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Off camera flash issues

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beaz

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Have Sony A99 camera , HVL 43 and HVL 56 flashes and adapters for camera. Want to use one flash as off camera and the other as controller on camera since A99 had no pop/up . Manual directions don't make sense to me. I cannot adjust settings to make them work. Can anyone help with the settings of both flashes?

Is there a trigger/receiver that would work so as not to use a flash on the camera? I have the cyber sync set which works great with the Paul Buff strobes, but can't lug those around at an event. Got the Wescott Rapid Box for that purpose, but can't get the flash to work off camera. See no way to use the cyber sync receiver with the flash.

Seems nothing is compatible with anything as Sony constantly changes, so I'm suffering from SDUS (Sony Disgruntled User Syndrome) right now.

Any help is appreciated. I've Googled all afternoon. Thanks.
 
Solution
B
Okay, I've finally got what I really wanted. The Vello Freewave Fusion Basic F/Sony MISset trigger and receiver made for the Sony A99 and the newer flash. I can now use the trigger on camera and the flash with receiver with the Wescott Rapid Box or on a plain light stand. I don't have to use a flash on camera. For some reason I could never get it all to match up and could never get the Paul Buff trigger receiver/trigger to work with my flash though it works perfectly with the strobe light and the A99. Guess I was still doing something wrong.

But the Vello system is $39.95 at B and H. Used it today and it does what I want with the off camera flash without having a flash as a controller. Nice price especially compared to Sony. Does not...
beaz said:
So now I've ordered the SC 2 adapter which you mentioned. It is very inexpensive. It does state that it's for Nikon and Canon but doesn't mention Sony. Will the pins line up with the Sony flash?
Click to expand...
The SC-2 only has a center pin on the top and a center pin on the bottom, so it's not brand-specific at all. It's true that Sony's arrangement has been known to cause center pin alignment issues with some adapters, and people sometimes have to carve away plastic from the front of their generic adapters to get a Sony flash to sit correctly on them. You might or might not have to do that ... but I don't think you have many other options if you want to add a PC port to your flash.
 
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beaz said:
Sony will have its own trigger receiver system available in September with TTL AND HSS to the tune of $348.00.
Click to expand...
It'll be about $350 for the transmitter and another $200 for each receiver - plus, several compatibility restrictions exist if that system is used with older cameras and flashes. There are clearly some idiots in high places at Sony.
 
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So true. And I'm another idiot for not switching before I was in too deep.
 
Glenn said:
Glenn said:
beaz wrote;

Have Sony A99 camera , HVL 43 and HVL 56 flashes ...
Click to expand...
Both of those flashes can be used wirelessly as controler for the other flash and it shouldn't be that hard to do.
Click to expand...
I just noticed this, and it's incorrect. An F43M or F43AM can be used as a flash controller on a digital camera, but an F56AM (the only '56' model in the Sony line) cannot, although it can work as a remote. Probably doesn't matter at this point, I guess.
 
beaz said:
Thank you all for the input. I have again been searching using the valuable info you've given. I've spoken with the Paul Buff Cyber Sync store and Sony support online. My issue is narrowed down to this.

Since A99 doesn't have a pop-up flash to use as a controller, I must have either a flash system or a trigger in the hot-shoe of the a99. Prefer trigger and I do have the Cyber Sync. My flash is the HVL 43 (which is a good flash) but has no pc or 1/8 port to connect the receiver.

So I'm thinking I need an adapter with a pc or 1/8 port to connect the receiver to the flash. Must be compatible with the center pin for proper firing too. Nikon has them, Canon has them, but can't find anything compatible with Sony a99 and hvl 43 flash.

Is this Sony's way of saying purchase the 3rd flash or another camera? My disease has progressed to SOS (Sick of Sony).

So sorry. I'm no rocket scientist, but this seems rather odd. Any other answers?
Click to expand...
You can use the little '20' flash to act as an optical trigger. This can be bounced so as to not contribute direct light, or you can block the visible light with a filter that will allow IR light through.

Sony have also released a radio trigger, plus third party radio triggers will work.
 
Baez,

if you want to use your Sony flashes wirelessly, you can do so with the models that you have. However, you will have to download the manuals, make one flash the controller and the other the slave and make SURE you SET the SAME channel. So

- RTFM (Sorry, but that is what you will have to do) Reset will not do it

- Google for help

Check this out:

Loading…

sony-eur-eu-en-web--eur.custhelp.com
 
Thank you. This could be the problem I was having trying to use the 56 as a controller. Anyway have ordered more than 1 adapter with pc port fir the flash so I can use my trigger hopefully.
 
Thank you. Learning a lot here. Guess I expected it to work effortlessly since it does with the buff studio strobes.
 
sybersitizen said:
Glenn said:
sybersitizen said:
beaz wrote;

Have Sony A99 camera , HVL 43 and HVL 56 flashes ...
Click to expand...
Both of those flashes can be used wirelessly as controler for the other flash and it shouldn't be that hard to do.
Click to expand...
I just noticed this, and it's incorrect. An F43M or F43AM can be used as a flash controller on a digital camera, but an F56AM (the only '56' model in the Sony line) cannot, although it can work as a remote. Probably doesn't matter at this point, I guess.
Click to expand...
Good catch, though the MHohner knowledgebase says "Controller - Yes" for the HVL-F56AM, Sony compatibility chart doesn't list it as a controller. That's a surprise to me.
 
