Nervous about using new equipment- please help!

[James Greed]

Right, just landed some more wedding assiting work but this photographer uses equipment that i am unfamiliar with. I don't want to mess up on my first outing with him so looking for some advise to ensure sucess!

I'm used to using canon equipment but this chap uses a fuji sd3 and a metz flash gun ( a 45 i think it was) and it has all sorts of bizarre settings that i am unfamiliar with- including having to match the focal length of the lens on the flash gun. where as the canon stuff is all e-ttl so you only have to worry about flash compensation and exposure.

I'm pretty nervous.
If anyone has any expereince with either of these pieces of kit then i would really parreciate some advise on how to keep it simple and avoid any pitfalls.

 

[Kev M]

The focal length thing isn't so much to do with the exposure but to do with the zoom setting of the flash head. The camera should talk to the flash so they can zoom in sync and you shouldn't have to worry bout it. As long as he has the right cables then the flash should work in ttl mode too.

 

[James Greed]

just remembered it Not a 45..i think it might be a 76? i don't really know metZ flash guns very well!! IT MASSIVE AND VERY POWERFUL!

The camera doesn't talk to the flash, he said something about the hot shoe interface doesn't talk with camera as metz marketed this model as being digitally compatible but in the end it wasn't (kept giving bad exposures) so he had to use some sort of different hot shoe interface which only sets exposure not focal lenght so you HAVE to set it manually- seems like more work than it needs to be to me!

My other main concern is that i'm not familiar with the fuji SD3. I can use my canon pretty rapidly, but this is all new to me. so having 2 brand new pieces of equipemtn and working with a new guy and not knowing his expectations is making me a bit nervous...

 

[Ian T]

The Metz flashguns are absolute beasts. Mine is a 45 and is like a stun gun when on full power. Not sure how the dial works on it though, keep meaning to take a photo and put it up here. Need to find a user manual really...

If your one is digitally compatible, I'm guessing it's a more recent model. Not sure about the settings problems - I almost always use the flashes manual anyway, and just take some test shots first.

 

[dazzajl]

Why not just arrange to go over and have a little time getting to know the kit. Would be a good idea to make a list of things you'd like to get to grips with too. I know without one I'd end up having a bit of play and remembering half the stuff that was worrying me on the way home.

 

[James Greed]

i already went over to his house to meet him and he gave me a run through of some of the stuff, but i came out with as many questions as answers.

I'm so used to my canon stuff- i know how to take pictures but just not with that equipment. my whole method of working is gonna have to change in a heart beat.

I'm sure i'll muddle through- i just don't want to look stupid!

Was hoping someone could list any common pitfalls/tips of this combination of kit that i may be unaware of.