He mentioned it's useless during pitch black.. I don't wanna take it literally, is he saying like inside a disco or dark parties with dim neon lights, or a beer houses? I plan to get one for my alpha a330 because it's poor indoors, during night event like wedding receptions.
@moronslave my best suggestion for you is to get it from somewhere that allows you to return it just in case. the biggest problem is that auto focus will be compromised. You can use a lens with a larger aperture to compensate. if the camera deems it to be too dark, it will use the built-in flash to help with focusing, the F20AM kills off that function. So in any condition where your camera DOESN'T need AF assist it'll be fine. REMEMBER recycle time is slow.
Cant you keep it turned on all the time? Im not into taking pictures, I like to record videos only, and I dont want it to flash for a half second only? :(
@IfImGeorgeWhosThat NO! it does NOT have a sensor to do wireless flash AND it will also not be able to trigger another flash (I have a Sony F58AM for more serious needs) which I think is dumb. I tried getting a third party wireless trigger but with no TTL, pretty much useless. like I said, get it if you need something light to bouce light here and there.
@IfImGeorgeWhosThat NO! it does NOT have a sensor to do wireless flash AND it will also not be able to trigger another flash (I have a Sony F58AM for more serious needs) which I think is dumb. I tried getting a third party wireless trigger but with no TTL, pretty much useless. like I said, get it if you need something light to bounce light here and there.
@jorgecastiillo no idea since I don't use this small flash that much, usually at family dinners/gatherings where I take only a handful of pictures. also product pictures when I sell things. I would say you can get 200+ pictures with flash before before you need to replace battery. REMEMBER refresh/recharge rate is slow, so the time between shots are longer.
Sony is retarded in many ways. When I first got a flash and new nothing about the units, I thought this was a great and cheap way to start experimenting with light, but was sadly wrong and it went right back to the store. It's like having bounce effect with the built-in flash, nothing more.
@GATFOCT yup! I use this primarily for indoor bounce and sometimes small family gatherings, it's useful to have for travels too, I also use it wirelessly with a remote trigger, but no TTL metering with that. I have the F58AM which is MAGNIFICENT for more serious needs, but it's heavy and I always fear it would crack of break the plastic Sony shoe/mount. The inability to use this flash is dim/dark situation is just plain dumb, at least add in an AF assist light! the other flashes have them!
@arepchapha No. Sony mounts are proprietary. So it'll only fit on sony. There are adapters that allow canon and nikon flash to fit on Sonys. Maybe there's something like that? Idk
@TheBambi14 don't think I was showing pictures of how it looked in pitch black since one flash don't even work in the dark. I think I was showing those who don't know the difference between direct flash vs. bounce flash.
@drmedo550 I actually have the flash on the Alpha 200 on this video. Just remember this is more for indoor bounce, not that much bright than the built in flash
Good review. I like this flash and I'm thinking of getting one. I like the form factor, where you swivel up-down to turn it on and off. I also like bounce effect, which I really need. Plus the built-in diffuser.
So compared to the built-in flash, are you liking this flash better?
@rajibumbum I got and use this flash FOR the bounce indoors. I really never use direct flash because it's too harsh. It is more powerful than the built in and because it's higher up it gives a slightly better shadow. Shot to shot recharge of the flash is on the slow side. If I take a picture every 1.5 seconds or so, each would be a little dimmer than the last. It was "fixed" by taking a picture after 3-4 seconds. The inability to auto focus in very dim light is my only real negative issue
He mentioned it's useless during pitch black.. I don't wanna take it literally, is he saying like inside a disco or dark parties with dim neon lights, or a beer houses? I plan to get one for my alpha a330 because it's poor indoors, during night event like wedding receptions.
moronslave 1 month ago
@moronslave my best suggestion for you is to get it from somewhere that allows you to return it just in case. the biggest problem is that auto focus will be compromised. You can use a lens with a larger aperture to compensate. if the camera deems it to be too dark, it will use the built-in flash to help with focusing, the F20AM kills off that function. So in any condition where your camera DOESN'T need AF assist it'll be fine. REMEMBER recycle time is slow.
Mikenopolis 1 month ago
Cant you keep it turned on all the time? Im not into taking pictures, I like to record videos only, and I dont want it to flash for a half second only? :(
Pulkadrage 2 months ago
@chaspergabriel yup just make sure you are getting the a-mount.
