Metz flash 45 cl1 Questions re-used unit

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Eugene T

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Hello can some one with Metz knowledge help here please.

How many battery packs does the flash take in the handle grip or another way how many cells ?.
Does it require a specific charger for the nicad cells such as the Metz one
How many flashes was the tube good for .
If it has a duff tube are there direct replacements available with the same spec
Is there anyone repairing these in UK.
 
Eugene T said:
Hello can some one with Metz knowledge help here please.

How many battery packs does the flash take in the handle grip or another way how many cells ?.
Does it require a specific charger for the nicad cells such as the Metz one
How many flashes was the tube good for .
If it has a duff tube are there direct replacements available with the same spec
Is there anyone repairing these in UK.
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My memory of it was that the battery was separate to the flash, attached by a cable, either with a shoulder strap or worn on the belt.

But generally, whilst they were amazing workhorses 40 yrs ago, they’re not a realistic option in today’s world surely.
 
From dim memory the cl1 took one battery module in the handle, I assume you could re-engineer the module using newer NMH cells and provide your own charger. I vaguely remember there being an issue with these old Metz unit have a really high sync voltage that can damage digital cameras that don't like a high voltage input. Wein used to make a voltage limiter to allow them to be connected safely. Not sure it is worth the hassle, buying a new Godox unit would be cheaper and more reliable on modern cameras.
 
You could use the NiCad battery pack which fits in the handle of the hammerhead flash and offered faster recycling but the NiCad packs will now be useless; I stripped mine apart and changed the cells to NMiH which are great.

You could also get an AA batery pack which took 5(?) cells and also slid into the handle or a 'standalone' pack like the quantum flashes used.

I use mine (45 CT4) with my Rolleiflex 6008 as it offers TTL flash with this camera + special Metz adapter great for Macro with bellows as used here:


Match 1 by Fraser White, on Flickr

HTH
 
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I have a 45CL4 which I think differs from the CL1 by the addition of the auxiliary unit below the hammerhead....

Mine is 28 years or so old and still works but as the M645 gets little use there is no appeal to use the 45CL4 for the Nikons or the various Pentax cameras I have....I recall everything seemed to be rather tailored for the Nicad setups but I also have the adapter for AA.

As I was too tight to get the TTL units for the flash the utility is somewhat limited and probably the best use at the moment is when I can pretend to be Crocodile Dundee 'You call that a flash? Now this is what I call a FLASH!' :LOL:
 
I have several 45cl4 units I used to use with my mamiya equipment. Excellent piece of equipment, and their Auto thyristor exposure cell was incredibly accurate. Much better than TTL when that first came out.

Perfectly usable today on digital if you know what you are doing, but don't get the earlier ct4s or ct1s as they had enormousness trigger voltages. Also, most only had auto mode, rather than manual output in fractions (1/1, 1/2, 1/4 etc), though a few did offer this. Repairs and spares are very unlikely to be had nowadays though.

I only ever bought them with the AA battery holders (5 x AA I think, not sure). They still work fine on these though. Sidenote - lesson for today's craze for unique lithium batteries per flash. AA batteries will still be available in the next forty years.
 
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I think it used a pack which held 6AA batteries or a rechargable pack the same size. It's worth noting these flashguns used a capactor (if I remember rightly) These can die over time.
There was also a model with a VERY high trigger voltage, the CT1 I think? That used around 200v to fire. It was certainly enough to give you a lovely shock if you touched the hot shoe in damp conditions.
Somewhere I have a spare AA pack. If your stuck I'll have a look for it, I still have the 2 flashes but they are both long past it now. I've got the propper bounce board (huge thing) as well/
 
Thanks for replies .
I was considering the Metz ct series but on second thoughts perhaps not. I never had the money for Metz 45 system years ago so instead bought the more portable 32 ct3 system which i have used successfully , now i find out years later the 32 system came with a hand grip G 15 ! If i had of known then i would have bought one.
 
Cobra make or made some nice grips, which you could use with a flash, and with a TTL cord you'd still have ETTL. I've seen a few Metz 60's on Ebay fairly cheap. These can have a replacement battery, also fairly cheap. These were the 45's big brother, with a seperate battery pack, and more power.
That said these are old tech now compared to say a Godox, or any modern flash. If budget is a concern, check out the Yongnuo range.
 
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