I know personal, anecdotal experience isn't science, but I've never had an issue with a series of Nikon speedlights dating back to the SB26, up through the SB800, across 7 types of bodies. What I have heard is the D750 has a strange hotshoe spec and people have issues with it.
My experience with the TTL has been great. I shot an evening indoor event with this flash on my A7RII and it worked great. I do not own it however, it was just a loaner. I highly recommend it. If I needed a flash and didn’t mind the price tag I would purchase it for myself.
MNPNW - Like you currently have two AD200s being triggered by a Xpro. Wanted an OCF option and went w/ the Sony HVL-60RM, because I think it outperforms the V860ii and got a great Black Friday deal. Will the HVL-60 automatically trigger the AD200s, or did you have to use a receiver? Assume TTL and HSS works across that 3 light set-up? (Sony HVL, AD200s)
MNPNW - since you have both, if you were’nt using the flash for professional events (weddings) more casual photography, would you still opt for the HVL-60 or go w/ the lighter form factor of the HVL-45? Based on the deal I got, the HVL60 was only $75 more, but I think it comes in around twice the weight of the 45..and not sure I would travel with 60, but maybe the 45. Appreciate your input on trade offs given cost is less of a factor - I’m struggling w/ the decision. Thanks so much!!
The HVL-F45RM does not swivel as much as the in all the ways the HVL-F60RM; however, I like the little flash more than I thought I would. For casual use, I'm leaning towards the HVL-F45RM.
Please remember advise you receive on the internet can be bad !
I have two of these Sony flashes and I have been very pleased! I think they are superb and I use one as a commander, the other as a receiver for some portraits and TTL is awesome and accurate. I’m using the Sony A7r III. I came from Nikon and I like the Sony better. I want a third and a remote trigger so I can use all three at once for certain situations. Anyway, I haven’t had any inconsistencies with these flashes in commander or receiver mode, nor in single TTL mode using one flash.
I have two HVL-45RMs. I have found them to be great at TTL individually and paired with the A9 for group portraits and event photograpghy. I used canon before switching to sony and think the quality, responsiveness and metering is comparable. I do like the size of the 45's, seems to be a better fit for mirrorless than the larger 60.
ZoranC wrote:
I am curious what are experiences with this flash so far? I am in particular interested how accurate TTL is, especially when paired with A7RII body.
are done with 2 off-camera 60RMs in TTL mode, at 1 to 8 ratio between them.
The exposure is consistent - as long as you set ISO to a fixed value, and there are quite a host of other camera settings that you need to get right (e.g. exposure compensation dial to ambient light only).
I recently switched from Godox flashes to a set of 3 HVL-F60RM flashes. I simply had too many contact problems with the camera connecting to the flash, broken feet and bad radio communication when bodies were between the flash and the camera. These issues were with the mini flash and pro trigger on camera and full size flash and AD200 off camera. On a good day I get 3 out of 4 shots during a wedding. I just missed too many good photos because of problems with the system.
The Sony HVL-F60RM flashes are in a whole different ball park as far as quality. I did not do any range testing but not once at my first wedding with the system did slave flash fail to fire. The radio works flawlessly. Reminds me of how things were when I was using Canon 600EX-RT flash system, still the best flash system I have ever used.
The problem with the Sony system is that the firmware is designed for a single shooter only. You can't have more than one master. I generally shoot with an 85mm and 35mm, well only one of them can fire the slave flash. Every other wireless system I have ever used has allowed my to use both cameras as a a trigger for the off camera slave. You also can't quickly pull off a flash from the second body to use a slave without going through the process of linking it first.
Sony again comes out with a product that looks good on paper but is not usable in the field due to poor implementation. This could be fixed by changing the linking protocols.
Here is a shot from my first wedding with the HVL-F60RM. Taken with on camera flash and one slave flash on a flash stand behind the couple. Both flashes were in TTL mode.
The Sony HVL-F60RM flashes are in a whole different ball park as far as quality. I did not do any range testing but not once at my first wedding with the system did slave flash fail to fire. The radio works flawlessly. Reminds me of how things were when I was using Canon 600EX-RT flash system, still the best flash system I have ever used.
The problem with the Sony system is that the firmware is designed for a single shooter only. You can't have more than one master. I generally shoot with an 85mm and 35mm, well only one of them can fire the slave flash. Every other wireless system I have ever used has allowed my to use both cameras as a a trigger for the off camera slave. You also can't quickly pull off a flash from the second body to use a slave without going through the process of linking it first.
Sony again comes out with a product that looks good on paper but is not usable in the field due to poor implementation. This could be fixed by changing the linking protocols.
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I agree that Canon 600EX-RT / Canon body is a much better integration. I still do not understand why Sony requires the additional step of activating flash and wireless on the camera. With all the pins in the hot shoe, I think there must be bandwidth to communicate. I also agree about the linking, makes quick changes to setup essentially a no go during events.
And this "To enable the commander unit to change the settings of individual receiver units, you need to enable [RCV REMOTE] on each receiver unit in advance. Press the Fn button on the receiver unit, select [RCV REMOTE] on the Quick Navi screen, and then select [ON]."
