Sony NEX flash synch.

[Bugleone]

I know there are several NEX users here.

I've been searching the web for info about the flash synch on NEX. Obviously, since the cameras are supplied with separate flash gun, it might be possible to use flash 'off-camera' by means of a flash cord,.......Do Sony supply such an accessory or does anyone use one from an outside maker etc??

Is it possible to identify what the connector pins order is in the socket and could it be used to synch third party flash gear??

Is it possible to use the camera with manual flash?

Anyone know if the EVF is going to appear soon,..if at all??

Does anyone know of any good sites which have info relating to flash use with NEX?....Thanks for any help!

 

[pvdhaar]

Good questions; the info in the NEX manuals is pretty scarce. The only thing I've found out so far is that the X-sync speed is 1/160 max. That's not stellar, but it's fair enough..

What I still haven't found out is whether the NEX can be set to strobe without pre-flashes. The optical slave in my SB-800 already triggers on the pre-flash.. If I set the SB-800 output too high in SU-4 manual mode, or set it to SU-4 aperture mode, then it can't recharge enough before the NEX's actual exposure is made..

 

[vidgamer]

On another site, someone suggested a compact Metz flash that "learned" to skip the pre-flashes. I think that is probably the best way to go, unless you want to wait for Sony's larger Nex flash (shown at trade shows), but I dunno if it would have a sync output.

 

[pvdhaar]

Small update.. Yesterday evening, I've been checking out how far I can torture the SB-800 in SU-4 mode together with the NEX flash.

I can get consistent flash exposure withe the SB-800 when it's set to 1/4 power or lower, and 1/2 power is acceptable. It consistently triggers both on the pre-flash and the the main flash from the NEX. In SU-4 aperture mode, the flash output from the SB-800 is all over the place.. the pre-flash seems to take more than 1/2 power, and then the oomph left for the main flash depends on whether shots are made closer together than the full flash recycle time.

For the time being, I'd say I can wing it with the SB-800 in manual.. Even at 1/2 power it completely overwhelms the NEX own flash.

The Metz option to skip the preflash would be nice though.. would save on how often I'd need to replace/recharge the batteries in the flash.

 

[Bugleone]

Thanks for the useful replies.

Surely there MUST be a way of turning off the pre-flash? Have you read the user manual about flash? There are full manual modes for NEX so it's more or less a given that you can switch to full manual flash.

 

[FPjohn]

http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electronics/mecablitz-models/slave-flash-units.html

Metz 28 CS2

http://www.metz.de/en/photo-electro...litz-28-cs-2-digital/product-information.html

yours
FPJ

 

[Bugleone]

Aparently this is possible using a red filter over camera flash and slave unit to remote flash;

http://forum.getdpi.com/forum/showthread.php?t=19544

I thought this only worked with film and that sensors were particularly sensitive to infra-red, but it looks good and is worth a try as it would change the parameters of use with NEX coinsiderably.

 

[pvdhaar]

Thanks for the useful replies.

Surely there MUST be a way of turning off the pre-flash? Have you read the user manual about flash? There are full manual modes for NEX so it's more or less a given that you can switch to full manual flash.

Nope.. and I've been through the entire list of settings more than once specifically looking for this, both in the manual and on the camera itself.

You can dial in flash exposure compensation, choose red-eye reduction, set rear sync, engage slow sync, put it in auto, switch it on, or turn it off, but there is simply no way to go all manual with the flash (not even in P, A, S, or M modes with manual ISO).

It's a pity, because in every other respect, the NEX is as close to perfect as can be..

 

[dng88]

Can use my Pentax 67 flash or the old Pentax AF500ftz in 1/2 power. I think it must tigger twice, as full power fail.