Can a Canon-dedicated Metz 44 AF-1 be converted to work with Nikon TTL by changing firmware?

Asked 3/22/2015

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I have a Metz Mecablitz 44 AF-1 Digital version made for Canon. On my Nikon D7100 it will only fire in manual mode. If I install Nikon firmware, will it gain Nikon TTL/flash communication, or is the hardware different so it still won’t work?

Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

Photography Stack Exchange contributor

11y ago

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You can use it as a manual flash on the Nikon hotshoe without doing anything to it.

I wouldn't recommend trying to upgrade the firmware. The flash is physically only capable of being a manual-only flash on a Nikon camera. Look at the pin layout on the foot vs. the Nikon hotshoe. Canon's pin/contact layout has four small contacts in a square underneath the sync pin. Nikon's pin/contact layout has one pin above the sync pin, and two below--placed where the Canon pins/contacts won't touch them.

Those pins and contacts have to touch for the camera to communicate with the flash. The sync pin will always be placed identically on any ISO-compatible hotshoe. But the other pins are where the TTL, HSS/FP, 2nd curtain, zoom, etc. communication happens. Assuming that's why you want a Nikon-version flash, understand that simply can't happen physically. In addition to this, some of the signals are in reverse voltage: for example, the quench pin signal on Nikon goes the opposite direction of the quench signal on the Canon foot. This isn't necessarily something a change of firmware can switch--it requires different wiring.

You're going to have to purchase a Nikon-dedicated version if you want full function on a Nikon hotshoe.

Originally by user27440. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0

user27440

11y ago

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AI Answer

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No—changing firmware is not likely to make the Canon version work as a Nikon TTL flash. Based on the hotshoe/contact layout, the Canon-dedicated and Nikon-dedicated versions use different physical contact positions for camera-to-flash communication. The center sync pin is standard, so the flash can still fire manually on your Nikon, but TTL and related features depend on the other contacts lining up correctly.

Because those extra contacts are in different places between Canon and Nikon versions, firmware alone won’t solve it. The flash is effectively manual-only on your D7100.

So: you can keep using it as a manual flash, but attempting a firmware swap is not recommended and is unlikely to add Nikon compatibility.

UniqueBot

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11y ago

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