Sony HVL-F60RM2 Compact flash with wireless radio control, for Sony Alpha cameras (GN60)

Features

Overview: The Sony HVL-F60RM2 is a wireless compact flash unit for Sony α-series (Alpha Series) Interchangeable-Lens Cameras. As part of the α Lighting System, the flash unit provides superb performance and multiple illumination options when paired with an α-series camera. The HVL-F60RM2 supports 2.4GHz wireless multi-flash photography as a commander or receiver unit. The head tilts forward and backward, and swivels left and right, supporting both direct and bounce flash. The flash comes with a bounce adapter, 2 color filters, mini-stand, cloth bag, and a vinyl storage pouch. It is powered by four AA-size alkaline or Nickel-Metal Hydride (NiMH) batteries (not included).

Compatibility: The HVL-F60RM2 electronic flash is designed for use with Sony α-series digital cameras equipped with the Multi-Interface Shoe. This includes those with the E-mount (mirrorless) and A-mount (DSLR). It also works with Sony Digital Still Cameras (with non-removable lenses) and Vlog Cameras that are equipped with the Multi-Interface Shoe. With many of the compatible cameras, you can control flash compensation, light ratio, and other detailed flash parameters from the camera.

Operation Console: The flash unit's Operation Console, located on the back panel, consists of a control wheel with 4 direction buttons and a center button, plus six other control buttons. Rotating the control wheel or pressing the direction buttons moves the focus or changes the setting item value on the Quick Navi screen or Menu screen. The direction buttons control Zoom (up), Mode (down), and Wireless Mode (WL)(right). The left direction button is unassigned at shipment, but can be assigned a function of your choice. You can can assign other functions to the direction buttons, the center button, and the control wheel, if desired. The six separate control buttons have the following functions:

• Level +: For raising the flash power level or the flash compensation.
• Level -: For lowering the flash power level or the flash compensation.
• Function (Fn): The Function (Fn) button opens a list of settings on the Quick Navi screen and confirms your selection.
• Test: The backlit Test button glows orange to indicate when the flash unit is fully charged and ready to fire. Pressing the Test button when it is lit in orange fires a test flash, especially if you're using a flash meter for manual flash photography.
• Menu: The menu button opens up a list of functions and settings on the Quick Navi screen. You can use the direction buttons to select the setting item of your choice, then press the center button to select it.
• Power Switch: The 3-way power switch primarily turns the flash unit on and off. The middle position, LOCK, lets you disable the control wheel and the buttons on the flash unit to prevent unintentional operations.

Quick Navi Screen: The Quick Navi Screen is a 2" diagonal dot-matrix display provides flash status information, as well as direct access to important parameters that are controlled by the control wheel, direction buttons and other buttons. The screen has an amber backlight.

Bounce Flash: The HVL-F60RM2's flash head can be tilted (up/down) from -8° to 150° to illuminate your subject with reflected light instead of direct light. Reflected light reduces the intensity of the shadows, and produces a softer light on the subject. There are stop positions at -8°, 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, 90°, 120°, and 150°. The flash head can also swivel left and right 90° in either direction, with stops at 0°, 30°, 45°, 60°, 75°, and 90°. You should consider the flash range, focal length of the lens, and distance to the reflective surface, when determining the bounce angle.

Bounce Adapter: The supplied bounce adapter attaches over the flash lamp to diffuse the bounced light from the flash over a wider range. This produces a softer light and reduces shadows.

Wide Panel: The HVL-F60RM2 has a built-in wide panel that can be pulled out when needed to cover focal lengths from 14mm to 20mm. This prevents having darker areas on the periphery of the photos because of the difference in light intensity. The wide panel is stored in the area above the flash tube when not in use.

Bounce Sheet: The built-in bounce sheet creates a highlight in the subject's eyes, making the subject look more vibrant. The bounce sheet pulls out when you pull out the wide panel. You can then push back the wide panel to use the bounce sheet. When using the bounce sheet, you should tilt the flash head upward at 90°.

Color Filters: Included with the HVL-F60RM2 are two color filters in amber and green. Depending on the ambient light, the sufficient flash light may not reach the background of the subject, causing the images to appear in unnatural colors. The amber color filter can be used for photography under incandescent light bulbs to make the subject appear in natural colors. The green color filters works for photography under the light of fluorescent bulbs.

