The main difference seems to be the zoom range: (15) 24-105 on the 46RMA and (14) 20-200 on the 60RM2
The 60RM2 is also very bulky in practice, maybe more bulky than it has to be? I get that the flash head need to be bigger, but the body is much thicker too
It’s a pity there isn’t one that does 16mm without the wide panel
In what situations is it helpful to have 200mm zoom on a flash?
I have both flashes. The 60RM2 comes with the color temperature gels that are easy to snap on/off. The head can be swiveled into the proper — above the lens position when shooting vertically. All that said I travel with and use the 46 more often due to the smaller size and weight.
I really like those Sony Flashes. Especially since you can control all functions from the Sony bodies within so you don‘t have to take your eye off from the viewfinder while shooting etc.
Jazzgear296 wrote:
I have both flashes. The 60RM2 comes with the color temperature gels that are easy to snap on/off. The head can be swiveled into the proper — above the lens position when shooting vertically. All that said I travel with and use the 46 more often due to the smaller size and weight.
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The 60RMii (439g) does look big relative to the size of the camera compared to the 46RMA (317g)
Is the weight difference (122g) significant in practice? In store it doesn’t seem hugely different but I imagine after a day of shooting fatigue does add up
If you only pick one which would it be? My use case would be initially outdoor on-camera (global shutter) and maybe in the future 2 identical units camera left + right for off camera.
Indoors I have Godox but if the Sony one works well indoors l can sell those.
The 46RM doesn’t seem to be able to fire very many shots indoors before it needs to recharge, not sure if it’s very different outdoors because with GS it would be firing at lower power
zeitlos wrote:
I really like those Sony Flashes. Especially since you can control all functions from the Sony bodies within so you don‘t have to take your eye off from the viewfinder while shooting etc.
The Sony F60RM2 is often called bulky, but it’s similar in size to the Godox V1 and lighter than the Godox V100—both staples for wedding and event photographers. At 70mm zoom, Fstoppers noted it’s 0.2–0.5 stops brighter than the V1 in standard and GS modes. Ken Rockwell’s tests showed it matches the V100’s power at 105mm. Its standout 200mm zoom, 0.5 stops brighter than the V100’s 105mm max zoom, mimics a Better Beamer or MagBeam, ideal for long-distance lighting in creative event setups. So IMO, compact, powerful, and versatile, the F60RM2 is a top contender.
To effectively use the Sony F60RM2 as an OCF with GS, you’ll need either the F28RM or F46RM/A as a controller. While the F46RM/A is about 1 stop less powerful (per KR’s measurements), its key advantage is the ability to swivel side-to-side in horizontal shots, allowing precise light aiming to optimize frame coverage. For a versatile setup, owning all three flashes makes a strong case due to their complementary strengths. However, for a streamlined, flexible kit, pairing the F28RM with the F60RM2 offers an ideal balance of control and power.
hiepphotog wrote:
The Sony F60RM2 is often called bulky, but it’s similar in size to the Godox V1 and lighter than the Godox V100—both staples for wedding and event photographers. At 70mm zoom, Fstoppers noted it’s 0.2–0.5 stops brighter than the V1 in standard and GS modes. Ken Rockwell’s tests showed it matches the V100’s power at 105mm. Its standout 200mm zoom, 0.5 stops brighter than the V100’s 105mm max zoom, mimics a Better Beamer or MagBeam, ideal for long-distance lighting in creative event setups. So IMO, compact, powerful, and versatile, the F60RM2 is a top contender.
To effectively use the Sony F60RM2 as an OCF with GS, you’ll need either the F28RM or F46RM/A as a controller. While the F46RM/A is about 1 stop less powerful (per KR’s measurements), its key advantage is the ability to swivel side-to-side in horizontal shots, allowing precise light aiming to optimize frame coverage. For a versatile setup, owning all three flashes makes a strong case due to their complementary strengths. However, for a streamlined, flexible kit, pairing the F28RM with the F60RM2 offers an ideal balance of control and power....Show more →
Hmm the F28RM can be a flash controller? It doesn’t have a screen though
The flashes are controlled by the camera and the F28 is just a radio?
aCuria wrote:
The 60RMii (439g) does look big relative to the size of the camera compared to the 46RMA (317g)
Is the weight difference (122g) significant in practice? In store it doesn’t seem hugely different but I imagine after a day of shooting fatigue does add up
If you only pick one which would it be? My use case would be initially outdoor on-camera (global shutter) and maybe in the future 2 identical units camera left + right for off camera.
Indoors I have Godox but if the Sony one works well indoors l can sell those.
The 46RM doesn’t seem to be able to fire very many shots indoors before it needs to recharge, not sure if it’s very different outdoors because with GS it would be firing at lower power ...Show more →
For paid event work —when on camera flash is needed, I almost always use the 60RM2, for a lot of the reasons you stated above. The size and weight of the flash is a non-issue when working. I only use the 46 more when traveling doing non-paid work or family occasions — which come more often than paid work as photography is not my primary gig.
aCuria wrote:
Hmm the F28RM can be a flash controller? It doesn’t have a screen though
The flashes are controlled by the camera and the F28 is just a radio?
