F717 external flash recommandation

[RonPan]

I would like to buy a external flash for my new F717. Do you guys have any ideas of it?

Thanks

 

[Hal Fisher]

Have heard the Sunpak 144pc is good and cheap. Like ALL the flashes (even Sonys own F1000) you'll have to set up shutter and aperture yourself in Manual mode. No auto TTL exposure on the 717 and I don't think they took testing with the flash into much consideration.

The Sony F1000 is the nicest looking of the bunch and performs well as long as you don't use it in the auto modes (will over expose then).

Hal

I would like to buy a external flash for my new F717. Do you guys
have any ideas of it?

Thanks

 

[p5freak]

I suggest you wait until Metz comes up with a SCA Adaptor for the F717, the SCA 3602 is not comaptible with it, only with the F707. Metz has an excellent line of flashes, i am using the 54MZ-3.

Good thing is you dont need to buy another Flash again, because they can adept to any Camera with a compatible SCA Adaptor from Metz.

 

[RonPan]

Thanks for your suggestions. I have to buy the flash unit in this month. Therefore, I still have time for research. Is there any other suggestions?

Thanks

 

[Mike Fitzgerald]

I suggest you wait until Metz comes up with a SCA Adaptor for the
F717, the SCA 3602 is not comaptible with it, only with the F707.

Do you mean what I think you do -- that the SCA 3602 won't work correctly with an F717 via its ACC port , even though the same protocol was supposedly in place with the F707?

 

[Todd Moore]

This confuses me.....I am using the 54MZ-3 (Awesome flash) and have been waiting for the 3602 adapter. I spoke with Bogen about this adapter and they claim it will work on either the 707 and 717.

I am not posting to say your wrong but would really like to know if you can confirm this info or let me know where you recieved it.

Because, I have been told many things in the past be different companies that turned out to be incorrect by them, so you my be correct. I would just like to know where you got the info..

Also, What modes have you been setting your flash in? I leave mine in the Metz auto mode and am blown away by how well that works and really don't have to worry about distance once you dial the camera settings in. I have used Manual mode some but that is kind of a pain....What are your best experienced settings with this flash.

Thanks

I suggest you wait until Metz comes up with a SCA Adaptor for the
F717, the SCA 3602 is not comaptible with it, only with the F707.
Metz has an excellent line of flashes, i am using the 54MZ-3.
Good thing is you dont need to buy another Flash again, because
they can adept to any Camera with a compatible SCA Adaptor from
Metz.

 

[Aero]

that thing cost a fortune ehhe. for us users who is still broke because we just purchased the f717, which one would u guys suggest the f1000 or the sunpack?

 

[Todd Moore]

My opinion, I would go with anything but the F1000.....

that thing cost a fortune ehhe. for us users who is still broke
because we just purchased the f717, which one would u guys suggest
the f1000 or the sunpack?

 

[JochenK]

I am planning to purchase the F717 myself. Since I still have my Nikon-SLR and the Nikon-SB-80DX, i would like to use this one with the F717.

I tried this combination in a store last week, but i was not able to get properly exposed pictures. I put both the camera and the flash in manual mode and dialed in the aperture setting of the camera to flash. I was not sure what to do with the zoom reflector setting. Most of the pictures were strongly overexposed. Are the F717 and the SB-80DX not a good combination at all? Or what parameter do I have to change, to get well exposed Pictuers.

Thanks for your help, Jochen

that thing cost a fortune ehhe. for us users who is still broke
because we just purchased the f717, which one would u guys suggest
the f1000 or the sunpack?

 

[Todd Moore]

Does your flash have a setting that you can dial in to match that of whatever the cameras focal length for any given shot is.

In other words, if you are max zoomed with the camera and the flash is still set at 24, 28, 35mm you will have exposure issues....

Thanks for your help, Jochen

that thing cost a fortune ehhe. for us users who is still broke
because we just purchased the f717, which one would u guys suggest
the f1000 or the sunpack?

 

[Matt in FL]

I would like to buy a external flash for my new F717. Do you guys
have any ideas of it?

Thanks

I am having very good results with a digi slave 3000. It has 4 levels of control, can be matched to f or shutter speed combos and can be used on the hotshoe, but be triggered by the on board flash. It has a swivel head too. I have had mine about a year and since the 717 isnt ttl, I find it a great match and VERY powerful if you need a long reach. the cycle time is very quick. If you need to you can set it out in the scene and trigger it with the sony flash. You can also put it on the hotshoe and use it without the sony on board. Very versitile.
--
MATTinFL

 

[Mike Fitzgerald]

... I put both the camera and the
flash in manual mode and dialed in the aperture setting of the
camera to flash.

I only have the SB-50DX which does not have the particular mode you need for this style of shooting, but did you really mean that you had the flash in "manual" mode? True manual mode will always deliver full output.

What I expect you need is what Nikon describes as "Non-TTL Automatic". As far as I can make out from the literature, this is the same as any third-party semi-automatic flash, and would be what's required in order for the flash to calculate its own exposure.

As well as matching the aperture settings, also make sure that they relate to the same ISO speed for both the camera and flash.