Why the extra step to allow CMD control over RCV power?
EDIT: I've never been a fan-person type and switching to Sony (from Canon) was to have silent shutter and IBIS. I have used the Canon 17 TSE and 90 TSE on the Sony via adapter for special applications and Canon R seem to have a decent adapter.
The several more steps to use flash on Sony is a big pain. I too, used two Master flash units with Canon and there isn't a workaround with Sony. If Canon develops the R series enough I will consider switching back. Right now, Sony is still developing their Pro Support and things like the flash control slows the setup. Canon Pro Support is superior (IMO).
Also, stuff like the lack of menu consistency between the a9 and 7RIII is silly.
During the 13 years using Canon, I never had a lens or camera failure that was not a result of dropping or hitting the equipment. In 20 months with Sony, I've had to twice send in the 70-200 GM and once the 24-70 GM for failures. The 24-70 is out of warranty and just back from repair, cost $ 528. Yes, a single user and not statistically significant; however, this is how each of us individually makes purchasing decisions. 156 months, zero failures, 20 months, three failures.
The on-camera flash procedure may be a tipping point decision in going back to Canon. Canon is rumored to be developing a IBIS and I'm sure one of their coming R cameras will have dual media slots. My business is headshots and corporate event photography and I've gotten to like the eye-af. Will see if Canon develops their eye-af to get close to Sony.
I prefer the Sony flash to Godox; however, I own and use both.
Since switching to Sony over the Summer, flash has been the only real thorn in my side. I use Godox, but am growing very weary of the TTL issues, and with the A9 firmware update I'm also getting frequent misfires unless I turn EFCS off.
I would be willing to pay the cost of admission for 3 or 4 Sony flashes to get consistency, begrudgingly giving up the wonderful Li Ion batteries and the thorough radio system of Godox (any of my flashes can trigger any other flash, AD360ii, or AD600), but I'd be extremely nervous about the HVL-F45RM's fragile plastic foot (at least if it breaks on a Godox, it's a cheap fix). HVL-F60RM (with metal foot) is an option, but I'd be concerned it would feel huge on such a small camera.
But then in the middle of investigating the options, I learn what was mentioned above, that there's a somewhat convoluted process of "pairing" the master and slaves, and, amazingly, only ONE master can be used at a time, which really throws a wrench in those of us who shoot with two cameras, and I'm not sure if I can overcome that.
As great as Sony is, between that limitation and the stupid plastic foot, there have been some really questionable engineering decisions.
AGeoJO wrote:
I had the HVL-F60M unit before. Operation-wise I was happy with everything that flash had to offer. But that version had only the optical remote triggering and it wasn’t that reliable, especially for outdoors. That’s the main reason Sony came up with the new “R” version.
I thought the "R" version was for use with the newer model camera bodies. But, more importantly - please tell me the $600 RM flash doesn't have a plastic foot. I thought flash manufacturers learned their lesson 15 years ago about plastic for flash feet.
pasblues wrote:
I thought the "R" version was for use with the newer model camera bodies. But, more importantly - please tell me the $600 RM flash doesn't have a plastic foot. I thought flash manufacturers learned their lesson 15 years ago about plastic for flash feet.
The "R" stands for radio frequency triggering, which is significantly more reliable and further away (some 100 feet or so, if I am not mistaken) and more importantly it doesn't have to be triggered via the line in-sight method. You setup the flash in a different room, it comes in handy for architectural photography, where you want to create the effect of light being lit in a different room, etc. I switched to Godox/FlashPoint system and didn't bother with the latest Sony flash or flashes anymore. I am not sure about the material the flash foot is made of; I believe it is plastic though. Excuse me, it is made out of "polycarbonate", yes, that's it !
I'm glad the OP brought up this topic. I was looking at this same flash. I would likely set it up with the external battery adapter. That would put one unit at $850. There's a lot of competition for lighting in and well under that price range.
pasblues wrote:
I thought the "R" version was for use with the newer model camera bodies. But, more importantly - please tell me the $600 RM flash doesn't have a plastic foot. I thought flash manufacturers learned their lesson 15 years ago about plastic for flash feet.
I don't think they could put those special brass wire connectors at the front end of the foot if it was metal.
All flash units for the Sony a7 a9 cameras I have seen the foot is plastic (polycarbonate). The same flash manufacturer puts metal foot on all their other flash units except the Sony.
I just opened a new topic last night, asking for feedback on the 60RM recycling speed. I'll ask the same question here: how fast is the recycling speed? I'm totally underwhelmed by my Godox TT685 and Flashpoint Li-On R2. Much too slow for my event work in low to average lighting, even with a Turbo attached.
colormuse wrote:
I just opened a new topic last night, asking for feedback on the 60RM recycling speed. I'll ask the same question here: how fast is the recycling speed? I'm totally underwhelmed by my Godox TT685 and Flashpoint Li-On R2. Much too slow for my event work in low to average lighting, even with a Turbo attached.
There’s an youtube by Manny Ortiz about using one outdoors. And the specs in the manual. May be a good starting point for evaluating / comparing.
