Metz does not provide T.5 times at all, but instead gives full tables of T.1 durations at each power level stop. The tables are not identified as such, but Metz customer service confirms that this is the measurement method used. This is excellent news, since T.1 is the actually-useful number. The ranges given are as follows:
- 44 AF-1: from ¹⁄₁₂₅ seconds at full power to ¹⁄₁₅,₀₀₀ seconds at ¹⁄₆₄ power
- 48 AF-1: from ¹⁄₁₂₅ seconds at full power to ¹⁄₂₅,₀₀₀ seconds at ¹⁄₁₂₈ power
- 50 AF-1: from ¹⁄₁₂₅ seconds at full power to ¹⁄₂₅,₀₀₀ seconds at ¹⁄₁₂₈ power
- 52 AF-1: from ¹⁄₁₂₅ seconds at full power to ¹⁄₂₅,₀₀₀ seconds at ¹⁄₁₂₈ power
- 54 MZ-4i: from ¹⁄₂₀₀ seconds at full power to ¹⁄₂₆,₀₀₀ seconds at ¹⁄₂₅₆ power
- 58 AF-2: from ¹⁄₁₂₅ seconds at full power to ¹⁄₃₃,₀₀₀ seconds at ¹⁄₂₅₆ power
The reduced-power numbers are significantly faster than anything available from the other manufacturers. This is partly because Metz's flashes allow several stops more latitude in reducing flash power than the competition.
At the other end of the scale, though, there is a concern that the flash duration of the AF models at full power exceeds the ¹⁄₁₈₀ second sync speed. Metz technical support confirms that when full flash is necessary, the shutter speed must be kept below the listed duration. However, it should be noted that Metz is the only maker to give solid numbers on this at all, so I would be careful about holding this against them unless we can get better real data from anyone else. Also, when the flash is used as the primary light source, my K10D in P mode prefers to set the shutter speed to ¹⁄₆₀ with any P-TTL flash, well within the safe range.
Metz does not provide a detailed chart of flash duration for the 36 AF-4 and other more-basic flashes, probably because without manual control that information would be of little use. The duration is listed as ¹⁄₅₀₀ to ¹⁄₃₀,₀₀₀ seconds, and Metz technical support confirms that this is indeed the T.1 number — the tech even tested in the lab to double check at my request. (The T.5 duration is about ¹⁄₁₀₀₀.)