The F28RM can even sync up to 1/80000 shutter speed with my A9III. I opted to use that unit as my Flash commander(vs paying $350+ for the Remote Commander unit) to control a pair of F60RM2 and a F46RMA when doing bright outdoor portrait sessions with my A9III (when it’s super bright and need shutter speeds in excess of what my A1 is capable of before going into HSS). With the latest Sony flashes, you can control all of the key functions within the Sony bodies. So the lack of a screen on the F28RM is a non-issue issue.
As a result of the amazing capabilities (results, and reliability) of the Sony flashes, I am in the process of getting rid of all my Godox/Flashpoint Sony On Camera Flash Units, and assessing which of the larger strobes to keep for studio use.
Edit: Correction: Syncing up to the 1/80K speed was only when using the F28RM as a flash commander to fire the 46RM and /or the 60RM2 remotely.
I’ll add that the modern Sony Flashes are the most reliable, accurate and consistent at TTL than any other OEM or 3rd party flash system I’ve ever used— that’s including Profoto, Canon, and all of the Godox/Flashpoint variants. Yeah, they’re expensive — but not as much as the profoto’s (yet, the Sony’s are better in most every way for the Sony platform)
The fly in the ointment with the Sony flashes is their use of AA batteries — though I did pull off an entire day of on and off flash use to cover an event (indoors & Outdoors) on a set of Eneloop rechargeables this past weekend.
aCuria wrote:
Anyone has practical experience with them?
The main difference seems to be the zoom range: (15) 24-105 on the 46RMA and (14) 20-200 on the 60RM2
The 60RM2 is also very bulky in practice, maybe more bulky than it has to be? I get that the flash head need to be bigger, but the body is much thicker too
It’s a pity there isn’t one that does 16mm without the wide panel
In what situations is it helpful to have 200mm zoom on a flash?
Like every time you use tele lens.
But the larger flash has more output and probably better recycle times at equal output.
It is not all that large compared to the Canon EL-1, which is almost twice as expensive.
I really don't like the use of archaic AA cells which don't have that much energy and need to be carried in sets with spares.
A single Li-Ion battery pack is so much more convenient and powerful. It would be great if Sony would make a new flash with possibility of using the NP-FZ100 or a similar battery that would use the standard charger like Canon has done with their Li-Ion battery LP-EL. Sony could probably do it in a slightly more user friendly size.
I bought the 28 and the 60RM2.
But now I realize that sometimes the thing in between, so the 46, would be a good choice. So I might buy this one as well.
But if I had to decide between the 46 and the 60 I would always go for the bigger one since I can handle the weight if I really need flash.
Btw. in Germany (not sure if it is the case in the US) one can also buy the HVL 46RM (without A). It‘s about 130 Euros cheaper. I‘m still trying to find out whether I really would benefit from the 46RMA?
zeitlos wrote:
I bought the 28 and the 60RM2.
But now I realize that sometimes the thing in between, so the 46, would be a good choice. So I might buy this one as well.
But if I had to decide between the 46 and the 60 I would always go for the bigger one since I can handle the weight if I really need flash.
Btw. in Germany (not sure if it is the case in the US) one can also buy the HVL 46RM (without A). It‘s about 130 Euros cheaper. I‘m still trying to find out whether I really would benefit from the 46RMA?
mogul wrote:
If it can be upgraded to version 2, you will not need the more expensive A model.
That‘s the question: can it? And: is there a necessity to upgrade it?
That’s what ChatGPT came up with when I asked it for the differences:
„ The HVL-F46RMA is technically identical to the HVL-F46RM – but:
The RMA fits mechanically and electrically with the new Multi Interface Shoe (MI Shoe with digital audio transmission).
🔧 What's changed: the new "digital" MI Shoe
Sony has redesigned the MI Shoe in newer cameras (e.g., FX3, FX30, A7S III, ZV-E1):
Digital Audio Interface integrated
Slightly modified mechanical design (more contacts, different seal)
Goal: professional audio accessories without a separate cable connection
The problem:
Older flashes (like the HVL-F46RM) still fit mechanically, but not optimally – or there may be limitations in certain functions.
🧩 Sony wants to offer full compatibility with the new cameras
Therefore:
The HVL-F46RMA is essentially a "physically adapted" version for the new cameras with the digital MI Shoe.
Technically, both flashes are identical – power, control, radio capability, etc.“
mogul wrote:
Just check on Sony website...my 46 was upgradable. Since A mount, everything can use MI shoe.
Do you mean a hardware upgrade (if yes, how much does it cost) or a software upgrade? If yes, which one is the one that makes it “RMA“? => it‘s still confusing to me since some reviews on Youtube introduce the RMA three years ago, others the RM.
zeitlos wrote:
Do you mean a hardware upgrade (if yes, how much does it cost) or a software upgrade? If yes, which one is the one that makes it “RMA“? => it‘s still confusing to me since some reviews on Youtube introduce the RMA three years ago, others the RM.
zeitlos wrote:
Thank you! That‘s the one I also found. It doesn‘t say that it upgrades to the “RMA-version“, but I suppose it does without explicitly mentioning it.
I think there's no firmware update specific to RMA-version, so it either doesn't need it or this one should work ...
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