Who has pre-order a Sony's HVLF20AM Flash like me ?

[bfitzgerald]

Been looking at the Sunpak flashes, but the big issue I see with the smaller units is..well very slow recycle times, the metz appears to be a better bet for a small but decent flash (And a good price too)

[braeside]

I have ordered the HVL-F20AM from Hong Kong on eBay. Hopefully here by end of next week, usually HK is as fast as some UK suppliers! (and it was £85).

[pakodominguez]

congratulations!
I didn't expect less from a Metz.
is there a manual in PDF that you can share?

Regards

[KevinBarrett]

Nice shots, Don! The colors look great. Out of curiosity, what prompted you to get a flash?

[braeside]

Sounds like a nice flash Don.

I received my Sony HVL-F20AM flash from Hong Kong yesterday, as I expected excellent speedy delivery.

Flash comes with a little drawstring bag to keep it in, though it is so small it could go in a pocket in the camera bag or shirt.

Triggers my old Minolta 3600HS-D flashes wirelessly from the A900, which was the main reason for wanting it, I didn't want to have to buy a 58AM just to trigger my offboard flashes.

No Red-Eye setting in the menu with the 20AM mounted on the A900, probably not needed because it is quite a bit higher than a standard pop-up flash would be.

Have not tried it with any other camera yet, so cannot comment on A700 features with it.

[InTheSky]

Sounds like a nice flash Don.

I received my Sony HVL-F20AM flash from Hong Kong yesterday, as I expected excellent speedy delivery.

Flash comes with a little drawstring bag to keep it in, though it is so small it could go in a pocket in the camera bag or shirt.

Triggers my old Minolta 3600HS-D flashes wirelessly from the A900, which was the main reason for wanting it, I didn't want to have to buy a 58AM just to trigger my offboard flashes.

No Red-Eye setting in the menu with the 20AM mounted on the A900, probably not needed because it is quite a bit higher than a standard pop-up flash would be.

Have not tried it with any other camera yet, so cannot comment on A700 features with it.

Thank you for sharing this information.

On my side, the flash arrived last week at sony style ... but I haven't been able to find the time to go the store and get it . Too busy ...

I have modified to 5400HS to support the new digital protocol, and I hope this will work with the 20AM.

Regards,

Frank

[Greg Beetham]

Don, the ADI mode would/should be cancelled by the camera as soon as you tilt the head of the flash towards the ceiling, it is with a KM or Sony flash, (they revert the camera too TTL mode automatically, ADI is operational for direct flash only, although the camera would probably still register the focus distance as a reference), so I assume it must be the same with the Metz, if it's fully compatible, it seems to be working good, so it must be.
Wow! 28mm flash zoom/bounce at the ceiling, that's really asking the flash to punch out some power....
Greg

[TallPaul]

Sounds like a nice flash Don.

I received my Sony HVL-F20AM flash from Hong Kong yesterday, as I expected excellent speedy delivery.

Can I ask who you used? Was it chrisman2882?

Did you get stung for the import tax or did they mis-value the package to avoid it?!

I see that Adrian at minolta-mania (photostore-uk) has them in now on his ebay store, but his are £120 each which I think is a bit steep personally.

[braeside]

Sounds like a nice flash Don.

I received my Sony HVL-F20AM flash from Hong Kong yesterday, as I expected excellent speedy delivery.

Can I ask who you used? Was it chrisman2882?

Did you get stung for the import tax or did they mis-value the package to avoid it?!

Yes Paul, that was the place and no import duty - I have never been charged any duty/VAT for Asian imports - except for my A700 and that was refunded by the supplier as agreed when I ordered it.

[TallPaul]

Great thanks. I am asking around the office for anyone going to the US at the moment to see if they can bring me one back, but that seems like a reasonable alternative. I like to support the local resellers though ideally if possible, but it seems that not many have the HVL-F20AM advertised yet. I asked Warehouse Express some months back and they had no ETA for the flash or pricing.

[David Kilpatrick]

I've just ordered an HVL-F20AM from the same vendor. My experience with Hong Kong sellers has been positive all the way.

David

[TallPaul]

I am tempted... if it arrives in 3-4 days like it seems braeside's did, I could use it at my friends wedding next weekend. Royal Mail strikes permitting!

[Philip]

I've also taken the plunge, also ordering from Hong Kong for £85 incl P&P as the nearest any UK vendor can get is £119 + P&P. Hope that the promised postal disruption doesn't have any effect............ Looking forward to being able to use the A900 with wireless flash!

Philip

[Philip]

My flash arrived this morning just 4 full working days after ordering. Packaging was a little thin, just a brown envlope and a bit of bubble wrap, but the box was undamaged and the flash works just fine. Have had a brief play just to make sure it controls my 56's, which it does perfectly. I can't get over just how small it is though................

Philip

[David Kilpatrick]

Ditto - arrived today, special delivery, no customs charged - fibre pack envelope and a layer of bubble wrap, really all that is needed. Ultra small, neat little drawstring pouch to let you pop it loose into bag spaces without worrying. I put lithium AAAs into it and the recycling was very fast. Checked the performance - the bounce flash will expose a portrait/couple head and shoulders well in a normal size room with 9ft ceiling, f5.6 at ISO 400 (a bit heavy, ISO 640 probably optimal).

David