Sony HVLFSL1B External Slave Flash with Bracket for Compatible Cybershot Digital Cameras Reviews

• Works for any camera with a built-in flash

  
  By A2I2DE1DJUVQOO on 2004-12-15
  I got this flash for my Sony DSCW1 camera because the one criticism of this camera was that the built-in flash was weak and had a limited range of about 10-12 feet.
  
  This external flash certainly does work to augment the flash capabilites of the DSCW1. In my tests, it appears to be effective outdoors at night at distances of up to about 50-60 feet.
  
  The HVLFSL1B is NOT controlled directly by the camera - there are no electrical connections whatsoever. Instead, there is a light sensor on the HVLFSL1B which senses the light of the DSCW1's built in flash and this triggers the HVLFSL1B.
  
  And so, in fact, this External Slave Flash will work for practically any camera, whether they have a hotshoe or not, as long as they have a built-in flash (the DSCW1 does not have a hotshoe - the mounting bracket of the HVLFSL1B is attached to the tripod screwhole of the DSCW1).
  
  Furthermore, one does not even have to mount the HVLFSL1B to a camera, or even have it pointing in the same direction as the camera. It is possible to use the HVLFSL1B as a bounce flash, pointing it at a side wall or the ceiling. As long as the flash of your camera reflects off whatever the HVLFSL1B is pointed at, it will fire.
  
  So this is great! At last, a bounce flash that will work for practically any point and shoot camera that has a built in flash!
  
  The only downside of the HVLFSL1B is that instead of regular AA batteries, it uses these non-rechargable lithium CR123 batteries (the same battery used in many point and shoot 35mm film cameras). ARGH! Anyway, that's why I took off one star.
  
  

• Worked Great!...Until It Didn't

  
  By A7G9PDSWL27DY on 2006-05-15
  Purchased this Sony Slave Flash as an accessory to my Sony digital camera. Right before the warranty expired it quit working. Assuming it needed a new battery, I replaced it, only to have it quit again after a few light ups. By the time I realized the Slave Flash (and not the batteries) was at fault, the warranty had expired. I contacted Sony, explained that I had given their Slave Flash the benefit of the doubt by replacing batteries instead of contacting them, but they wouldn't help me a bit - no replacement and no repairs. In fact, they said it couldn't be repaired at all. I was advised to purchase a replacement Slave Flash. No thanks.
  
  

• Excelente Producto

  
  By A2SLE6RU7A3IFO on 2005-10-11
  Tengo una Cybershot DSC-P200 y este Flash esclavo ha sido muy util en situaciones donde el flash normal de la camara no es suficiente, lo mejor es que puedes graduar la intensidad de luz del flash, se debe practicar un poco para saber en que nivel debe colocarse so pena de sobreexponer la foto.
  No le di las 5 estrellas simplemente porque la bateria que trae es muy dificil conseguirla recargable.
  Notese que es un flash que dispara por un fotosensor, si disparas a un sitio que no refleje la luz del flash primario de tu camara, entonces no actuara.
  Yo recomiendo este producto, me ayuda bastante en mis fotos de fiestas y reuniones.
  
  

• Better as a hockey puck...great flash (if you're prepared for the footnotes)

  
  By A3FGKQP4TZLWJE on 2006-04-27
  So, I'd read a few reviews and finally caved in and bought the flash. My Sony Cybershot DSC-P73 was on the list of compatible cameras and the price seemed reasonable.
  But what I got for my money was disappointing. Okay...virtually useless.
  Tucked away in the notes for the Flash (and nowhere on eBay ro the Sony site that I could see) is a "note" that, hey, this won't work outdoors and it won't work indoors either unless you're pointing it at a shiny surface.
  Now I ask you: who wants to be pointing their uber-flash at a "shiny" surface while taking a picture?! Think you'll be seeing great results?
  Not likely. Not from this "flash" anyway. If you can even get it to fire. Preliminary tests have proven the "note" to be true. It don't work. I did however get it to fire when I took the flash off and physically pointed the camera at the flash when taking the picture...so nice.
  
  

• Not really much of a need

  
  By AVKGUMYYGVXQG on 2008-03-22
  The flash works fine.. but it's rare that would need it.. I bought it mostly to help with the dark flare when using the Sony wide-angle lens in low lighting conditions indoors - The lens blocks part of the camera's flash. With practice I was able to eliminate the dark spot.
  This unit responds to the flash reflection from your camera. So, your camera must flash for this slave flash to work. I've never needed more than the lowest setting on this unit because any higher will wash out the photo.
  just a note: The enclosed bracket mounts to the threaded hole (tripod mount) on your camera, but the bracket also has a threaded hole for the tripod mount, so you won't lose the ablility to use your tripod when using this unit.
  
  

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