The original SCA system was meant to be an open standard adopted by a number of
mainly(?) german
flash vendors, who are now mostly extinct.
Other vendors with similar systems include Sunpak and the Japanese Nissin flash
company which
makes a very ,very similar looking adapter system to Metz, but it has a
slightly smaller
connector, and is incompatible.
Nissin makes a number of twin tube flash units with very similar general
designs to Metz, which
work rather well and have good features like audible flash quench and a clever
power saving
mode,where after a while of inactivity the flash cap charge runs over a wider
voltage range to
reduce power use. They also have very much lower self discharge, so they come
on fully charged
almost instantly after being switched off for quite a while. Nissin is no
longer distributed
actively in US, but seems available elsewhere in the world. Prices used to run
about half that of
equivalent Metz.
It seems that the generic cheap twin flash units don't quench the subflash
units, so you are fixed
to a few flash levels on the fill/direct flash, often by using ND clip on
filters. This is not
very convenient.
Tim Hughes
--- Chuck Norcutt <chucknorcutt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> I was referring only to the use of "blitz" in the name and I'm well
> aware of Sunpak using interchangeable feet . I've also never seen another
> flash other than Metz
that
> uses a separate fill light flash tube.
>
> Chuck Norcutt
>
> Andrew Fildes wrote:
> > Bad logic - that's like claiming that Rollei is made by Leica. :)
> > SCA adapters were not unique to Metz by any means, there are other
> > interchangeable foot systems and I've seen lots of flashes of various
> > brands with a secondary fill flash on the body, including a few
> > potato masher types.
> > Blitz IS German, Star ain't.
> > Of course, gawdnose where Metz are actually made these days so it
> > could be a 'same factory, different door' routine but the name
> > Starblitz has been around a long time in a small way.
> > What does bug me about the new range is that they seem rather weak
> > for the size - size of an FL50 but only 30GSN. Aiming at the 'bigger
> > looks sexy' buyer no doubt.
> > Andrew Fildes
> > afildes@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> >
> >
> >
> > On 25/04/2008, at 10:00 AM, Chuck Norcutt wrote:
> >
> >> I wonder if it was actually made by Metz. The name sounds German, it
> >> does mulitple TTL cameras via an adapter (ala Metz) and it has a
> >> separate fill light... something unique to Metz I believe. Just a
> >> guess.
> >
> >
> >
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