Metz 15 MS-1

I am new to this forum having just purchased a D5300 (previous Olympus E500 and E3 user). I already had the Metz unit and am trying to work out whether its worth using it with the Nikon. I've got it working but am not sure that it's actually doing all the ttl stuff (it might be that it's just not suited to the Nikon system of course and I haven't realised it yet!) I've seen some good results from people using the inbuilt flah and a just a simple foam diffuser for macro. So do I persist with the MS-1 or just go down the simplw route - I am just a hobbyist photographer. Thanks all.

I am not familiar with the Metz 15 and your issue, but I wanted to take a minute to welcome you to the forum. Congrats also on the D5300. Lots of users of the camera on this forum. I am sure someone will be able to help you out.

Thanks Danno, very kind of you.

The Metz is a ringflash type unit. Some adjustment allows for the lights to be angled in slightly and the whole thing can be covered with a diffuser so potentially a usefull item - if it can be controlled in the ttl mode. I can make it fire as a slave but my test results seem a bit over exposed. Probably operator error!

Welcome to the forum Ian... That light, a good one, unfortunately, won't work in TTL mode with your camera because that model camera doesn't support Nikon's Commander mode, which is what you need to operate TTL with that light. The light will work in manual mode though...

By manual mode Fred I assume that you mean I will have to adjust the flash output using the controls on the Metz itself rather than the camera regulating the operation ? I can get the unit to trigger quite happily in most of the camera modes by raising the on board flash etc. The (rather poor) Metz manual talks about manual operation using the provided cable but of course the D5300 has no socket. Touch of trial an error called for I think.

Yes... although I don't know what the range is on that light... with regard to fractional increments that you can adjust the amount downward.

Metz says that light uses IR as the control for TTL... Nikon uses IR to transmit the TTL signals...but they use Commander mode to transmit those signals. Since that light is NOT Nikon/Canon specific, there appears to be an IR learning mode in the Metz documentation??? Of course, if there's no Commander mode sending signals, there's obviously nothing for the light to "learn". I suspect the light is using a simple optical slave to actually fire the light, since there is no hot shoe to make the connection.

I use a Viltrox light and rarely use much higher than 1/128th power for macro

Thanks Fred, that all makes sense. I'll have a play around and see what I get from it. I do rather like the idea of having the flash on the front of the camera, it does seem to be the best place for macro work. Thank again.

Ian,
I am wondering if this might help: https://www.amazon.com/YONGNUO-YN56...&keywords=Yongnuo+trigger+flash+trigger+nikon
It would be similar to Nikon SU-800 IR device that send IR pulses. Is the metz seeing flash pulses or InfraRed pulses. I know in on Nikon and Olympus flash systems they use IR pulses from the white flash pulses. Other wise you will have to use manual power mode. If you need to physically be wired to your camera that does not have a PC connector look here FlashZebra.com: Products
Good Luck,
Lou Cioccio