If you own a Sony Alpha DSLR, you've probably already learned you'll need an adapter to attach an external flash to the proprietary Minolta Maxxum flash mount on your camera.

A few short taps on the keyboard will tell you that you need a Minolta FS-1100 hot shoe adapter or equivalent.

Please allow me to jump in here and say, as of this writing, you should probably strike out the words "or equivalent".

So far, I've tried 2 FS-1100 clone devices from eBay vendors, and I've written to 4 vendors from whom I did not buy product. The 2 I bought, and apparently the 4 others (which appear to represent only 2 unique products) have only 2 of the 4 circuits wired on the adapter. Oh sure, they all have 4 pins on the bottom, and 3 + ground plate on top, but only the flash trigger circuit is wired. Don't ask me why!

One other variant listed on eBay doesn't even have 4 pins on the bottom ... just 2. Oh yes, skip that one, too.

Here's why this matters: The other 2 circuits perform TTL ( through the lens ) metering and transmit a "flash ready" signal to the camera ... And your Alpha won't take a good picture with an external flash unless it sees these circuits ... ( Oh, okay, you can force the issue using manual settings, but get a life )

If you get a genuine Minolta FS-1100 adapter, no problem .. Works fine! I lurked around several auctions and finally bought one for about $28 including shipping. I've seen them go for less.

eBayer Bob Wynne wrote to tell us about an exception to my comments for studio photography:

When the camera is used in a studio, the external flash is replaced with an infra red trigger which instead of flashing sends a signal to the studio lighting causing them to flash. With TTL a preflash is issued by the camera at which point the lens is opened to its maximum extent.

Normally the camera takes a reading from the preflash , closes the lens down to the correct f setting and at that point the main flash goes off and the picture is taken. In a studio the problem is that the infra red trigger is set off by the preflash, thus causing the studio lights to give their uncontrollable flash level whilst the lens is wide open and the mirror is down, thus losing the shot. The studio lighting cannot recover in time for the main flash from the camera to trigger them a second time.

 Thus the FS-1100 clone must suppress the preflash to prevent the IR trigger working until the main flash is issued by the camera. This some Chinese clones do effectively and the lack of 4 wires on the clone is irrelevant in this situation. Hope this helps. The points you make in your review, which I found most helpful, are of course completely valid. The studio situation is merely an exception.

Good hunting!