Please check the link - and the information it contains. With the 43 on your camera and set as a controller and the 56 set as a 'slave' you need NOTHING MORE!
 
Thank you. Guess I couldn't get them to work together because I has the 56 as a controller because I like the 43 better.

But what I would really like is to not use another flash as the controller so it's not extra weight, but I will take it however I can get it at this point.
 
lehill said:
sybersitizen said:
Glenn said:
lehill said:
beaz wrote;

Have Sony A99 camera , HVL 43 and HVL 56 flashes ...
Click to expand...
Both of those flashes can be used wirelessly as controler for the other flash and it shouldn't be that hard to do.
Click to expand...
I just noticed this, and it's incorrect. An F43M or F43AM can be used as a flash controller on a digital camera, but an F56AM (the only '56' model in the Sony line) cannot, although it can work as a remote. Probably doesn't matter at this point, I guess.
Click to expand...
Good catch, though the MHohnerknowledgebase says "Controller - Yes" for the HVL-F56AM, Sony compatibility chart doesn't list it as a controller. That's a surprise to me.
Click to expand...
Michael Hohner knows his stuff and is a reliable source; but you have to read carefully.

The F56AM (and the equivalent Minolta 5600HS(D) can both be used as wireless controllers ... but only on Minolta film cameras. Notice I was careful to limit my comment to digital cameras.

Hohner has an intricate table describing exactly which cameras work with which controllers and which remotes on this page:

Loading…

www.mhohner.de
 
Almost everything about Sony is a surprise and takes a lot of figuring and knowledge. Guess the smartest folks use Sony, huh?
 
Just FYI I found a relatively new company, Flash Zebra, that specializes in flash, accessories, cables, adapters - even custom ones. Seem to be eager to help.
 
sybersitizen said:
lehill said:
sybersitizen said:
Glenn said:
sybersitizen said:
beaz wrote;

Have Sony A99 camera , HVL 43 and HVL 56 flashes ...
Click to expand...
Both of those flashes can be used wirelessly as controler for the other flash and it shouldn't be that hard to do.
Click to expand...
I just noticed this, and it's incorrect. An F43M or F43AM can be used as a flash controller on a digital camera, but an F56AM (the only '56' model in the Sony line) cannot, although it can work as a remote. Probably doesn't matter at this point, I guess.
Click to expand...
Good catch, though the MHohnerknowledgebase says "Controller - Yes" for the HVL-F56AM, Sony compatibility chart doesn't list it as a controller. That's a surprise to me.
Click to expand...
Michael Hohner knows his stuff and is a reliable source; but you have to read carefully.

The F56AM (and the equivalent Minolta 5600HS(D) can both be used as wireless controllers ... but only on Minolta film cameras. Notice I was careful to limit my comment to digital cameras.

Hohner has an intricate table describing exactly which cameras work with which controllers and which remotes on this page:

https://www.mhohner.de/sony-minolta/flashcomp_setups.php#wireless
Click to expand...
Ugh, the intricate convolutions of the Sony/Minolta flash system is too much. I'm hoping the Odins can do the translation for me.
 
BZ,

There is NOTHING more you need to get those flashes working! They need to be set up - with the 43 the controller and the older model the slave....

How it works:

The flash on the camera sends a code (in flashes) to the slave and they both fire a pre-flash. The camera measures the exposure and determines the power required from each flash - the commander (on your camera) then issues a command - again in code using a low powered flash stream of code. Then, both flashes fire the pre-determined high power flash. This all happens in less than 1/180 of a second.

- RTFM

- GOOGLE is your frien.

Make it work and let us know.
 
Thanks. I will be tied up for a couple of days, but by the end of the week, I will have it all figured out! Will let you know the best outcome.
 
Okay, I've finally got what I really wanted. The Vello Freewave Fusion Basic F/Sony MISset trigger and receiver made for the Sony A99 and the newer flash. I can now use the trigger on camera and the flash with receiver with the Wescott Rapid Box or on a plain light stand. I don't have to use a flash on camera. For some reason I could never get it all to match up and could never get the Paul Buff trigger receiver/trigger to work with my flash though it works perfectly with the strobe light and the A99. Guess I was still doing something wrong.

But the Vello system is $39.95 at B and H. Used it today and it does what I want with the off camera flash without having a flash as a controller. Nice price especially compared to Sony. Does not work with TTL though. Even comes with a free remote. Just hope it lasts and continues to do the job. So I've already ordered another set. An additional receiver was only $10 less that the entire kit, so now I can use two off camera flashes.

Thanks for all the help!
 
Solution
See my last post which didn't get placed in the correct spot. I checked it for answered the problem.
 
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