Sony just announced new Sony Alpha Camera Accessories:
HVL-F43AM external flash with GN43, Quick Shift Bounce adjustment, wireless ratio control and dust/moisture resistant design. Price $350.
VCT-55LH bracket is versatile mounting bracket that offers space for mounting additional ISO cold shoe accessories. Price $50.
LCS-AMB soft carrying case protects A-mount camera and attached standard zoom lens while traveling. Price $50.
ALC-SH111 lens hood shades cameras from direct sunlight to prevent glare and lens flare. Price $20. UPDATE: The lens hood is made for the 35mm f/1.8 and the 85mm f/2.8 specifically (Thanks DYna for reminding us that).
P.S.: Direct links to the Sony 35mm f/1.8 at [shopcountry 6422] and the Sony 85mm f/2.8 at [shopcountry 5979].
You can read more at Sony.eu.
At least we have something new we can buy 🙂 I will go for the flash! And you?
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23 Responses
FINALLY Sony, some incorporation of Dust/Moisture resistant seals on the hardware (HVL-F43AM). Let us hope that this small but useful attention to detail makes it onto the A77 🙂
$350? Ouch…
If it’s $350 i’d consider buying it, it has ratio control and what seems to be an LCD screen on the rear.
Also weather resistance is a handy addition as well.
(The cheapest price for a HVL-F58AM on ebay is roughly AUD400, so i doubt $350 for the 43 will be long lived)
$350 is the RRP, street pricing/webpricing is a lot diff. expect it to be lower
Nikon & Canon both sell a wide range of attached flash units and at similar price ranges. I use a lower ISO Sony flash to trigger a 58………….I see this as a better higher output solution for me to use as a on camera fill/trigger.
BTW, you can use radios, it’s tricky but people do it. Check out Kurtmunger.com if you want to learn how.
FINALLYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! 🙂
That’s a killer flash for $350. Seriously. Applause for Sony as this bodes well for future body designs.
Crippled features just like the F58 – fine print says “ratio control only available to a700, a850 & a900 bodies. Bummer for everyone else!
So none of the up-to-date bodies can handle it? That seems truly ridiculous.
Brandon, I see what you’re saying but truth be told 99% of the people using everything else won’t need the ratio control feature. Hell, most of them won’t even buy a flash in this price range at all. I agree the option would be nice but I can see why it isn’t there.
Side note, Andrea: the hood is for the 35mm f/1.8 and the 85mm f/2.8 specifically.
I would not say so. There not so much options for a flash with rotating head from Sony – the 42-nd is the starting model. And If one wants a little creativity, 36-th is not for him.
Go to hear sony still launches something despite the difficulty since the tsunami hit japan. A77,,,, pls dont cancel it!
That was the flash showed with a77, nice !
I dunno, I think the 58 is still better in my book…
Cheers, J
Only ONE current Sony dslr supports rato control. You need at least three such flashes plus A900. Compare that to Nikon/Canon/Pentax where it is possible to do that from body flash (one flash less) and it is available from D90 class cameras. Fail as usual.
Too bad you can’t trigger those ratioed flashes with the A900, because it doesn’t have a built in flash or wireless controller…
How many have ever felt limited by the lack of ration control?
If you just want to control lightning from different angles to be able to paint with light, work with distance.
For those that buy a camera, some needs the flash, a few of these needs more than one flash, and a few of these needs ratio control, and a few of these cannot handle it with distance and manual flash control.
Those two guys left will have to get strobes 🙂 or swap brands.
If it is important, get strobes.
Bracket suggestion –
Great that Sony continues to build out the line. Here is a suggestion for their next bracket offering. Easier to hold and allows quick release of the flash with a handle on it. Allows better lighting flexibility.
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/314505-REG/Quantum_Instruments_QF70E_Quick_Release_L_Bracket.html
Everyday wake up at the early morning, before finger lay on the keyboard… my mind keep praying for Japan (no earthquake please, no nucear crisis please, no tsunami please)
when mouse cursor pointed to SAR favourite link, I always pray for new camera announcement please
But it does not work well the prays 🙁
Quick Shift Bounce is truly ground braking feature. I have 58 flash and used in portrait position it feels really perfect. Never used off camera auto ratio control. It is much more easy to set up in manual mode.
well for off camera flashes, i use radio triggers and manual control..its pretty simple once u get used to it.
the only thing is that so far sony’s flashes can only go to 1/32 power whereas nikon can go up (or should i say down) to 1/64 and one more i think..so yea..we need that sorta numbers to be able to paint light better.
This one goes1/125 th down – awesome
Awesome !!! Can’t wait
i’ll use my hvl58am on my a77, and buy the hvl43am for my a700. Happy I’ll pay less and still have the quckshift bounce system on my back up camera !!!