Mikenopolis 3 months ago
@ChasperGabriel That's the lens I use 90% of the time. it's my general purpose Sigma 18-200 F/3.5-6.3
Mikenopolis 3 months ago
are you able to use this flash wireless?
IfImGeorgeWhosThat 5 months ago
@IfImGeorgeWhosThat NO! it does NOT have a sensor to do wireless flash AND it will also not be able to trigger another flash (I have a Sony F58AM for more serious needs) which I think is dumb. I tried getting a third party wireless trigger but with no TTL, pretty much useless. like I said, get it if you need something light to bouce light here and there.
Mikenopolis 5 months ago
@IfImGeorgeWhosThat NO! it does NOT have a sensor to do wireless flash AND it will also not be able to trigger another flash (I have a Sony F58AM for more serious needs) which I think is dumb. I tried getting a third party wireless trigger but with no TTL, pretty much useless. like I said, get it if you need something light to bounce light here and there.
Mikenopolis 5 months ago
How many pictures can I take after have to replace the batteries?
jorgecastiillo 8 months ago
@jorgecastiillo no idea since I don't use this small flash that much, usually at family dinners/gatherings where I take only a handful of pictures. also product pictures when I sell things. I would say you can get 200+ pictures with flash before before you need to replace battery. REMEMBER refresh/recharge rate is slow, so the time between shots are longer.
Mikenopolis 3 months ago
On my a300, this was useless until ISO400 where the noise made the pictures useless (therefore over all useless)
GATFOCT 8 months ago
Sony is retarded in many ways. When I first got a flash and new nothing about the units, I thought this was a great and cheap way to start experimenting with light, but was sadly wrong and it went right back to the store. It's like having bounce effect with the built-in flash, nothing more.
GATFOCT 8 months ago
@GATFOCT yup! I use this primarily for indoor bounce and sometimes small family gatherings, it's useful to have for travels too, I also use it wirelessly with a remote trigger, but no TTL metering with that. I have the F58AM which is MAGNIFICENT for more serious needs, but it's heavy and I always fear it would crack of break the plastic Sony shoe/mount. The inability to use this flash is dim/dark situation is just plain dumb, at least add in an AF assist light! the other flashes have them!
Mikenopolis 8 months ago
@Mikenopolis It's also useless at ISO 100 and my a300 is useless beyond ISO 200. And YES Minolta was very stupid in making that proprietary foot!
What do you use for a remote trigger and receiver?
GATFOCT 8 months ago
@arepchepha check out last comment
Mikenopolis 10 months ago
@arepchapha No. Sony mounts are proprietary. So it'll only fit on sony. There are adapters that allow canon and nikon flash to fit on Sonys. Maybe there's something like that? Idk
Mikenopolis 10 months ago
I like how your pic you show after using the built in flash in pitch black has the lamp on in the corner! Wrong picture maybe??
TheBambi14 10 months ago
@TheBambi14 don't think I was showing pictures of how it looked in pitch black since one flash don't even work in the dark. I think I was showing those who don't know the difference between direct flash vs. bounce flash.
Mikenopolis 8 months ago
@drmedo550 I actually have the flash on the Alpha 200 on this video. Just remember this is more for indoor bounce, not that much bright than the built in flash
Mikenopolis 1 year ago
Does is work with the Alpha 200 ???
drmedo550 1 year ago
Thanks! I will get one. :)
rajibumbum 1 year ago
Good review. I like this flash and I'm thinking of getting one. I like the form factor, where you swivel up-down to turn it on and off. I also like bounce effect, which I really need. Plus the built-in diffuser.
So compared to the built-in flash, are you liking this flash better?
rajibumbum 1 year ago
@rajibumbum I got and use this flash FOR the bounce indoors. I really never use direct flash because it's too harsh. It is more powerful than the built in and because it's higher up it gives a slightly better shadow. Shot to shot recharge of the flash is on the slow side. If I take a picture every 1.5 seconds or so, each would be a little dimmer than the last. It was "fixed" by taking a picture after 3-4 seconds. The inability to auto focus in very dim light is my only real negative issue
Mikenopolis 1 year ago
@rajibumbum oh Of course I like this, it's tiny, portable and bounce light is much more desirable than using the built in direct flash!
Mikenopolis 1 year ago