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Shooting videos and taking pictures in low-light areas can be a problem if you do not have the right flash to eliminate any unwanted effects such as shadows and blurs. Without any flashes, the images will be grainy and distorted.
The best flash for Sony A6000 can give you the results you want on your images, and it can enhance the built-in flash that your Sony A6000 camera has to ensure clear and shadow-free pictures and videos.
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Our Top Sony A6000 Flash Reviews
The Sony A6000 is one of the top-selling mirrorless cameras of Sony. It has a built-in flash that can shine light to subjects that are up to 5 meters. However, this could limit the distance that you can cover.
Luckily, the best flash for Sony A6000 can easily boost your camera’s performance and let you cover more ground.
Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash
The Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash is compact and packed with great features. It is well-suited for the Sony A6000 mirrorless camera and other smaller DSLRs.
The flash measures 4.45 x 3.86 x 6.89 inches and weighs 1.62 pounds, making it heavier than the Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash and the Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash.
The Sony HVLF32M MI has an impressive guide number of 105, which covers subjects up to 100 feet away. It can also evenly distribute light to a maximum focal length of 105mm.
The head can be tilted upward up to 90 degrees, and the head can be rotated 180 degrees to the right and 90 degrees to the left so you can bounce light in both horizontal and vertical shooting positions.
Another benefit of the flash is that it can be used as a wireless controller or a remote flash so you can operate multiple flashes for better lighting around your subject.
The body of the flash is dust-resistant and water-resistant, so you can confidently use it outdoors. The recycling time is fast, as it only takes 5 seconds before you can shoot again, unlike the Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash that takes 6 seconds. It operates on 2 AA batteries.
However, the flash comes off as a bit loose when mounted on the Sony A6000. Also, it is a bit heavy, so it could be tiresome to carry it around while walking.
Pros:
- It has a high guide number of 105, which is equivalent to a coverage of 32 meters
- The head can be tilted and rotated with ease to cover more positions
- It can be used as a wireless controller so you can connect it to more flash units
Cons:
- The flash does not feel tight when attached to the Sony A6000 camera
- It is heavy, can be a challenge to carry around
- Compact size with MI shoe, bounce emission on standard & vertical position, high-speed...
- wireless control, auto white balance compensation, built in bounce sheet
- TTL & Manual by 1/3 EV step Flash triggering, dust & moisture resistant
Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash
The Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash is a portable and sleek flash that’s great for portable light setups using its built-in 2.4 GHz radio transceiver that helps you create a better atmosphere.
Measuring 2.56 x 3.28 x 3.59 inches and weighing 8 ounces, the flash is lighter than the Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash and Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash.
The flash has a guide number of 92, so it can illuminate subjects up to 91 feet, and it can evenly distribute light to lenses with a focal length of up to 50mm.
The head can be tilted up to 120 degrees for better bounce control. It is also dust and water-resistant, so you can use it outdoors. It comes with an Advanced Distance Integration, or ADI flash metering ensures a more accurate balance flash output.
You don’t have to worry about overheating as it has improved resistance for longer and faster shooting sessions. The metal shoe is durable, ensuring a stable mount. It requires four AA batteries as a power source, and it has a micro-USB port that you can use for firmware updates.
However, the recycle time is 6.4 seconds, which is a bit slower than the Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash. Also, the LCD screen is difficult to see when you are in a brightly lit place.
Pros:
- The flash is light and comfortable to carry around the whole day
- The head can be tilted and rotates with ease
- It is equipped with Advanced Distance Integration or ADI for accurate measuring of the distance between the flash and the subject
Cons:
- The recycle time is a bit slow as it takes 6.4 seconds before you can fire another shot
- The LCD screen can be a challenge to read when in a brightly lit area
- Compact, reliable and made by Sony for flawless flash control
- Ideal Guide Number power for compact mirrorless cameras (GN28)1
- Higher power at close 50mm focal length
Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash
The Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash is filled with amazing features for an easy and accurate flash photography session.
Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash measures 6.5 x 1.25 x 4.75 inches and weighs 4.8 ounces, making it lighter than the Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash and the Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash.
Connecting the flash to a commander lets you freely adjust the brightness and the position no matter where you are in the room. The head is equipped with a bounce card, so you can take images at any angle that you want. The flash head can be tilted 90 degrees up and down, and you can rotate it 180 degrees from left to right.
