Customer Reviews

Sony HVLF1000 External Flash for MVCCD500, DSCF717/V1/R1 Cameras

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

The HVL-F1000 is dedicated to some Sony digital cameras, such as my MVC-CD400.

It connects to a camera via its permanently attached 11 inch dedicated sync cord - a single mini plug with four contacts on it.

The HVL-F1000 has NO HOTSHOE CONNECTION - the mount is a contactless coldshoe which can be mounted to (but not fired by) any shoe, hot or cold, or attached to a standard 1/4 thread due to the threaded hole on the bottom of the coldshoe.

At the time I am writing this (10-29-2002), some websites claim the flash features TTL metering - it is not true. The HVL-F1000 features non-TTL metering via the sensor on the face of the flash. If the sensor on the flash is covered, or not pointing at the subject, the flash has no idea when to cut off light output. This is detailed in its own instruction sheet, and I have proven it in my own tests. At no point do the instructions indicate any possibility of TTL flash metering when using this flash with any camera model.

On the plus side, it is a nice flash when used as instructed, with the flashs built-in sensor facing the subject. With a guide number of 28(meters), it works well even as a bounce flash in a typical room.

Also, there is no preflash to prevent it from triggering a studio flash setup. My MVC-CD400s built-in flash triggers the slave sensor on my studio lights with its preflash, and then the studio lights do not flash for the actual exposure. This no-preflash aspect of the HVL-F1000 is a big reason why I am keeping it. Its much safer for the cameras internal electronics than connecting a high-trigger-voltage strobe directly to the cameras hotshoe.

Although it is not a TTL flash, I still recommend it over using ANY third party flash, which run high risks of creating non-warranty-covered damage to a digital cameras internal electronics.

Before I received the flash in the mail I was scared that it was going to look awful with the sexy F717 camera body, but once I tried it on it kind of look cool anyways. However it is time for sony to come up with a flash that matches the rest of the camera's sexy looks and color. Performance-wise it works as advertised: great for illuminating subjects far away from the camera. HOWEVER, there are problems: (1) Battery life is short. Get ready to buy a full set of 4 AA batteries before you fill up a 128Mb memory stick. (2) The flash and the camera do NOT integrate well in the sense that if the subject is near the flash still fires at full power (actually, it seems to always fire at the same high power), thus making the whole picture almost a ghost of whiteness (the fix here is to turn off the external flash and use the built-in pop-up flash, which by the way pops up open with no problem even with the external flash unit mounted on top). On the plus side, the flash rotates up-down freely or to prefix positions (15, 30, 45, 60, 90 degrees, etc), AND it comes with an input jack so that you can plug in the external RMDR1 remote control unit (note that the flash plugs into the camera's remote control unit port, so that's why now the remote control plugs into the flash unit).

Since purchasing the Sony HVLF1000 Flash for use on my DSCF707 camera I'm continually amazed at its capabilities.

Bounce flash and fill-flash are wonderful. There's still some problems with red-eye, but that's always a problem when the flash is so close to the taking lens.

Only one thing to watch or be careful with is in removing the flash from the camera. It comes off the accessory shoe a little quicker and easier than you'd imagine.

Wonderful product with wonderful results.

This definitely made pictures better for night or dim lighting. In some cases too much light - even when it's turned to a low setting - but I have that problem with other cameras - just need to locate a diffuser card. All in all - good flash

Yes, this flash will work with the Sony DSC S85 camera. I had to take a shot in the dark and buy the flash to find out. Yes it works, and works well.

Hope this helps :)

Good Flash for tight and open areas. Product is great quality & seller was quick.

This will be my second HVL-F1000, the first was a simple but effective flash for my Sony F707. I'm ordering this one for my Sony R1.

AntOnline lists the item as "In Stock" but THEY DO NOT ACTUALLY HAVE IT IN STOCK. Important, if you order this item, don't order it from AntOnline. I ordered 4 separate purchases through Amazon 8 days ago, and received all of them quickly, except the flash unit from AntOnline. I just now called their customer service (which hung up on me 3 times first) and they informed me the item was NOT in stock so Amazon had canceled my order. I recommend checking directly with AntOnline before ordering anything they claim to have in stock.

My flash went out and I had to buy something. I thought I was getting [...] having to buy this and it does have its limitations. It is big and bulky. It has such a bright flash that it whites out close ups. However, I have made a couple of slip over filters to minimize the light for close ups, and better yet, you can detach the flash and use even more filtering to get light to those macro shots the stock flash would always obscure. The bright flash makes long range shots and outside shots soo much better too.

The flash is great for what it does. It is not for sports photography, to say the least. The quality is really great though. Aside from the speed factor I didn't have any complaints. I would recommend this flash as long as you don't do sports photography. Battery Consumption is average, good considering the quality.

I bought this for a Sony DSC-F717 and it is atrocious at best.
(I would still like to find a GOOD and ADEQUATE video light)
I returned it as it was really no better than the flash unit that comes on the camera but it added weight up high.