I recently voiced my opinion on where I believe the future of our industry Sony A7 Unboxing and Features and gear is headed, and I believe it is primarily toward mirrorless systems. Before you dismiss anything else I have to say, let me reiterate that the industry is driven by the purchasing habits of the masses, and it is the masses who are causing this shift. We are well aware that many a pro and enthusiastic amateur will cling to their DSLRs until the rigor-mortis subsides. One of the reasons many of them will give is the limited selection and capability of flash/strobe systems for many mirrorless platforms.
Sony A7 Unboxing and Features line-up appears to be swaying the majority of shooters into switching to mirrorless, which is not surprising given the cameras’ full-frame sensors and overall pleasure and reliability in use. However, flash systems for the Sony are also limited, and a frequently asked question is what flash system I recommend for the A7, despite the fact that I don’t even shoot with one. Sony Artisan of Imagery Jason Lanier, who appears to be on the receiving end of that question much more than I am, was move to create a video discussing four off-camera flash options for Sony mirrorless cameras, with varying degrees of cost and capability
Sony
The four options range in price from slightly more than $100 to around $1000. While only one of those offers TTL, which is critical for some, it is also the most expensive option. If you’re a manual shooter like me, you don’t care about TTL, and the cheaper two options are perfectly adequate and actually work with your existing Nikon or Canon flashes, which is fantastic. However, I adore HSS (high speed sync), and the only one to offer it is also at the top of the range.
Here are your four options:
Phottix Mitros/Odin – The Phottix is the most expensive and advanced system, costing around $1,000. This is the system Jason recommends for those serious about off camera lighting, as it includes high power flash, HSS, and TTL, as well as master remote power control.
Interfit ProFlash Strobes – This system appears to be more cumbersome, but it includes a powerful flash unit with a battery pack that gives the flash very fast recycling times. One of the system’s nice features is the ability to seamlessly transition between your existing camera systems, as it works with almost any. The limitation is that there is no HSS or TTL support Sony A7 Unboxing and Features.
Yongnuo 622N – Yongnuo has to be one of the most talked about brands in photography in recent history, as people seem to devour any new offering they release, owing to their low price. In this case, you get the cheapest option, with more manual control than the others, but they will work with other flash brands, such as your Nikon and Canon flashes, but have no remote control other than the trigger. It also does not support HSS or TTL. It’s also a little finicky, as Jason points out, because you have to secure the transceiver in just the right spot for it to work.
Brands
Thoughts
Not to mention Sony’s own flash system. Sony offers four hot shoe flash options that have received positive feedback from users. The HVL-F20M is a small flash that can be use in place of a pop-up flash for soft fill and can wirelessly trigger other Sony flashes. It has first and second curtain sync, but no HSS.
In the middle range, the HVL-F43M is the best-rounded in terms of ability, with a higher guide number and HSS capability. Then there’s the massive HVL-F60M, which has the highest guide number and is ideal for when you need the most power. This flash dwarfs the size of an A6000 or A7, and its AF illuminator is incompatible with the A7. Actually, most flashes are quite large, which is probably why Sony released the HVL-F32M, which is much more compact while retaining TTL functionality, HSS, and other options, as well as the same recycle time.
I believe it is safe to say that the casual remarks about there being no variety of flash systems for Sony mirrorless systems are incorrect. Jason clearly demonstrates that there are numerous options for every budget, and your mirrorless cameras can still be connecte to more powerful studio strobes with ease. However, the Canon RT system is so solid, and arguably Nikon’s flash system is even better, and while these options are good, there’s still some ground to cover to be competitive. The question is, how quickly will mirrorless systems cover it, how long will you hold your breath, and do you even need it?
