with newer models of camera. Does your camera manual state that the flash light should be in the Canon EX range ? if so the third party flash must support the Canon E-TTL system.

Main reason why there are so many cheap second hand flash units out there because they are not supported by the mordern camera hotshoe. The newer models that work 100% with DSLR are holding their price.

Martin,

The older 45 CTL-4 was updated to digital which is still current. Main visible diference appears to be the addition of a little digital ' mode ' info window on the back panel. No doubt inside there are some additional electronics. If yours is the non digital version then in the Canon era we are talking film cameras like the T90 and T60, with very basic by todays standards, TTL systems. Link to T90 http://www.mir.com.my/rb/photography...nt90/index.htm

I have had a look on Mecablitz web site Link http://www.metz.de/en/photo_electron...blitz.138.html

SCA 3102 appears to be the correct SCA adaptor but the hint to your probs may be in the cable to connect that to the flashgun itself - Connection cable SCA 3045 is mentioned as a requirement for the 45 CTL4 digital. Not sure that the pre digital version will have all the necessary connections for the SCA 3045 cable.

The manual is available here link http://www.metz.de/en/photo_electron...nuals.164.html

I have the 45 CL-3, but have only ever used it in manual mode or auto ( standard sync cable or slave ), so have never gone down the SCA adaptor route to have first hand knowledge of the various adaptors and cables.

Hope this is of some help.

Don