Features
Compatibility: The Sony HVL-F60M
electronic flash is designed for use with Sony alpha-series (α-series)
digital cameras equipped with the new Multi Interface Shoe. Current
compatible models (as of November 2012) include: SLT-A99 and NEX-6. It is also
compatible with the new Cybershot RX1 digital camera, and the new NEX-VG900 and
NEX-VG30 interchangeable lens HD camcorders.
Mounting: The unit fits into the
Multi Interface Shoe found on new Sony α-series digital still
cameras and camcorders (as of Fall 2012). With the included ADP-AMA shoe
adapter, you can use the HVL-F60M on Sony cameras with the Auto-lock Accessory
Shoe.
Built-in LED Light: In addition to the flash, the F60M has a
built-in LED light for shooting video. When you're ready to shoot videos, simply
raise the angle of the flash head to 90° (straight up) and press the LED light
power button. The LED also enables you to check the light and shadow conditions
before shooting still images or videos. The LED has a maximum luminance of 1200
lux, with an illuminating distance of approximately 6.5'.
High Illumination Output: The HVL-F60M incorporates high
illumination output in a compact lightweight body,
with effective range greater than 90 feet (28m). It has a guide number of 60 (meters, ISO100, 105mm).
Recycling Time: The HVL-F60M has a fast recycling time of
0.1-3.5 seconds with alkaline batteries, and 0.1-2.6 seconds with Ni-MH
batteries.
Quick Navi/LCD: The F60M features Quick Navi control, the
intuitive User Interface that allows you to quickly locate and change settings.
The large dot-matrix LCD is easy to see, making it easy to configure the flash
for a variety of shooting situations.
Flash Modes: The Sony
HVL-F60M features the following Flash Modes:
- TTL: Flashes according to information from the camera.
"TTL Auto"
appears in the display when the camera is set to Auto Flash and the camera
determines whether or not to trigger. "TTL" appears when the camera is set to
Fill Flash, and the flash will trigger each time the shutter release is
pressed.
- Manual: Flashes according to the settings on the flash.
- Multiple Flash: Flash unit is triggered a number of times while
the shutter is open.
- Wireless (Remote): Flash unit is triggered wirelessly as an
off-camera (remote) flash.
- Wireless (Control): Flash unit is triggered wirelessly as the
controller.
- Memory 1/Memory 2: You can recall settings saved in Memory 1 or
Memory 2.
- Flash Off: Flash unit does not fire.
Zoom Flash: The HVL-F60M
automatically adjusts flash for focal-length settings from 24mm to 105mm. You
can pull out the
built-in wide panel to extend wide-angle coverage from 15mm to less than 24mm.
The flash coverage can be manually set to 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, 70mm, or
105mm, if desired.
Auto Zoom Control: The auto zoom
coverage of the HVL-F60M is automatically optimized for the APS-C size or 35mm
full-frame size of the image sensor found in Sony alpha-series cameras (except
DSLR-A100).
High-Speed Sync: High-speed sync (HSS) allows you to use the
flash throughout the entire shutter speed range of the camera, instead of being
restricted to a narrow shutter speed range. You can turn the HSS feature on or
off in the Custom Settings menu.
Quick Shift Bounce: The innovative "Quick Shift
Bounce" system allows the HVL-F60M to orbit 90 degrees left and right, allowing
you to maintain horizontal light distribution even when shooting vertically. In
addition to pivoting side-to-side, the flash unit can also tilt down 10° (for
close-up photography)
or back 150°. The HVL-F60M also features a slide-out bounce sheet
built into the flash head, and can be used in portraits and other bounced light
shots to direct light at a subject's pupils to deliver more lively expression.
Bounce Adapter: The supplied bounce adapter lets you diffuse
the light from the flash over a wider range, producing a softer light and
reducing shadows. The adapter fits directly over the flash head and snaps into
place.
Multiple Flash: In the Multiple Flash mode, the flash is
triggered a number of times while the shutter is open. It allows you to capture
stroboscopic images where moving objects are frozen several times in the frame.
The flash frequency can be set between 1 and 100 per second, the number of
flashes can be set between 2 and 100, and the power level from 1/8 to 1/256.
Modeling Light Capability: Modeling light capability allows the
HVL-F60M to pulse, helping photographers determine where shadows will fall
before taking the picture, so they can alter lighting or subject positioning as
necessary.
AF Illuminator: In low-light or
when subject contrast is low, when the shutter button is pressed partway down
for Auto Focus, the red lamp on the front of the flash unit will light. This is
the AF illuminator used as an aid during Auto Focus. The AF Illuminator will
operate up to 32' 9" in the center, and 9' 10" in peripheral areas.
Auto WB Control:
Auto White Balance compensation allows for more accurate white balance in flash
photography sending color temperature information from the HVL-F60M to the
camera, where it is incorporated into the camera's white balance settings
(except the DSLR-A100).
ADI Flash Metering: ADI (Advanced
Distance Integration) metering capability enables the HVL-F60M to work more
effectively with lenses equipped with distance encoders, combining TTL
(through-the-lens) flash metering with guide number control calculated
automatically according to the distance to the subject, the ambient light and
the pre-flash reflectivity of the subject.
Wireless Operation: The HVL-F60M can be used for wireless
flash photography, either as a controller (emitting the control light) or as an
off-camera flash (flash that is mounted separately from the camera). When used
off-camera, the flash can be mounted to the supplied mini-stand. There are three
wireless flash photography modes:
- Off-camera Flash: The camera's built-in flash is the controller
and the HVL-F60M is the off-camera flash.
- Controller: The HVL-F60M is the controller and another flash is
the off-camera flash.
- Multiple: Using the HVL-F60M as the controller, a camera that
supports lighting ratio control can group a number of off-camera flashes and
control the lighting ratio.
Note: If another wireless flash is being used nearby,
you can change the infrared channel to prevent the flash from being set
off by the light signal from the flash of another camera.
Power Requirements: The HVL-F60M is powered by four Alkaline or Ni-MH "AA"
rechargeable batteries
(not supplied). The LCD display has a battery power indicator to alert you when
the batteries are becoming weak.
Power Save: When your camera or this flash unit is not used
for 3 minutes, the
power switches off and display panel indicators go out automatically to save
battery power. During wireless flash photography, the flash unit changes to
power save mode after 60 minutes.
Connections: The flash has two connections for optional
accessories:
- Off-Camera Cable: You can operate the flash unit separate from
the camera with an optional Off-Camera Cable (FA-CC1AM). You can also
connect additional flash units to the F60M if the additional units have an
accessory terminal.
- External Battery Adapter: With the optional External Battery
Adapter (FA-EB1AM) you can connect the flash to an external power supply.
Overheat Indicator: The flash has an Overheat Indicator that
will warn you when overheating is detected. Flash operation is suspended until
the temperature of the unit falls back to normal. You can also manually turn off
the flash unit for approximately 10 minutes to allow the unit to cool down.