The recycling time takes 2.5 seconds, which is faster than the Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash and the Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash before you can fire another round of shots. It can also distribute light evenly for up to 120mm in focal length.
Also, the flash can detect the camera’s sensor, and it can tell if filters are attached to the lenses, so it creates a white balance setting, preventing unwanted shadows and distortion from appearing on the images.
However, its guide number of 12 is very low. It can only cover subjects that are 10 feet away from the flash. It is not weather-sealed, unlike the Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash and the Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash, which means moisture and dust and affect the quality of the flash.
Pros:
- The flash head can be tilted and rotated smoothly, so you can position it at any angle
- The recycling time of 2.5 seconds is fast
- Very light, it is ideal for bringing anywhere
Cons:
- The flash is not weather-sealed; moisture and dust can build up if not taken care of
- The guide number of 12 is low; the light can only reach subjects that are 10 feet away
- Great light source for indoor and outdoor photography, use it as a flash or additional light from a...
- Package Dimensions: 5.08 H x 18.796 L x 6.604 W (centimetres)
- Package Weight: 0.136 kilograms
Features to Consider in a Flash for Sony A6000
The Sony A6000 is an incredible camera that captures clear and crisp images. Although the camera has a built-in flash, attaching an external flash can take your photography journey to the next level.
The best flash for Sony A6000 has everything that you need to produce amazing images and videos. However, some features should be heavily considered to enjoy the features of your camera fully.
The table below presents a summary of the features you will need to look for in a flash for your Sony A6000 camera.
| Product | Weather-Sealed | Guide Number | Recycling Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash | Yes | 105 | 5 seconds |
| Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash | Yes | 92 | 6.4 seconds |
| Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash | No | 12 | 2.5 seconds |
Weather-Sealed
Since many photoshoots happen outside, it is best to get a flash that is dust, dirt, and water-resistant. In this way, you can help prolong the life of the flash, and you can use it anywhere at any time.
The Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash and the Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash are both weather-sealed, so you can continue your shoot no matter what the weather is.
Guide Number
A flash’s guide number is used to determine just how far it can illuminate a subject. The higher the guide number is, the farther the distance that the flash can reach.
The guide number of your flash should depend on how far your subjects are. For example, if you plan to take pictures of subjects farther away from you, you can get the Sony HVLF32M MI Camera Flash, which has a guide number of 105, so it can illuminate subjects that are up to 100 feet away.
The Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash has a guide number of 92, which means it can illuminate subjects up to 90 feet away from the flash. Meanwhile, the Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash’s guide number of 12 can only cover 9 feet.
Recycling Time
A flash’s recycling time is very important for photographers, especially if they are covering fast-paced events. The recycling time pertains to the amount of time that it takes to charge up the flash’s capacitor to the needed amount in order for the flash to be ready to shoot again.
When you shoot too fast and don’t wait until the flash’s recycling time is over, you will end up with black flames. This is why a fast recycling time is important.
Out of all the flashes for Sony A6000 on the list, the Xit XTCF1BRK Digital Slave Flash has the fastest one, with 2.5 seconds of recycling time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Sony A6000 Compatible with a Canon External Flash?
The Sony A6000 is compatible with Canon flashes. However, if you decide to pair them up, there will be features that you won’t be able to use.
The multi-interface hot shoe of the Sony A6000 is slightly different from that of Canon. That means that you can use the Canon flash on the Sony A6000 camera as long as it is in manual mode. You won’t be able to use the detectors and the flash zoom settings.
Why Do Some Flashes Need Two Batteries Instead of Four?
Flashes that need two batteries are the ones with low power levels, while flashes that can last for hours at a time are high-powered ones; thus, they need a maximum of four batteries to operate properly.
Flashes with high guide numbers usually require four batteries since it needs more power to illuminate greater distances.
Conclusion
Investing in a good camera like the Sony A6000 is a great move in your photography career. However, it does not stop there. Camera equipment, such as flashes, is needed to give you a fresh perspective on your craft and to improve your images.
The best flash for Sony A6000 works hand-in-hand with your camera to give you the cutting edge that you need to shine in the photography industry.
