Sony HVL-F46RM
Radio-Controlled & Regular Flash
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Sony HVL-F46RM Flash (14.5 oz./412 g with 4-AA eneloop, measured GN 60'/18m at 35mm (rated GN 85'/26m), GN 95'/29m at 105mm (rated GN 151'/46m), 3.2s measured recycle time (rated 2s), $398). bigger. I'd get mine at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Sony does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, gray-market, store demo or used flash — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new flash. I've used many of these stores since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new flash before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
March 2022 Better Pictures Sony Sony Flash Canon Nikon Fuji LEICA Zeiss All
Sony HVL-F46RM. bigger.
Sample Images top
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These are just snapshots; my real work is in my Gallery.
This is shot hand-held as a LIGHT JPG; no tripods, no STANDARD, FINE or EXTRA FINE JPGs or RAW files were used or needed.
Red 1932 Ford Roadster, 9:20 AM, Saturday, 26 February 2022. Sony A7 IV set to VV (Vivid) Creative Look with +9 Saturation, Sony HVL-F46RM flash in TTL mode, Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II at 136mm at f/7.1 at 1/250 at Auto ISO 100 (LV 13.6), Perfectly Clear. bigger or camera-original 33 MP © JPG file (6 MB).
Fill-Flash Examples with the HVL-F46RM
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Fill-flash adds detail to shadows without affecting the highlights. Shot with Sony A7 IV, Sony HVL-F46RM flash in TTL mode and Sony FE 70-200mm f/2.8 GM OSS II. Click any to enlarge.
Introduction top
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I buy only from these approved sources. I can't vouch for ads below. |
The Sony HVL-F46RM is a modern mid-sized on-camera flash dedicated to Sony's cameras. It's a great flash to use all the time for greatly improved photos in every kind of light, especially in daylight as shown above.
Lighting is more important to making better photos than your choice of camera or lens, and flash is a major way to make a huge improvement in your lighting.
Flash is all about improving the quality, not quantity of light. We don't use flash today because it's dark; we use flash to fill-in shadows selectively, which higher ISOs can't do.
On-camera fill-flash is critical to good people photos, and as you see above, I use it for photos of just about everything. It adds far more details to shadows than any software-based post processing or modern wide-dynamic range sensors can.
The concept behind fill flash is so simple most people never realize it. Imagine a subject in direct sunlight. Let's call that 100 units of light. The shadows are typically 2 stops darker, or have only 25% as much light, so let's say 25 units of light in the shadows.
Let's use an on-camera flash to add 12½ units of light to every part of the scene. It adds only a slight amount of light (12%) proportionally to the sunlit portions (100 + 12½ = 112½ units of light), but adds a relatively huge 50% of additional lighting to the shadows (bringing them from 25 units to 37½ units of light).
This why fill-flash has been a professional secret for over 100 years: it selectively adds more light, detail and color to the shadows while not blowing out the highlights.
I'd get my HVL-F46RM at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Legible LCD and well-marked buttons. bigger.
New intro top
Radio remote control. I never use small flashes like this remotely. I either use this flash on-camera or I use full-sized studio strobes for multi-light setups.
Has multiple contacts in the shoe to talk better to Sony's newest cameras:
Smart Shoe. bigger.
On the bad side, the HVL-F46RM now includes a shoe cover to protect these delicate contacts, which gets in the way when having to remove it to mount on your camera.
Good intro top
Plenty of power in a small package.
Built-in captive wide panel.
Built-in captive kicker card. Use this with bounce flash to keep highlights in subject's eyes.
Reasonably fast recycling.
Very flexible pivoting head.
Easy to setup and use; great ergonomics.
Clear and legible LCD.
Well-lit LCD with amber LED backlight.
Weather resistant.
Includes a marvelous soft case and tiny (remote) stand.
Bad intro top
Dimly-lit ready light is invisible in daylight (use the in-finder indication instead). A small, bright ready light would be better; this ready light is the big, dim TEST button.
