Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please.

On 11 Apr, 23:28, "LooksLikeRain" <codemu... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> Anyway, my question is this: I have a Konica Minolta Maxxum 3600HS
> TTL
> Shoe Mount Flash
> that I am trying to use with the a100, but it seems to not be
> compensating correctly regardless of the lense I use.

Assuming the A100 is similar to the KM 5D in this respect, have you
experimented with the different ADI and TTL flash modes? Also does it
make any difference at all if you change the flash compensation
settings on the camera? I usually have to adjust the flash down a bit
if not bouncing it.
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

On Apr 12, 7:10 am, "POHB" <goo....RemoveThis@hayward.uk.net> wrote:
> On 11 Apr, 23:28, "LooksLikeRain" <codemu....RemoveThis@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Anyway, my question is this: I have a Konica Minolta Maxxum 3600HS
> > TTL
> > Shoe Mount Flash
> > that I am trying to use with the a100, but it seems to not be
> > compensating correctly regardless of the lense I use.
>
> Assuming the A100 is similar to the KM 5D in this respect, have you
> experimented with the different ADI and TTL flash modes? Also does it
> make any difference at all if you change the flash compensation
> settings on the camera? I usually have to adjust the flash down a bit
> if not bouncing it.

The flash is not an HS (D) model. It is just HS 3600. From a couple of
other postings I have read that the new Sony HVL-F36AM is just a
rebadged HS 3600. I don't know if that's true or not, but they do look
very similar on the outside. I'm by no means an expert though. There's
apparently something different though, since the HS 3600 will not work
"out-of-the-box" with the a100.

I did try stepping down the flash as far as it would go. I think -2
was the setting. I didn't change the aperture at all. Just left it in
full auto mode to test the flash. No change. I have to currently
bounce the flash (covered with wax paper) to have it work to any
degree indoors. If the subject is within 4-6 feet, I can forget it. :-
( I guess I could try closing the aperture a bit as well.

I haven't yet experiemented with the ADI and TTL flash modes. I guess
the default is ADI? I will give that a try this weekend, and let you
know how that works. Thank you for the suggestion. ::crossing fingers::
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

Hi,

I had a similar problem with the Flash in my Camera but I found a solution in
a tech support site which I found to be very helpfull. Here is the page for
Sony Tech Support:
http://www.fixya.com/support/sony/digital_cameras

Hope it helps

Jon
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

LooksLikeRain wrote:
> Hello all,
>
> I just purchased the a100 a couple of days ago. My determining factor
> was mainly that I already had a couple Minolta lenses and a flash. So
> far, I am very pleased with the a100. I rarely take photographs above
> ISO 800, so I don't worry about the noise. The picture quality is
> phenominal. I have compared shots with the Nikon D80 and A200 as well
> as the Canon Rebel XTi, and the Sony shots just look better in my
> opinion. Of course, those are well lit shots under ISO 400.
>
>
> Anyway, my question is this: I have a Konica Minolta Maxxum 3600HS
> TTL
> Shoe Mount Flash
> that I am trying to use with the a100, but it seems to not be
> compensating correctly regardless of the lense I use. It will
> overflood the subject with light as if were using a full burst. I
> have
> to bounce the light off of the ceiling (pointing the flash head
> vertical)

Best way to shoot flash in any case.

and cover it with wax paper to even get the light to adjust

Wax paper? Hmm... the TTL would just increase in any case to
compensate. Do you have flash comp on high? Flash on manuan and high
power?
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

David Kilpatrick wrote:
> LooksLikeRain wrote:
>
>> Hello all,
>>
>> I just purchased the a100 a couple of days ago. My determining factor
>> was mainly that I already had a couple Minolta lenses and a flash. So
>> far, I am very pleased with the a100. I rarely take photographs above
>> ISO 800, so I don't worry about the noise. The picture quality is
>> phenominal. I have compared shots with the Nikon D80 and A200 as well
>> as the Canon Rebel XTi, and the Sony shots just look better in my
>> opinion. Of course, those are well lit shots under ISO 400.
>>
>>
>> Anyway, my question is this: I have a Konica Minolta Maxxum 3600HS
>> TTL
>> Shoe Mount Flash
>> that I am trying to use with the a100, but it seems to not be
>> compensating correctly regardless of the lense I use. It will
>> overflood the subject with light as if were using a full burst. I
>> have
>> to bounce the light off of the ceiling (pointing the flash head
>> vertical) and cover it with wax paper to even get the light to adjust
>> properly. What am I doing wrong? Do I just need to get a new flash?
>> I
>> was hoping that I wouldn't have to go that far, but it is looking
>> like
>> I may have to if I can't get this worked out.
>>
>
>
> Is it labelled HS (D) or just 3600 HS?
>
> Anything earlier than HS (D) will not work - it just fires on full power
> and you must set your aperture manually.

