Sony F717 with external Flash ?

[majere2sg]

What types of external flash units do you guys use for Sony F717 ? What does TTL mean and what does it do ? What is a recommended flash for F717 ? Btw for all external flash, is it possible to adjust the brightness/intensity of the flash ? Thanks.

[Winston]

Quote: Originally posted by majere2sg What types of external flash units do you guys use for Sony F717 ? What does TTL mean and what does it do ? What is a recommended flash for F717 ? Btw for all external flash, is it possible to adjust the brightness/intensity of the flash ? Thanks.

F717 can use any automatic electronic flash as it has a hotshoe. It does not support TTL (Through The Lens) and cannot automatically vary the brightness of the flash, based on what you are pointing the lens at (dark or bright, near or far).

SONY's HVL-F1000 flash does not allow you to adjust the brightness of the flash.

However, certain 3rd party flashes like Metz 32z-2, Vivitar 285HV...etc does allow you to control the brightness manually.

[mpenza]

there's some sort of "TTL" for the 717. remembered a thread which discussed the use of a specific Metz adaptor.

[Winston]

Quote: Originally posted by mpenza there's some sort of "TTL" for the 717. remembered a thread which discussed the use of a specific Metz adaptor.

It's SCA3602.
Met a fellow F717 user who tried it and it did not work and he returned to get the HVL-F1000.

Besides, the SCA3602 + 32Mz-2 (the lowest model to support the SCA3602) will cost over $300+. So did not want to find out.

I guess if SONY's own flash cannot enable it on their camera, why will the other 3rd party flash be able to?

Does that mean, SONY F717 has the TTL capability and SONY does not want the buyers of the HVL-F1000 to use it? It does not make sense.

An extract from someone who tested the HVL-F1000 also.
"At the time I am writing this (10-29-2002), some websites claim the flash features TTL metering - it is not true. The HVL-F1000 features non-TTL metering via the sensor on the face of the flash. If the sensor on the flash is covered, or not pointing at the subject, the flash has no idea when to cut off light output. This is detailed in its own instruction sheet, and I have proven it in my own tests. At no point do the instructions indicate any possibility of TTL flash metering when using this flash with any camera model."

From: http://store.worldsearch.com/product...B000063Y7A.htm

[majere2sg]

So that means I can use 32Mz-2 as my external auto flash unit ? All I have to do is to adjust the brightness on the flash unit itself if it overexposure or underexpose. Btw, does it uses the camera battery or it uses AA battery ? 32Mz-2 can tilt horizontally and vertically as well ? Btw, whats the use of omnibounce? Thanks.

[mpenza]

if you just want an auto flash, get the Metz 32Z1 which has the same features and specs (other than TTL) but much cheaper.

[Winston]

Quote: Originally posted by mpenza if you just want an auto flash, get the Metz 32Z1 which has the same features and specs (other than TTL) but much cheaper.

Actually I feel the 32Z-2 is slightly better than the Z-1 because you can remove the base and attach a SCA adaptor for different systems like Nikon, canon, SONY...etc.

The removable base and the ability to use SCA adaptors may result in a better resale value.

[majere2sg]

Quote: Originally posted by Winston Actually I feel the 32Z-2 is slightly better than the Z-1 because you can remove the base and attach a SCA adaptor for different systems like Nikon, canon, SONY...etc. The removable base and the ability to use SCA adaptors may result in a better resale value.

Just curious.. is the ommibounce or two way bounce necessary ?

[zipper]

http://www.sonystyle.com.sg/cgi-bin5...oduct&Message=


Has anyone tested this with F717?

[majere2sg]

Quote: Originally posted by zipper http://www.sonystyle.com.sg/cgi-bin5...oduct&Message= Has anyone tested this with F717?

Thats the new one ? Does anyone knows if can tilt horizontally and vertically ?

[majere2sg]

Nobody bought the new flash yet ?

[Winston]

Quote: Originally posted by majere2sg Just curious.. is the ommibounce or two way bounce necessary ?