You can also try the various manual reduced power settings, along with the matching guide numbers that you can obtain from the user guide (or maybe even from the flash itself). Experimenting with this will also tell you whether the flash is fundamentally capable of regulating its own output, or maybe has a fault. The specs. list 8 power settings from full down to 1/128 output.

I was not sure what to do with the zoom reflector
setting. Most of the pictures were strongly overexposed.

While this obviously needs to match (or be shorter than) the actual focal length in use by the camera in order to obtain adequate coverage, it shouldn't make any difference to exposure if the flash's own auto function is working correctly. The zoom mechanism only concentrates the beam. The unit's own sensor should still be measuring the light reflected back to it from the subject.

Are the
F717 and the SB-80DX not a good combination at all?

No reason why not, and I'm pretty sure others have reported good results with it.

Mike

 

[Barry Anderson]

John ...

Here's an e-mail I rec'd from the Metz factory about the SCA3602.

Dear Mr. Anderson,
the adapter SCA3602 was made for the F707. Unfortunately, the F717 was
still not checked by us so that we are unable to give you any statement.
But, we know from our clients that it doesn't work with F717 from
electronical reason. Of course, we will upgrade this adapter as soon as
possible but, unfortunately a date can not be mentioned.

regarding availibility of SCA3602 we recommend to contact our agent in
your country. The complete address of them you will find on our home
page under mecablitz/ agencies abroad.

I called Bogen and they told me the SCA3602 will be available in December for the F707.

Barry

I am not posting to say your wrong but would really like to know if
you can confirm this info or let me know where you recieved it.

Because, I have been told many things in the past be different
companies that turned out to be incorrect by them, so you my be
correct. I would just like to know where you got the info..

Also, What modes have you been setting your flash in? I leave
mine in the Metz auto mode and am blown away by how well that works
and really don't have to worry about distance once you dial the
camera settings in. I have used Manual mode some but that is kind
of a pain....What are your best experienced settings with this
flash.

Thanks

I suggest you wait until Metz comes up with a SCA Adaptor for the
F717, the SCA 3602 is not comaptible with it, only with the F707.
Metz has an excellent line of flashes, i am using the 54MZ-3.
Good thing is you dont need to buy another Flash again, because
they can adept to any Camera with a compatible SCA Adaptor from
Metz.

--
Barry in Frederick, Md.

 

[Todd Moore]

Thank for the info....this helps me greatly!

Nothing like them staying up with the current models of Sony's....

Here's an e-mail I rec'd from the Metz factory about the SCA3602.

Dear Mr. Anderson,
the adapter SCA3602 was made for the F707. Unfortunately, the F717 was
still not checked by us so that we are unable to give you any
statement.
But, we know from our clients that it doesn't work with F717 from
electronical reason. Of course, we will upgrade this adapter as
soon as
possible but, unfortunately a date can not be mentioned.

regarding availibility of SCA3602 we recommend to contact our agent in
your country. The complete address of them you will find on our home
page under mecablitz/ agencies abroad.

I called Bogen and they told me the SCA3602 will be available in
December for the F707.

Barry

I am not posting to say your wrong but would really like to know if
you can confirm this info or let me know where you recieved it.

Because, I have been told many things in the past be different
companies that turned out to be incorrect by them, so you my be
correct. I would just like to know where you got the info..

Also, What modes have you been setting your flash in? I leave
mine in the Metz auto mode and am blown away by how well that works
and really don't have to worry about distance once you dial the
camera settings in. I have used Manual mode some but that is kind
of a pain....What are your best experienced settings with this
flash.

Thanks

I suggest you wait until Metz comes up with a SCA Adaptor for the
F717, the SCA 3602 is not comaptible with it, only with the F707.
Metz has an excellent line of flashes, i am using the 54MZ-3.
Good thing is you dont need to buy another Flash again, because
they can adept to any Camera with a compatible SCA Adaptor from
Metz.

--
Barry in Frederick, Md.

 

[Debra Wheeler]

I can tell you as a sales expert for sony over the phone that the only external flash that is compatable is the HVLF1000.

I would like to buy a external flash for my new F717. Do you guys
have any ideas of it?

Thanks

 

[Mike Fitzgerald]

Nothing like them staying up with the current models of Sony's....

And nothing like Sony moving the goalposts! Don'tcha just love proprietary protocols? :-(

Handy to know, nonetheless....

 

[Todd Moore]

????

My Metz works fine

Promaster flash with Promaster adapter works to...

Just to name 2 flashes that are compatible.....

I would like to buy a external flash for my new F717. Do you guys
have any ideas of it?

Thanks

 

[santa]

I would like to buy a external flash for my new F717. Do you guys
have any ideas of it?

Thanks

I'm not quite sure I understand that and with all due respect I question that statement. In what way is the HVLF1000 more compatible than the other flashes people are using? Given the fact that the 717 isn't capable of TTL flash with the HVLF1000 how is it any more capable than just about any other flash out there? I'll defer to your expertise but need more information because your statement seems to contradict other people's experiences as reported here.