The buttons are not illuminated so they are completely invisible in the dark.
Missing intro top
No illuminated buttons (LCD is well lit).
No free colored filters.
No free Sto-Fen diffuser.
Can't charge over USB.
Specifications (Sony's Ratings) top
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Specs Performance Recommendations More
I'd get my HVL-F46RM at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Power specifications top
Rated Guide Numbers (in meters) at ISO 100.
Recycle Time specifications top
2 seconds.
Zoom Settings (full-frame) specifications top
15mm wide panel.
24, 28, 35, 50, 70 and 105mm settings in the zoom head.
Pivoting Head specifications top
-6º to +150º (can flip over the top and point 60º backwards) vertical. The -6º and 150º settings aren't marked.-180º to +180º horizontal: can point in any direction.
Battery Life (Ni-MH) specifications top
320 full-power flashes.
Burst Flashes specifications top
60 flashes at 10 FPS a 1/32 power with Ni-MH cells.
Manual Power Settings specifications top
Full to 1/256 in 1/3 stops.
Case specifications top
Included Soft Case. bigger.
Size specifications top
4.52 × 2.73 × 3.50 inches HWD.
114.7 × 69.4 × 88.9 mm HWD.
Weight specifications top
14.548 oz. (412.4 g) actual measured weight with 4-AA eneloop.
Rated 10.9 oz. (308 g) empty.
Quality specifications top
Sony HVL-F46RM. bigger.
Made in China.
Announced specifications top
21 October 2021.
Price, U. S. A. specifications top
October 2021 ~ March 2022
$398 at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H and at Crutchfield.
Actual Measured Performance top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specs Performance Recommendations More
I'd get my HVL-F46RM at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Recycle Time performance top
From a full-power dump with with 4-AA eneloop cells:
3.2 seconds with freshly charged cells.
4.0 seconds with 60% charged cells.
Power Output performance top
Zoom Setting |
15mm Wide Panel |
24mm |
35mm |
105mm |
Guide Number, feet |
33 |
53 |
60 |
95 |
Guide Number, meters |
10 |
16 |
18 |
29 |
It measures about one stop less than rated, which is typical for Japanese flash makers who have been lying like this since the 1970s when guide numbers were bare minimums used with negative film to set manual exposure based on distance. It took advantage of about a 1-stop underexposure latitude on the part of negative film: you could underexpose a stop and still get a picture. It's sort of like the "one-inch" sensor lie.
Recommendations top
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Specs Performance Recommendations More
I'd get my HVL-F46RM at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
This is a great flash to take everywhere with your Sony. It has almost as much power as larger models, but with much smaller size, weight and price. It has all the features — and many more — that I'll ever need.
A flash like this will make far more of an improvement in your photos than buying a new body or lens.
More Information top
Sample Images Intro New Good Bad Missing
Specs Performance Recommendations More
I'd get my HVL-F46RM at Adorama, at Amazon, at B&H or at Crutchfield, or used at eBay if you know How to Win at eBay.
Sony's HVL-F46RM Quick Sheet.
This 100% all-content, junk-free website's biggest source of support is when you use those or any of these links to my personally approved sources I've used myself for way over 100 combined years when you get anything, regardless of the country in which you live. Sony does not seal its boxes in any way, so never buy at retail or any other source not on my personally approved list since you'll have no way of knowing if you're missing accessories, getting a defective, damaged, returned, gray-market, store demo or used flash — and all of my personally approved sources allow for 100% cash-back returns for at least 30 days if you don't love your new flash. I've used many of these stores since the 1970s because I can try it in my own hands and return it if I don't love it, and because they ship from secure remote warehouses where no one gets to touch your new flash before you do. Buy only from the approved sources I've used myself for decades for the best prices, service, return policies and selection.
Thanks for helping me help you!
Ken.
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