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SONY (or other) Flashes on Minoltas

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VPic

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With Minolta flashes almost disapearing from the market, what are the options ??

Based on past expriences, my trust meter does not record strongly on Sony.

The power adapters, for Sony products will typically have there polarity reversed just to make sure, the ones who could not figure it out, will pay $30.00 or more for simple DC adapters.

Now the SONY flashes, how do we know that Sony has not changed the pin-out connections to Camera, has not changed the signalling voltage and flash metering.

Has some one tried the SONY flashes on KM, the flash description specified them to work only with alpha.

What other flashes, Metz Sunpack etc give good options.
 
Don't be so paranoid, Pop Photo among others has reported that the flashes will work on KM 5D/7D, and I have seen reports in this forum to the same. The 36/56 Sony flash is a re-badged KM flash.
 
Yeah, I had the same feeling about paranoia.

BTW, the Sony 56 flash is significanlty less money than even used KM ones on ebay.
 
I picked up a 5600 in EX condition from KEH a couple of weeks ago for $285 delivered. I bought a new one from digital Photo in late MArch for $300. The SN on the used one is much higher than the one I bought new, and I have not had a problem with either unit on my 5D&7D.
 
Metz is great as well; with the advantage of changing the shoe.
When you have to change to another brand maybe in a couple of years,
buy a new shoe for that camera and your flash is still working.

Since 3 weeks now I have this metz 54; VERY nice with lots of possibilities and study !

--
Dynax 5D, 28-80 + 70-210 - Metz 54 MZ4i
 
Go with Metz 54MZ4. It is a much better better flash and works on "auto" where there is no KM/Sony model that will. They are a little higher priced but more than worth it. Change the detachable $32 dedicated foot and you can use it on any make camera there is in your future. About $375-$390USD delivered. They are hard to find in stock, so don't delay if you find one. Metz often has a rebate going, watch for that. I got a $40 rebate on mine so my cost was right around the KM/Sony deals!
--Shercando
 
I've just bought a 7D and a Sony F56AM flash. I've previously used the film 7 body with a Minolta 5600HS with great results. However, I knew the results would not be quite as reliable with the digital setup (ie 7D and F56AM), even though the 7D is based on the 7 and the flashes are essentially identical, based on postings on this forum about calibrations issues etc.

This morning I did some test shots, firing the F56AM at the same subject from different distances (1, 2 and 4 metres approx), ISO values (100 and 400) and apertures (2.8, 6.3 and 9). With a bit of positive compensation (+1.0) most of them came out fine, although with increasing distance, there seemed to be slight underexposure. I would like to do some further testing, using greater variation in distances, to see if this really is a problem, and how pronounced it is.

Meanwhile, I tried out my old Centon FH95 flash in manual mode (TTL automatic metering doesn't work of course) - and after I got back into the swing of working out the correct aperture (like in the old days with my Praktica and fully manual flash), I was very pleased with most of the results. The colours seemed to come out a lot cooler than with the Sony flash (which gave very pleasing colour results) - but of course that can easily be corrected both in-camera and in PS. In fact, I'm seriously considering selling the F56AM flash to someone who can make use of all its fancy features eg wireless capability (I have the IR wireless controller too which works a treat on certain Minolta film bodies including the 7).
 
Hold that sale ! I've just done a bit more testing (I'm all flash-tested-out now, must be time for a beer) in our dark and dingy garage, in total darkness, and with the fluorescent lights on, at varying ISO, apertures, distances again - and with the flash exposure comp on my 7D set to +2.0, and I did manage to get acceptably consistent results (when viewed on the LCD, which admittedly is not a very scientific way to do it).

But what really pleased me was that when I attached the 56AM flash via the Minolta remote cord (OC-1100 and shoe OS-1100) there was no need for any flash compensation for both macro and longer distance work. The results seemed extremely consistent and perfectly exposed when viewed on the LCD.

I wonder if anyone else has experienced these apparently great results when using the remote cord with the 7D and Sony 56AM flash (or Minolta 5600HS flash) ?

I will most likely be keeping my 56AM now, and will probably buy a flash bracket for it.
 
Especially since the A100 will not do wireless with the 5600HS D, so no they aren't exactly rebadged flashes. Sony p!ssed me off with that move.
Cope said:
Don't be so paranoid, Pop Photo among others has reported that the
flashes will work on KM 5D/7D, and I have seen reports in this
forum to the same. The 36/56 Sony flash is a re-badged KM flash.
Click to expand...
 
It doesn't?!?!

I remember the official reports saying that legacy Minolta D flashes will work with the Sony bodies without a hitch, and seem to remember people on the Sony forums saying that the 3600 and 5600 work in wireless... oh well I could be wrong.
 
Fish Tank said:
Especially since the A100 will not do wireless with the 5600HS D,
so no they aren't exactly rebadged flashes. Sony p!ssed me off with
that move.
Click to expand...
Fish,

Where did you get this (mis)information?

What annoys me is the opposite...the number of people who sell non-D flashes (eg 5400HS) or converters (FS-1100? iISO-ISO shoe) as being functional on 5D/7D/Sony....and the number of people who believe it.

I saw one shoe going last night on Ebay. "I tested it on my A-100 and it worked". Uh, DUH! It made bright light, but it only fired full power. The poor buyer may be spending weeks trying to figure out why his shots are all overexposed.

Greg
 
have the same wireless capabilities with the A100 as their KM predecessors had with the KM cameras.
 
I think that was one of them - thanks!

Please don't banish me! I lurve yew!

Toa, Greg and Cope - I came across a few threads where I guess the users didn't know the camera well enough. MY BAD if it does work - and you just made me happier.
 
Question to Flash experts ....

The Aftermarket flashes, Metz or Sigma that are configured to work with Maxxum, can these be used with other Cams with Slave units. I have Panasonic FZ7, that has no hot shoe, but also has Preflash (that cant be turned off). I would like to buy flash that can be used on Maxxum 7D on hotshoe and work with slave (that ignores preflass).

Thanks for guidance ..
 
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