Flash suggestions for A350

[JPhotoz]

I have a Alpha 350 and am looking for an nice flash. I know that Sony has a bunch but the price is really expensive.

I was looking for maybe the Sigma 500 or 530. Will this work as well as the Sony one?It is at least half the price. What are the main differences between the 500 and 530.

I think there are a couple of 530's too.

I am so confused....

I just do this for a hobby so I would not use it all the time.

Let me know your thoughts.

thank you
Jordan

[kris142]

I see that you said you would like to go around the Sony if you could due to price.
I just got a Sony flash the f42am. I love the thing. Although it was a B-day present, it is expencive.

Christmas is Coming up so maby if you as a friend, loved one, you wont have to pay the expenses.

Good luck!

[Take12]

You get what you pay for in this case.

[fjbyrne]

I have the HVL-56AM which is the Minota 5600. It has been replaced by Sony's new HVL-58AM which looks like an excellent flash but is pricey. It is a very nice flash and has worked well with all my A-mount cameras. It has a lot of features and is pretty powerful.

I paid $310 a couple of years ago and it is well worth it. Sony jacked the price up a little while ago to $450 (not worth that IMO) but I read that they are back around $300 now that it has been discontinued.

[fotogeorge]

I haven't been able to find a discount on the Sony 5600 flash. I have the older Minolta 5600 flash. I like the ability to aim the flash 10 degrees down for macro and the battery pack connection. The Sony 56 has the same features, but not the Sony 58. I had read somewhere that the Sony 56 flash had an increase of price after Sony upgraded the software. I wonder what differences if any can be seen between both versions. I would buy the Metz 58-1 flash because of user upgrades, the auxillary direct flash with bounce, and the thyrestor auto modes. I have always had good service from my older Metz product.

[rshunk]

Don't forget about the Minolta 3600HS-D. It's a nice flash that will give you HSS and Wireless ability and doesn't cost as much as that 5600 or the Sony version. It does not have a manual setting, which does bug me, but I have other flashes that I use for manual work (Sunpak 622, 383, 322S).


Bob S.