Customer reviews from sony.com
Sony - HVLF60M - Hot-Shoe Clip-On Flash
Average customer rating
2.7
(33 Reviews)
Rating breakdown 33 reviews
5 Stars
6
4 Stars
4
3 Stars
8
2 Stars
5
1 Star
10
42%of customers recommend this product.
(
10 out of
24)
Customer Reviews for Sony - HVLF60M - Hot-Shoe Clip-On Flash
Customer Rating
3
Won't allow more than one master
on April 5, 2019
Posted by: CGPhoto
Gender:Male
Only one master is allowed to trigger slaves. If you are a wedding photographer and use two bodies you can't trigger a single slave with both bodies. You can do this with any other flash system on the market.
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Response from sony.comBy Sony Social Support, April 8, 2019
Hello CGPhoto,
We regret to hear that this unit failed to meet your expectations. We're always looking to make Sony better. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
Regards,
Zac
Sony Social Support
We regret to hear that this unit failed to meet your expectations. We're always looking to make Sony better. Thank you for sharing your feedback with us.
Regards,
Zac
Sony Social Support
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
3
Hot
on June 6, 2017
Posted by: Chocolate Thunder
Gender:Male
It is a great flash but not very reliable it will over heat so fast and not in direct son. I love the power and menu. I would not take it on a paying job. It is like an old girl friend you lover her but she might cheat on you at any point and time. Should not be that way cause of the price
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
4
I love this flash and I have a note to overheating
on January 14, 2019
Posted by: yanks
Gender:Male
Overheating apparently is a problem, I see it everywhere. But I did not experience it yet and do use this flash for high-end weddings. Now I found out the crazy fact. For the first time I was using Energizer Ultimate Lithium, supposedly the best batteries in the market and unfortunately I bought 50 pieces. I was very surprised how often the unit was overheated. Never happened with cheap batteries!!! Might be good tip for others.
Overal the flash is well build and I use pretty often that build-in LED light.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
3
Overheats quickly
on June 19, 2013
Posted by: Arafet
I purchased recently the HVL-F60m flash for my A77. I already have the F43 flash, but I was attracted to buy the F60 because of its higher range and video light.
Like most of the reviews, this flash heats quickly and even though I checked on Sony support website, there is no tips on how to prevent this issue. 10mins to wait for cooling down, is probably a bit slow, so not convenient for event shooting
What's great about it: Good range, video led light
What's not so great: Overheat quickly
No, I would not recommend this to a friend.
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
3
Good, but could be better.
on February 26, 2013
Posted by: Danms66
The two big differences between this, and the HVL-f58 are the new foot, and the led video light. The new foot isn't exactly the ISO standard. It has some material removed, making it an odd shape, and seems delicate when mounting to stands. Extreme caution should be used when using clamp type cold shoes. Also, the fit isn't quite right and subsequently it doesn't seem to work with some radio triggers. Of course, there are no TTL radio triggers that currently mount natively to the foot.
The video light basically looks like an led flashlight on subjects, so you'd have to be pretty desperate (or want the Blair Witch look) to actually use it. It's placed on the underside of the flash head, and the flash is disabled when the light is turned on, which makes it useless as a modeling/focus assist light.
The HSS is limited to when the flash is pointed forward, bounce flash is limited to 1/200. While I sort of understand this, why not let the photographer decide when the flash isn't powerful enough?
The control and grouping is nice, but as noted elsewhere, it takes a solid 1/2 second for the flash to actually fire when using optical wireless, which can be a real problem when shooting things that move.
Why this, and the camera aren't wifi is beyond me. The flash cost as much as a laptop, and it seems like such an obvious place to take advantage of that technology. Even bluetooth would work if the concern is power consumption. I'm probably just dreaming here, but that level of control would take this from an expensive, nice flash, to something more competitive for the end user.
The video light basically looks like an led flashlight on subjects, so you'd have to be pretty desperate (or want the Blair Witch look) to actually use it. It's placed on the underside of the flash head, and the flash is disabled when the light is turned on, which makes it useless as a modeling/focus assist light.
The HSS is limited to when the flash is pointed forward, bounce flash is limited to 1/200. While I sort of understand this, why not let the photographer decide when the flash isn't powerful enough?
The control and grouping is nice, but as noted elsewhere, it takes a solid 1/2 second for the flash to actually fire when using optical wireless, which can be a real problem when shooting things that move.
Why this, and the camera aren't wifi is beyond me. The flash cost as much as a laptop, and it seems like such an obvious place to take advantage of that technology. Even bluetooth would work if the concern is power consumption. I'm probably just dreaming here, but that level of control would take this from an expensive, nice flash, to something more competitive for the end user.
What's great about it: Powerful, and fast when on camera. TTL reliable.
What's not so great: Strange design choices
I would recommend this to a friend!
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
1
Sony HVL F60 Overheats Useless for Professional
on September 29, 2013
Posted by: FineArtPhotographer
I am a professional Photographer, using the Sony A77 Camera. I just sent in a HVL F58 into Sony for repairs, and was informed that Sony did not repair the Flash, and I was offered an exchange price on the HVL F60 flash. when I received it I Googled HVL F60 to see if their were any advanced Ideas about the use of the flash. I was totally surprised by the numerous comments about the flash over heating and shutting down after as few as 20 full power flashes in a normal time period. I tested my flash and had the same problem with less then 25 exposures with the flash shutting down, (As a professional I would shoot as many as 400 images in a 2 hour period) trying to get the problem resolved I spent many hours and numerous useless transfers and disconnects trying to return the flash and getting a refund From Sony. This is the worst service that I have ever received in my 20 years as a professional photographer. This is very sad as the HVL F58 did not have that problem, and the Sony A77 is a spectacular camera. I resolved my refund problem with Sony and was able to find two new HVL F58 flash's at a Denver camera store. These were the last two they still had in stock. I hope that Sony will take these problem seriously before professional's quit buying their camera's due to the flash problem.
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
2
Overheat Problem!
on August 30, 2014
Posted by: Billyho18
Great design flash. But it does not work as it should be! Just like everyone else said. My HVL-60M easily got overheat very fast. I am a Sony DSLR fan and have owned A900, A850, A99. But this flash get overheat after 15-20 shots. It is not normal at all for a top of the line Sony flash. I don't know what to do with it? Very disappointed!
Response from sony.comBy Sony Listens, September 2, 2014
Hi Billyho18
We're sorry to hear about the experience. We recommend to reduce the power level, or not using the full power, to avoid overheating.
Vincent
We're sorry to hear about the experience. We recommend to reduce the power level, or not using the full power, to avoid overheating.
Vincent
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com
Customer Rating
1
Sony HVLF60M Flash
on March 9, 2014
Posted by: digimusicman
worst $550 I ever spent in my Life.. First I would Love to talk to the brilliant person in R&D that decided to remove ability to bounce off side walls..It is such a normal feature of even the lowest price flash out there that you expect it to be on High end unit...Sure nice video light if you are to cheep to buy the proper one for video.. But i almost never point flash direct at subject unless I have absolutely no way to bounce it back. Bounce is an expected feature... Sure i can tilt head left or right.. Um.... still pointing direct at subject.. overall control of power of Light is same as any standard Flash. I don't rant often, but this is like buying a car with no steering wheel. I have to go off Camera to bounce flash. Not Good Sony....
Written by a customer while visiting sony.com