I thought the HS series were supposed to work as well with the digital
cameras, no?

>
> If there is an error with an HS (D) gun, it is possible to have the gun
> recalibrated for correct operation, by the Sony/former Minolta repair
> service, and it's usually free.
>
> David


--
-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

Alan Browne wrote:

>
>
> I thought the HS series were supposed to work as well with the digital
> cameras, no?
>


No, unfortunately. Unless the gun is an HS (D) - which I actually think
all 3600 units are but I'm not quite sure - I have one web reference
only to a 3600 HS which looks like a 3500 xi - different style of gun.
The 5400 HS definitely does not work with the digital bodies, and the
5600 HS(D) is needed. But - what was the '3' series gun which went with
the 5400HS? I have a feeling it may have been a 3600HS with no 'D'. If
so, that gun would not work with digital bodies.

I do have just about every Minolta press release CD from the last ten
years but the 3500xi appears to be identically dated to the 5400HS, and
if there was a 3600HS with no D, it is later than July 1999.

David
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

In article <1176388272.820295.199230 RemoveThis @o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,
"LooksLikeRain" <codemunch RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:

> The flash is not an HS (D) model. It is just HS 3600. From a couple of
> other postings I have read that the new Sony HVL-F36AM is just a
> rebadged HS 3600. I don't know if that's true or not, but they do look
> very similar on the outside. I'm by no means an expert though. There's
> apparently something different though, since the HS 3600 will not work
> "out-of-the-box" with the a100.

Rain-

I blindly assumed my old Minolta 5400xi flash would work, and was
surprised to have the same results as you describe. It seems that
Minolta changed from an analog TTL exposure system to a digital one,
even before they brought out a digital body.

After the bad experience, I purchased a Minolta 5600HS-D which works
perfectly. It is identical in appearance and specs to the Sony
HVL-F56AM. As far as I can tell, the HVL-F36AM is the same except that
maximum light output has a GN of 36 instead of 56 Meters for ISO 100.

Your 3600HS would have the letter "D" appended to its number on the
flash, if it was compatible with the digital TTL system.

Fred
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

David Kilpatrick wrote:
> Alan Browne wrote:
>
>>
>>
>> I thought the HS series were supposed to work as well with the digital
>> cameras, no?
>>
>
>
> No, unfortunately. Unless the gun is an HS (D) - which I actually think
> all 3600 units are but I'm not quite sure - I have one web reference
> only to a 3600 HS which looks like a 3500 xi - different style of gun.
> The 5400 HS definitely does not work with the digital bodies, and the
> 5600 HS(D) is needed. But - what was the '3' series gun which went with
> the 5400HS? I have a feeling it may have been a 3600HS with no 'D'. If
> so, that gun would not work with digital bodies.

The "D" being the "Distance Integration" compatible flashes... got it.

>
> I do have just about every Minolta press release CD from the last ten
> years but the 3500xi appears to be identically dated to the 5400HS, and
> if there was a 3600HS with no D, it is later than July 1999.

I bought my 5400HS a few years after the 3500 xi, but I don't recall the
exact date.

Cheers,
Alan


--
-- r.p.e.35mm user resource: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpe35mmur.htm
-- r.p.d.slr-systems: http://www.aliasimages.com/rpdslrsysur.htm
-- [SI] gallery & rulz: http://www.pbase.com/shootin
-- e-meil: Remove FreeLunch.
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

On Apr 14, 1:31 pm, Fred McKenzie <f... RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote:
> In article <1176388272.820295.199... RemoveThis @o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,
>
> "LooksLikeRain" <codemu... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> > The flash is not an HS (D) model. It is just HS 3600. From a couple of
> > other postings I have read that the new Sony HVL-F36AM is just a
> > rebadged HS 3600. I don't know if that's true or not, but they do look
> > very similar on the outside. I'm by no means an expert though. There's
> > apparently something different though, since the HS 3600 will not work
> > "out-of-the-box" with thea100.
>
> Rain-
>
> I blindly assumed my old Minolta 5400xi flash would work, and was
> surprised to have the same results as you describe. It seems that
> Minolta changed from an analog TTL exposure system to a digital one,
> even before they brought out a digital body.
>
> After the bad experience, I purchased a Minolta 5600HS-D which works
> perfectly. It is identical in appearance and specs to the Sony
> HVL-F56AM. As far as I can tell, the HVL-F36AM is the same except that
> maximum light output has a GN of 36 instead of 56 Meters for ISO 100.
>
> Your 3600HS would have the letter "D" appended to its number on the
> flash, if it was compatible with the digital TTL system.
>
> Fred

Thank you for your reply. I finally got around to testing all of the
suggestions mentioned in this post. I changed the menu settings on the
camera to not use the distance flash metering and instead to use the
TTL preflash. That didn't have any effect. I also tried locking the
ISO to 100, and that didn't have any effect as well. It seems my model
of the 3600 flash (which is not the "D" model) does not function with
the Sony A-100. I also tried an older 3600xi flash I had (I was using
it as a wireless slave), and it does not function as well (makes sense
if the 3600HS didn't work I guess). I guess I am off to look for the
new Sony Flash that is comparable.

