Setting up flashes for Sony system

For the record: I don't use Sony camera's.

zorglub76 said:

The questions:

Q1 - My popup flash on a6000 cannot be used as a master flash, right?

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Don't know.

zorglub76 said:

Q2 - Can Multi interface flashes communicate with the old Sony/Minolta (slave) flashes?

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Very unlikely.

zorglub76 said:

Q3 - Can Metz 52 af-1 be used to control groups of flashes and set exposure compensation for each of them?

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Don't know. But exposure compensation for multiple flashes is going to be a huge PIA.

zorglub76 said:

Q4 - Will a6000 recognize Metz 52 af-1 and boost up the ISO on live preview as the pop-up flash does, or will the preview be as dim as if no flash was attached?

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No idea.

zorglub76 said:

Your opinions - what would you suggest:

O1 - Should I wait for MI wireless trigger and buy older/cheaper flashes for Sony? Any rumors on MI triggers?

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Only you can decide.

zorglub76 said:

O2 - Should I buy MI flash as master and older/cheaper slaves. What MI flash? Metz 48 (~150 euro) with plastic shoe? Metz 52 (~200 euro) with metal shoe? Nissin i40 (when it becomes available for MI - haven't read the reviews yet)

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Again, up to you.

zorglub76 said:

O3 - Should I forget TTL and use Yongnuo YN-622N-TX controller and set the lighting manually?

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YES! Forget TTL on a multi-flash set up. Or at least I would. Use the Yongnuo or other light. You can set virtually any flash manually. Then it just boils down to your triggering system.

zorglub76 said:

O4 - Something completely different?

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The real question is how much control do you want from the camera position? Cheap flashes and triggers will do the job, but you have to walk over to each flash to adjust the power. And it is a good idea to have a flash light meter so that you KNOW the output of the flash (something you never know with TTL). If you want to be able to control the power of the flashes from the camera position, that is going to cost you a lot more money.

zorglub76 said:

Hi all,

I'm thinking about the most efficient way to create a 2 or 3 flashes set up with my Sony a6000 camera. I need answers for some questions, and also your opinions on how everything should be set up (I'm an amateur and will probably never earn on my pics, so the budget is relatively tight).

The questions:

Q1 - My popup flash on a6000 cannot be used as a master flash, right?

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I am not 100% sure. Theoretically, if one of your flash options is "wireless", the pop up flash should be able to send a control signal to an off camera flash. If it's a Sony flash, it should give you TTL, but I'm not sure about 3rd party flashes.

If your pop-up flash can't be used to send a control signal, you'll need either the Sony HVL-20M or 32M mounted.

zorglub76 said:

Q2 - Can Multi interface flashes communicate with the old Sony/Minolta (slave) flashes?

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The HVL-60M, 43M, and 20M can command the HVL-43AM and 58AM, but I'm not sure about the older Sony/Minolta flashes.

note: the M at the end of the flash name stands for multi-interface shoe for sony flashes and AM stand for the older hot shoe.

zorglub76 said:

Q3 - Can Metz 52 af-1 be used to control groups of flashes and set exposure compensation for each of them?

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not sure

zorglub76 said:

Q4 - Will a6000 recognize Metz 52 af-1 and boost up the ISO on live preview as the pop-up flash does, or will the preview be as dim as if no flash was attached?

Click to expand...

again not sure

zorglub76 said:

Your opinions - what would you suggest:

O1 - Should I wait for MI wireless trigger and buy older/cheaper flashes for Sony? Any rumors on MI triggers?

Click to expand...

For full TTL functionality, the Phottix Odin transmitter and receivers were a popular choice with the old Sony hot shoe. I believe several people that had those simply used the Sony ADPMAA (old shoe to MI) adapter so they could mount the Odin transmitter to the MI shoe on the newer Sony cameras. I don't know if Phottix is going to make a new version for the MI shoe, but they are releasing their Mitros and Mitros+ flashes for the MI shoe, so they might.

zorglub76 said:

O2 - Should I buy MI flash as master and older/cheaper slaves. What MI flash? Metz 48 (~150 euro) with plastic shoe? Metz 52 (~200 euro) with metal shoe? Nissin i40 (when it becomes available for MI - haven't read the reviews yet)

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If you used the Sony 60M or 43M as a controller, you should be able to use Sony 60M, 43M, 58AM, or 43AM flashes off camera with full TTL or wireless ratio control. I don't know what functionality you would have with 3rd party flashes.

zorglub76 said:

O3 - Should I forget TTL and use Yongnuo YN-622N-TX controller and set the lighting manually?

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Manual flashes would be the cheapest and simplest route. If you're in a controlled situation, such as a studio set-up, it'll give you the least amount of headaches, but you will need to adjust them individually.

zorglub76 said:

O4 - Something completely different?

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I think that your question would work better in the Sony E-mount forum or A-mount forum as you'll find more specific info on what works with what as you'll have people with some experience that have working solutions.