Flash Compensation: When using a flash mode that supports TTL (through-the-lens) metering, the flash intensity is automatically adjusted. You can correct the automatically adjusted flash using Flash Compensation. You can set the Flash Compensation values between -3.0 and +3.0 in steps of 0.5 or 0.3 EV.

Flash Power Level: During Manual Flash mode, you can specify the flash power level from 1/1 (brightest) to 1/256 (darkest). The interval of the steps can be set to 0.3EV or 0.5EV.

Multiple Flash: In Manual mode, you can set the unit to flash multiple times while the shutter is open. Multiple flash allows motion of the subject to be captured in a single photograph for later analysis. You will need to set the flash frequency (1 to 100 Hz), the number of flashes (2 to 100), and power level (1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64, 1/128, 1/256).

High-speed Sync: High-speed Sync (HSS) eliminates the restrictions of flash sync speed and enables the flash to be used throughout the entire shutter speed range of the camera. This allows you to shoot with a wide aperture, leaving the background out of focus, and accentuating the front subject. The HSS feature can be turned on or off from the flash menu.

Sync Terminal: You can connect another flash unit or camera to the flash unit with a sync cord (not supplied) to perform synchronized flash photography.

Auto White Balance: White balance is automatically adjusted on the camera, based on the color temperature information at the time of the flash firing. The camera should be set to Auto White Balance or Flash White Balance, while the flash unit should be attached to the unit and in the TTL flash mode.

Wireless Operation: The HVL-F60RM2 can be used for 2.4 GHz radio wireless flash photography when used with another flash unit that supports radio wireless communications. The flash unit is in commander mode when the power switch is in the ON position. To configure the flash unit as a receiver unit, you should set the power switch to "A," "B," or "C." The Pairing button lets you pair the flash unit with other flash units or a wireless commander unit. You can pair the flash with up to 15 receiver units in up to 5 groups at distances of up to 98.4 feet (30 meters).

Test Flash: The Test button illuminates orange when the flash is charged and ready to fire. You can try a test-flash before shooting to check the light level or check shadows.

Power Requirements: The HVL-F60RM2 is powered by four Alkaline or Ni-MH "AA" rechargeable batteries (not supplied). Fresh alkaline batteries provide enough power for more than 160 flashes. Fully-charged Ni-MH batteries (2100mAh) can power approximately 240 flashes or more. The Test button flashes slowly when the batteries are running out of power, and flashes quickly when the flash unit is no longer capable of firing.

External Power Source: With an External Battery Adapter (not supplied), you can fire continuous flashes with shorter flash charge-up times.

Overheat Protection: The flash is constructed with heat-resistant materials and an optimized flash algorithm that resists overheating, so you can shoot continuously for long periods of time. The HVL-F60RM2 has Overheat Protection that suspends operation until the temperature of the unit falls back to normal. When overheating is detected, an icon on the Quick Navi Screen will appear. You should turn off the flash unit for approximately 20 minutes to allow the unit to cool down.

Specifications:

• Guide Number: 60 (200mm at ISO 100, in meters)
• Flash Coverage: 20mm-200mm (angle of view of 14mm covered with built-in wide panel)
• Color Temperature: 5500 K
• Battery Types: Four "AA" size -- alkaline or NiMH rechargeable
• Battery Performance:
  • Flash Interval: approx. 0.1 to 2.5 seconds (alkaline); approx. 0.1 to 1.7 seconds (NiMH)
  • Number of Flashes: approx. 160 or more (alkaline); approx. 240 or more (NiMH)
  • Continuous Flash: 200 flashes at 10 flashes per second
  • Recycle Time: 0.1-2.5 seconds (alkaline); 0.1-1.7 seconds (NiMH)
• Operating Temperature: 32°F to 104°F
• Storage Temperature: -4°F to 131°F
• Dimensions:
  • Flash at 0° (direct--no bounce): Width 3.085", Height 5.8", Depth 3.791"
  • Flash at 90° (bounce straight up): Width 3.085", Height 7.649", Depth 2.719"
  • Weight: 15.5 ounces (excluding batteries)