Will Sony provide a way to trigger the wireless optical flash system other than with the HLV-F58AM?
Nov. 4, 2008: At long last, the A900 is starting to wind its way into the hands of eager photographers and it looks to be every bit as sweet a camera as we hoped. Of course it is hard to miss with a 24.6mp full frame dSLR, but it appears that Sony has exceeded most people’s expectations.
There are plenty of other sites discussing the A900, and I will be offering up my 2 cents as well. Today, however, I want to talk about options for triggering a remote flash with the A900.
This post came about because, as expected, the new A900 doesn’t not have a popup flash. Not a big concern, as the top level dSLRs from other makers don’t include a popup flash either. Pros seldom, if ever use flash units located directly above the lens axis, so why design a pro-level camera with a popup that will never be used? Besides, the flash might not fit so well with the A900′s impressive looking pentaprism.
There is just one fly in the ointment. All the past Sony dSLRs, as well as the dSLRs from Minolta were equipped with a popup flash. All these cameras use the popup as a trigger for the Sony/Minolta wireless flash system. It is a good thing those cameras had the popup, because until recently, the popup was the only way to trigger the wireless flash system. Some of the older external Minolta flashes could act as trigger for other flash units in the wireless mode, but that only worked with film cameras. In the dSLR arena, the only trigger for Sony or Minolta wireless flash units was with the built in flash. Which as I already mentioned; the A900 is lacking..
Fear not, the A900 supports wireless flash, when equipped with the brand new HLV-F58-AM flash unit. The 58AM can serve as a flash trigger for any flash in the Sony Alpha system.
The HLV-F58AM lists just south of $500, and since it is brand spanking new, you will probably have to pay the full sticker if you want the privilege of using wireless flash with your new A900.
That isn’t to say the HLV-F58AM isn’t worth the price, but who wants to shell out all that cash just to use that top-of-line flash unit as a lowly flash trigger?
Consider the poor guy who already has a collection of Sony and Minolta D series flash units. To use them wirelessly, he has to buy yet another flash unit. The kicker is the F58AM specs make it hands-down the best flash available for the Sony Alpha. If you use it a s a flash trigger, however, you don”t get the benefits of all that power and multi-jointed flexibility. With the Sony wireless system, if you use the trigger to fire two or more remote flashes, the trigger fires before the exposure so that the trigger’s light doesn’t spoil the lighting setup. That”s all well and good, however, it means if you buy a HLV-F58AM to trigger multiple wireless flashes from your A900, your newest and very best flash can’t be used to light the scene. it can only be used as a trigger. Unless you are sufficiently well healed to be in a position to acquire an A900 and multiple copies of the F58AM.
Now I fully expect to hear from someone pointing out that: “If you can afford a new A900, I guess you have enough cash to add a F5AM or two.”
That isn’t how it works in real life. Sure, there will be some people who have a fat enough wallet that they can afford three A900s; one for the summer house, one for the winter house and another one to use while traveling between the two. But there are many shooters who have to scrimp and save to snare a copy of a A900, For these photographers, digging up another half-grand for a flash trigger represents somewhat of a hardship.
Of course pro photographers can shell out for any piece of equipment they need, right? In reality, pros have to watch their expenses just like anyone else. There is an old joke that “only wealthy amateurs can afford pro photography equipment.” It is simplistic statement, but there is more than a grain of truth there. Working professionals have a whole raft of stuff to spend their cash on. In addition to cameras and lenses, there are any number of things like computers, software, marketing, studio rent, lighting equipment and much more that can eat up the budget. What’s another five bills on top of that overhead? For some pros, it’s a lot.
It is possible that Sony could offer develop some optional, less-expensive way to trigger the wireless flash system, but for the moment it appears its the HLV-58AM or nothing.
Hmm… maybe there is another option. That will be the topic of my next post….
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8 Comments
Oh, I do hope you come up with an alternative solution in you next post! This one (lacking) feature is what is putting me off the α900..