"Omnibounce" is a name of the diffusor made by "Stofen" that you fit in the front of your flash to "cut down" the intensity of the light. (Hence the full name "Stofen Omnibounce")

It's not a two way (omni) bounce. though the name is quite confusing.

[Winston]

Quote: Originally posted by zipper http://www.sonystyle.com.sg/cgi-bin5...oduct&Message= Has anyone tested this with F717?

Looks good, oh man!

I will be replacing my HVL-F1000 again soon!

[mpenza]

it's weaker than Metz 32 series though which goes up to 37m for the GN.

[majere2sg]

Quote: Originally posted by mpenza it's weaker than Metz 32 series though which goes up to 37m for the GN.

I seem to have a problem with my metz 32mz-3, the flash seem to be weak when I tries to take it in outdoor (jurong birdpark) or the world of darkness (jurong birdpark), the pics turn out to be much much darker than compared to using internal flash. My settings are manual mode, ISO 100, i tried to adjust the zoom setting from 35 to 85 but seem like no difference.

There basically nothing I can set besides the ISO, the zoom reflector (35mm to 85mm) and the mode ?

When using a external flash (manual mode or other modes), does the flash settings on the camera itself (weak,normal,strong) makes any difference ?

[mpenza]

thought you should be using TTL mode? if not and you're using auto modes on the flasht, you should set the camera's aperture according to what's indicated on the flash. Only the aperture setting affect the flash exposure.

[Winston]

http://www.dpreview.com/news/0303/03...vlf32xpics.asp

According to the images on Dpreview, the "new" HVL-F32X may not work with the F717 as the hotshoe is a newer design with 5 pins, for the communication btw the camera and the flash.

The camera used with the new SONY DSC-V1, which has the newer SONY shoe.

I am not sure if the F32X allows the use of the cable connection like the F707 and F717 to allow the flash to communicate with the camera. since the F717's hot shoe has no communication pins.

[majere2sg]

Quote: Originally posted by Winston http://www.dpreview.com/news/0303/03...vlf32xpics.asp According to the images on Dpreview, the "new" HVL-F32X may not work with the F717 as the hotshoe is a newer design with 5 pins, for the communication btw the camera and the flash. The camera used with the new SONY DSC-V1, which has the newer SONY shoe. I am not sure if the F32X allows the use of the cable connection like the F707 and F717 to allow the flash to communicate with the camera. since the F717's hot shoe has no communication pins.

Just bought the F32X flash, it works with F717. It make use of the cable connection.

[Winston]

Quote: Originally posted by majere2sg Just bought the F32X flash, it works with F717. It make use of the cable connection.

Where did you buy it?

How much did you buy it for?

Is it good?

Can it tilt sideways or left and right?

Can it control the "power" of the flash?

If it is not so expensive, may get it over a 32mz-2 w/ SCA 3602.

AP does not seem to deal much in SONY cameras and accessories, they seem to prefer the other brands.

The MSRP for the flash is S$350, if it's below $300 at retail, I may be really tempted to get one.

A 32Mz-2 with SCA 3602 comes up to over $300 too (the SCA 3602 is already a hundred plus)

[majere2sg]

Quote: Originally posted by Winston Where did you buy it? How much did you buy it for? Is it good? Can it tilt sideways or left and right? Can it control the "power" of the flash? If it is not so expensive, may get it over a 32mz-2 w/ SCA 3602. AP does not seem to deal much in SONY cameras and accessories, they seem to prefer the other brands. The MSRP for the flash is S$350, if it's below $300 at retail, I may be really tempted to get one. A 32Mz-2 with SCA 3602 comes up to over $300 too (the SCA 3602 is already a hundred plus)

$280 at CP

Cannot tilt left and right though.

Yeah you can control the power of the flash thru the camera itself.

So far works okay indoors, haven't test it outdoors yet till I get my camera repaired (my filter got stucked)