Sony HVLF20M, MI Shoe External Flash for Alpha SLT/NEX (Black)

It is a very simple flash that is quick to recycle and relatively powerful for its small size with a Guide number of 14 in Std setting and 20 in Tele setting. Using PowerEx "Ready When You Are" AAA [NEW! 950mAh] NiMH Rechargeable Batteries - 4 Batteries Per Pack it recycles in under a second. The available controls are limited to a Standard/Tele rotating dial which slides a diffuser over the flash tube for between 18mm - 35mm focal length (Std) and a Direct/Bounce slider which changes the angle of the flash tube from facing forward to straight up. The on/off switch is actuated by merely lifting the flash up to a vertical position, when it is "off" it sits horizontally facing forward. The only problem I have with this power switch arrangement is that when the flash is "off" the multi Interface foot of this unit that slides into the shoe of the camera is sticking up and more likely to be damaged (see my customer pictures). The flash comes with a flimsy cloth drawstring bag to store and protect it which provides about as much protection as a handkerchief. You would think that for $150 Sony could provide a small case for this somewhat overpriced flash. I found a small leather case to put the flash into and I store it in the flat "on" position with the batteries removed. When taking pictures with it I have found that is has plenty of power even in totally dark rooms of relatively large size (25x25) with the flash set at the standard setting, the exposure was balanced with no hot spots and the white balance was dead on. The flash integrates well with the NEX-6 (and the Sony cameras referenced below) and according to Sony uses TTL/ADI (through the lens)/(Advanced Distance Integration) flash metering when used with Sony lenses that send distance information back to the camera. The camera calculates a specific guide number for each photo based on the distance from the subject using ADI, along with ambient light and pre-flash reflectivity of the subject and the background using TTL metering, this insured proper white balance and even exposure. This is way stronger than the internal flash by far and extends the cameras capabilities even though the NEX-6 does well in low light, more light when properly applied, is usually better. I have found that using the bounce setting with an index card extending above the flash to reflect some of the light forward produced nice balanced portraits without shadows. Note: It cannot be used off-camera and has no independent light sensing capabilities. Overall the flash is very small and light weight so it adds little bulk to the camera and is easy to attach to the camera once you remove the hot shoe protector from the camera and base protector from the flash. There are small, gold plated contacts at the front of the cameras hot shoe and at the base of the flash (see my customer photos) which communicate with them and they are delicate and need to be protected. Ordinarily, I would not keep replacing the hot shoe protector on a camera or a protector on the base of a flash but if these are bent or damaged in any way, the camera and flash will not cooperate with each other and that would not be a good thing so I replace the protectors after I use the flash and suggest that you do this as well. According to Sony, you should get about 90 flashes with AAA alkaline batteries and up to 150 with Ni-MH with quicker recycling time with the Ni-MH. I shot about 50 exposures with the "Ready to use" Imedion-Powerex batteries right out of the package with no significant loss in recycling time. Overall this is a good flash, certainly better than the built in one but not as flexible nor as powerful as you might expect for its $150 price. Addendum: This flash is also compatible with the following other Sony cameras according to their website: Cyber-shot Digital RX100 II Alpha NEX-7 Camera Sony a58 DSLR Sony a65 DSLR Sony a77 DSLR Sony a99 Full-Frame DSLR As well as the discontinued Alpha 37 and 57 DSLR cameras

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THIS IS THE PERFECT SMALL FLASH TO TAKE ALONG TO ADD FILL FLASH TO YOUR PHOTOS. IT HAS A BOUNCE MODE AND A TELEPHOTO MODE. WHEN MOUNTED ON MY RX10 III with F2.4-4 large-aperture 24-600mm zoom lens, SEE HERE: Sony DSC-RX10 III Cyber-shot Digital Still Camera IT FITS PERFECTLY AND FOLDS DOWN WHEN NOT IN USE. MY ONLY GRIPE IS THAT THE ON-OFF SWITCH IS INTEGRATED INTO THE FOLDING OF THE FLASH. WHEN YOU FLIP UP THE FLASH IT TURNS ON AND WHEN YOU FOLD IT DOWN IT TURNS OFF. I WOULD PREFER A SLIDING ON-OFF SWITCH ON THE FLASH ITSELF. OT EVEN FITS NICELY IN MY HARD CAMERA CASE.

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This external flash provides much more light and coverage than the built-in flash on my Sony A6000. It has a switch to bounce the flash off the ceiling to disperse the light over a larger area and more evenly distributed than a direct flash. I goes to sleep when the camera goes to sleep which conserves its batteries. It has an LED for the status of the battery and an LED which shows when the flash has been recycled. If it used AA instead of AAA batteries I would give it 4 stars. The flash is rated between 90 and 150 flashes. Its not heavy, and doesnt seem to add weight to the camera.

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Based on other comments I was prepared not to order this unit. Because of Sonys highly proprietary construction of the FDR-AX100 camera, owners are highly restricted in the choice of accessories. In all of Sonys catalog of flash units, this unit is the only one that will function on the cameras proprietary hot shoe. After testing it on the camera, it functions better than as described by other reviewers, despite its quirky way of shutting on and off. It is more powerful than I imagined and should operate well under the restrictions imposed by thermal overload during rapid fire operations.

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Nice flat flash that you can take along in your pocket. It worked great with my SONY NEX-6. I gave it 4 stars because of the on off mechanism. I really would have preferred a normal switch. The thing turns on when you pivot the main part up. Although it seems like a cool idea, the thing I liked most about this unit was that it was compact and flat. But the OFF position requires that the hot shoe mount be 90 degrees from the main flash body. So to keep the thing off, you ruin its beautiful compact flatness!!! On the plus side, the few times the shoe pivoted in my pocket (thereby turning on), it didnt seem to drain the battery. Maybe keeping it flat (and permanently on) wont leave you flash less. Im just guessing - will have to test this theory.

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I am very happy to have a small flash like this for my Sony NEX 7 paired with Sony ADPAMA shoe adapter. By using 2 AAA batteries to power this flash, you can bring extra batteries for events, which is a good thing. If you cover events, this is a highly recommended accessory. Not too powerful, but can definitely light up group photos. Attached are photos to showing a mug for size reference when attached to a Sony NEX 7 with 50 mm prime lens.

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