I bought the a100 when it first came out and I still use it everyday. I then purchased a couple HVL-F56AM’s and used that pop up flash to trigger for a while. I was sick of having to have the flash always in some sort of directional view of the pop up. Then I got creative…which I’m sure alot of people have done by now.
Knowing that the Sony hotshoe is proprietary, I purchased a 4 pin adapter online ($15.95). Next I needed a triggering system and my hat is off to Paul C. Buff and his Cybersync System from Alienbees (One Transmitter and two Receivers for $199.85) Now I needed a way to attach the reciever to the flash, again proprietary…hmmm. No need for another adapter to the bottom of the flash as it gets too wobbley and not to mention they were impossible to locate. Enter the Sony FA-MC1AM off camera cable for flash ($59.99)
Now all you have to do is cut that cable in half (gulp) and solder an 1/8th inch mono plug to it and you’re in business. Wireless remote flash at 300 ft or more as I’ve tested. Bright sun, no problem. Flashes behind walls, no problem. Flashes on opposite ends of the room not facing you…NO PROBLEM. All for around $300. You can’t even get the pocket wizard set up for that.
I’m sure sony will come up with something as they’ve introduced the FA-HS1AM hot shoe adapter, but that seems to be for studio type flashes and not Sony flashes…you gotta do what you gotta do I guess. Good luck.
I though the Minolta/Sony wireless flash system was pretty cool, but I could never seem to get the consistency I wanted and I pined for the simplicity of studio flash, So I bought some radio triggers, a hotshoe adaptor and cheap Nikon flashguns off ebay and now I have an inexpensive flash system for a fraction of the price.
Let me kick in with my flash trigger solution. I purchased a Sony to standard hot shoe adapter on eBay. Way cheap. Now I can use any flash trigger I want, from the cheap garage door opener types from China to my Pocket Wizards.
This system works for studio flashes, for my old Vivitar 285 and for my Sunpak 622. Unlike Dave, I do use a second PC type flash shoe system, often mounted on a stand when I am using my Metz 58 or my Sony 56 flashes. Good results here, too.
I echo Dave’s respect for Buff stuff. Paul is offering a new transmitter that may well be THE definitive flash trigger of today. http://tinyurl.com/6oktmo
Best,
Jack Casner
There are plenty of flash triggers on ebay that will connect to the camera’s hot shoe, and trigger multiple receivers. Most receivers have Canon/Nikon shoes, but there are plenty of hot shoe adaptors for attaching Alpha flashes to Canon/Nikon shoes.
Bad news is TTL usually doesn’t work with this system, but physical positioning, reflectors, etc should take care of that.
I don’t like using the pop-up flash to trigger external flashes because it adds its own light which causes its usual harsh and flat lighting and red-eye. What I do to get around that, however, is use a folded piece of aluminum foil (shiny side out!), positioned in front of the pop-up. I make sure to angle and shape it so that all externals get the light coming out of it.
Hope I’ve helped.
emilio
emiliofranso@yahoo.com
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[...] Alphatracks Minolta and Sony SLR Weblog « Sony A900: How will you trigger your wireless optical flash? [...]
[...] With the low price and light weight, it is natural to assume this flash is targeted at first time dSLR shooters. While that is true in part, the F20 should be very appealing to owners of the top-of-the-line A900 as well. As I outlined a few months ago, the A900 doesn’t have a built-in flash, making the A900 the only Sony Alpha that cannot trigger the Sony wireless system out of the box. Until now, the only way the A900 could fire a Sony wireless flash unit is by attaching a HVL-F58AM flash to the hot shoe. The F58AM was the only flash capable of acting as a controller. The rest of the flash units in the Sony stable (F36, F42 and F56) can not be used to trigger other flash units. So A900 users had to buy the high-dollar F58 flash if they wanted a wireless flash trigger. [...]