Just a quick sidenote (maybe I should start a new post, please don't
bash me for this), does anyone have any good recommendations for a
good flash (under $300) for the Sony A-100. Thanks for all of your
help and responses by the way. Even though I wasn't able to get my old
flash working. I appreciated the extra help that was offered.
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

On Apr 30, 9:07 am, LooksLikeRain <codemu... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> On Apr 14, 1:31 pm, Fred McKenzie <f... RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > In article <1176388272.820295.199... RemoveThis @o5g2000hsb.googlegroups.com>,
>
> > "LooksLikeRain" <codemu... RemoveThis @gmail.com> wrote:
> > > The flash is not an HS (D) model. It is just HS 3600. From a couple of
> > > other postings I have read that the new Sony HVL-F36AM is just a
> > > rebadged HS 3600. I don't know if that's true or not, but they do look
> > > very similar on the outside. I'm by no means an expert though. There's
> > > apparently something different though, since the HS 3600 will not work
> > > "out-of-the-box" with thea100.
>
> > Rain-
>
> > I blindly assumed my old Minolta 5400xi flash would work, and was
> > surprised to have the same results as you describe. It seems that
> > Minolta changed from an analog TTL exposure system to a digital one,
> > even before they brought out a digital body.
>
> > After the bad experience, I purchased a Minolta 5600HS-D which works
> > perfectly. It is identical in appearance and specs to the Sony
> > HVL-F56AM. As far as I can tell, the HVL-F36AM is the same except that
> > maximum light output has a GN of 36 instead of 56 Meters for ISO 100.
>
> > Your 3600HS would have the letter "D" appended to its number on the
> > flash, if it was compatible with the digital TTL system.
>
> > Fred
>
> Thank you for your reply. I finally got around to testing all of the
> suggestions mentioned in this post. I changed the menu settings on the
> camera to not use the distance flash metering and instead to use the
> TTL preflash. That didn't have any effect. I also tried locking the
> ISO to 100, and that didn't have any effect as well. It seems my model
> of the 3600 flash (which is not the "D" model) does not function with
> the Sony A-100. I also tried an older 3600xi flash I had (I was using
> it as a wireless slave), and it does not function as well (makes sense
> if the 3600HS didn't work I guess). I guess I am off to look for the
> new Sony Flash that is comparable.
>
> Just a quick sidenote (maybe I should start a new post, please don't
> bash me for this), does anyone have any good recommendations for a
> good flash (under $300) for the Sony A-100. Thanks for all of your
> help and responses by the way. Even though I wasn't able to get my old
> flash working. I appreciated the extra help that was offered.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Correction: I stated that I tried a 3600xi. It was actually a 3500xi.
Sorry about that.
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please. 

On 2007-04-11 18:28:25 -0400, "LooksLikeRain" <codemunch.DeleteThis@gmail.com> said:

> Hello all,
>
> I just purchased the a100 a couple of days ago. My determining factor
> was mainly that I already had a couple Minolta lenses and a flash. So
> far, I am very pleased with the a100. I rarely take photographs above
> ISO 800, so I don't worry about the noise. The picture quality is
> phenominal. I have compared shots with the Nikon D80 and A200 as well
> as the Canon Rebel XTi, and the Sony shots just look better in my
> opinion. Of course, those are well lit shots under ISO 400.
>
>

As a note to all.

Flash incompatibility can be extended to most ofther companies as
well. The TTL flash system measured light in several ways in a film
camera, and one of those being light relected off the film in
combination with lens focus distance, aperature, ambient light, etc.
The TTL system in a digital camera is considerably different, as there
is no film to reflect off, so the light is measured in other ways. The
computer that is calculating the lfash exposure receieves different
inputs and has a much different algorithm. Therefore flash systems
designed for film cameras will not likely work well if at all on DSLR
systems. Note, that in the Nikon world I do use my old SB28 as slave,
as the SB800DX is doing the actual control and just signalling the
SB28.
>
--
Jim <jen....not....home..remvdots...@....yahoo
 >> Stay informed about: Sony a100 Flash problem. Need suggestions please.