"Will this flash work with my Sony Alpha Digital Camera?" 

This is undeniably the most common question I get in my eBay mailbox and I'm not surprised for two reasons.

First off, new Sony Alpha flash models are not exactly inexpensive and eBay is an excellent source for affordable used items for your DSLR. It would be great to pick up a used flash for your kit at a friendly eBay price, right?

Secondly, there are numerous legacy Minolta Maxxum (and 3rd Party Maxxum hot shoe) flashes listed on eBay and many can be found right in my store. All of those legacy Maxxum mount lenses (and most 3rd party lenses) work on your Alpha, so it stands to reason that the flashes should too.

Unfortunately it is not quite that simple. Actually, it is hardly simple at all, which, I guess is another reason why I get that email question so often....

Let's start at the beginning of Maxxum flash evolution with the original Maxxum flash units:

Original Maxxum flash units (1800AF/2800AF/4000AF) with ISO style shoes designed for the original Maxxum 5000, 7000 & 9000 will not even attach to the "2nd Generation" proprietary hot shoe of all subsequent ("i"-series and onward) film cameras and all KM and Sony DSLRs. Furthermore, the Maxxum 1800AF and 2800AF have no adjustable manual power settings. Read on to discover why this feature is important.

The Maxxum 4000AF flash does however have several manual power settings from 1/16 to full power and can attach to the KM 7D using an FS-1100 adapter. It can also be triggered off camera with a strobe slave or third party wireless trigger system. The rub is that in both situations, you do not have TTL Metering and must adjust your flash output on the 4000AF manually by firing a test shot and checking your histogram and LCD, adjusting the power level accordingly, firing another test shot etc. until you are satisfied with your flash exposure. This is where the manual power settings are needed.

When Minolta designed their first DSLR, (the KM 7D) their engineers intorduced new flash circuitry in the camera body and this was continued on all subsequent models released by Sony. More savvy tech junkies could probably explain "why" this happened, but I'm sure it was done as an improvement or an engineering solution to accomodate the new DSLR circuitry (versus design obsolesence). The end result is that all legacy Minolta FILM flash units lose TTL (Through-The-Lens) flash metering/exposure and will only fire at full power when called to action on any DSLR. This results in an overexposed image in most situations. As illustrated in the example using the 4000AF, there is a workaround using the manual power settings feature and a dose of trial and error.

2nd Generation Flash Models:

Besides the 4000AF, the 3 Minolta Maxxum flash units listed below also have adjustable manual power settings (and a 2nd generation Minolta shoe that allows direct attachment to your Sony Alpha DSLR without an adapter) You can use these 3 flash units using the "manual test shot(s)" method. Note that all flash units will not provide AF Illumination - you lose this feature (the blinking red lights on the front of the flash that help focus in low light) when using these flash units with your DSLR.

• Minolta Maxxum 5200i
• Minolta Maxxum 5400xi
• Minolta Maxxum 5400HS

A recent "Flash Photography" article in Popular Photography (Aug, 2009) extolls the use of non-TTL flash (using units like those listed above) and recognizes that with the convenience of rear LCD displays and histograms, TTL metering/exposure is not necessary to get an accurate flash exposure if you are ok with making the manual adjustments and test shots that I previously described. (Repeatedly checking exposures using your LCD is called "chimping" - not exactly a flattering term but it works!) This is especially true when you consider that the flashes that I've listed above are powerful models and available on eBay for less than $100; sometimes significantly less, while new Sony TTL capable flashes list from $250-$500. Personally, I prefer to have TTL on my flash, but if you are looking for an inexpensive flash solution for occasional use you might consider going this route.

Newest Minolta Flash Models:

There is one bright spot in all of this confusion and incompatibility. When Minolta released their 7D and 5D, they also released some compatible flash units for digital that are occasionally available on eBay in used condition:

• Minolta Maxxum 2500HS(D)
• Minolta Maxxum 3600HS(D)
• Minolta Maxxum 5600HS(D)

These three Minolta flash models WILL work with 100% compatibility and function on your Sony Alpha. The 2500HS(D) is very hard to find, the 3600HS(D) will cost about $150 USD on eBay, and the 5600HS(D) may run as high as $250 USD. It is quite a powerful and full featured flash.

There are some new "Bower", "Sigma" and other "No Name" 3rd party flashes that are made for digital and are compatible with Sony Alpha (make sure the listing specifies that you are getting full TTL metering for digital cameras) but I would not recommend using older 3rd party film flash models that were made for Minolta Maxxum film cameras. Most do not have adjustable power settings.

Of course you could always bite the bullet and pick up a new Sony Alpha flash if your pocketbook can take the hit - there are several availabe, including the (recently discontinued) HVL-F36AM (identical to the Minolta 3600HS(D), HVL-F42AM, and HVL-F56AM. New arrivals include Sony's new flagship HVL-F58AM and the just released HVL-F20AM "mini" flash. Except for the HVL-F20AM, all are wireless.

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