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You may have seen someone telling you to hold your inbuilt Sony A6000 flash upwards for bounce illumination. Unless you are ready to position your hand awkwardly for hours and with less power, you probably want a better option. That’s why I'm giving you my choices for the best flashes for the Sony A6000.
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The Sony A6000 inbuilt flash comes with a 19.7 feet guide number at ISO 100 plus other features. However, you can’t light big rooms with it effectively. In that case, you need a better solution for your listing photos. Here is a thoroughly researched selection of top flashes for the Sony A6000.
Although it’s not the tiniest flash you can find, the GODOX TT350S features a considerably small size compared to standard options. It weighs 200g without the batteries. It is compact and suitable for photographers who travel a lot.
It tilts 0-270 degrees sideways and -7 to 90 degrees vertically hence achieving flexible positioning. Power output peaking at 1/128, a 2.2-second recharge, and a 36m guide number which makes it suitable for quick and powerful shooting.
While still minimalist, it comes with a flip-out diffuser and a white panel to fine-tune your light conditions. These two come out fairly easily and slot back in firmly.
The overall build of the flash is good. It even includes a brass thread on the feet instead of the less sturdy plastic ones.
The minor issue I can highlight is the battery compartment which doesn’t feel quite as solid as the rest of the flash body. However; this unit is still durable and offers you just the correct performance to get good subject illumination and light interiors.
If you are an entry-level photographer or looking for an affordable Speedlight for your lessons, then Neewer TT560 might be a great choice.
While it may not perform as well as the rest on many fronts, it still has its fair share of upsides besides price
I especially love its high GN at 124.6, surpassing both my top pick and the best option here. You can illuminate objects at a much further distance to achieve the extent of perspective you want.
While it lacks TLL, its LCD and controls are straightforward and might be even simpler to use than the first two options.
The vertical tilt range is lesser than the first two best flashes for Sony A6000. Being unable to attain a -7 degree angle, it may not be as great for shooting 3D house models or other small objects at close range.
Finalizing our list is the Neewer NW625 GN54, an option I consider as the best flash for Sony A6000 for those looking for manual flashes.
If you want to take images at far distances, this is the best flash for Sony A6000 for that purpose on this list. Being able to light objects as far as 180 feet at ISO 100, the unit gives you more flexibility on how your images appear.
The Neewer NW625 ties with my first two flashes in offering the highest range of vertical and horizontal adjustability on my list. Getting an ideal shooting position and its robust performance are some of its most desirable strengths.
When it comes to shortcomings, you won’t get the automated adjustability synonymous with TTL flashes. Its weight at 340grams is the heaviest on the list. If you are traveling or taking photos for hours, this may not be the best option to get.
The Voking VK750 is one of the camera flashlights you can use to get flexible lighting for your real estate interior photography. This flash features a flexible vertical rotation angle of -7 to 90 degrees and a flexible horizontal rotation angle of 0 to 270 degrees.
When taking interior photos, this flexibility allows you to face the flash towards the ceiling and bounce off the light, avoiding the hard shadows when using the flash directly.
The unit features an external charging port, relieving you of the hassle of having to stop photographing to recharge your flashlight if the battery drains in the midst of a photoshoot.
This flash allows you to use a wireless trigger up to 49 feet away when taking photos indoors. Generally, this means the flash can work well for indoor lighting without the need for backup lighting. However, this exemplary performance comes with a downside of weight.
Unlike the Sony HVL F20M External Flash, this flash weighs 1.01 pounds, and when you combine this with the rest of the camera gear, your setup can be heavy and exhausting.
If you are a beginner photographer and you don't want the compatibility issues that come with third-party camera accessories, then consider getting the Sony HVL F20M External Flash.
This flash is designed by Sony, and the mounting is compatible with the Sony Alpha, making it straightforward to pair it with a Sony A6000. This flash features a compact form factor and a lightweight design of 0.2 pounds.
If you compare it with the Voking VK750, this flash is portable and a better choice if you are moving from one property to the other, taking interior photos. If you are using several flashes to improve the overall lighting of the interior, you can use this flash as a trigger for the off-camera flashes.
The main downside of this flash is that you can't use it as an off-camera flash by itself. This makes it challenging to avoid the hard shadows when using the flash directly.
Adding an excellent flash to your Sony A6000 allows you to adjust the quality of light to your liking. With the right features on your flash, illuminating subjects at your desired distance, lighting, duration, and more, is effortless.
As you decide on your best flash for Sony A6000, here are some vital considerations to gauge with:
| Flash | Guide Number | Recycle Time | TTL or Manual? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Godox TT350S | 118 | 0.1-2.2 | Both |
| Neewer TT560 | 125 | 0.1-5 | Both |
| Neewer NW625 | 177 | 3.5 | Manual |
| Voking VK750 | 58 | 3 | Manual |
| Sony HVL F20M | 65.62 | 0.1-5 | Both |
External flashes suitable for a Sony A6000 or any other camera typically come with a higher GN value than the included flash. Does the GN value matter in real estate
The GN value indicates up to which distance your flash can illuminate the subject given particular aperture settings. With a higher GN value, capturing expansive living room spaces with the right amount of lighting is much easier.
How about when you want to photograph real property from a far position? Getting your images in a two-point perspective, with your preferred lighting level, requires a flash with expansive illumination capabilities.
Here is a breakdown of how the GNs of my top picks compare:
Hot shoe flashes have the advantage of allowing an extensive range of adjustability, something the Sony A6000 barely offers.
An extensive rotation range allows you to bounce off the flash and fine-tune your lighting. Some flashes can extend up to -7 degrees horizontally, which may enable you to capture excellent close-ups.
Other flashes have extended vertical tilting capabilities beyond the right-angle position. This allows for reverse illumination without turning your flash. The more the extent of adjustability, the more position you have for bouncing the light.
Features like sync modes, rear curtain, or slow sync are pretty standard in most flashes that work with Sony A6000. High-Speed Sync, however, is a reserve for a lesser number of flashes you can use on your camera.
Is HSS necessary? While a fast image capturing speed may not be necessary for taking listing photos, it may be ideal for other real estate
HSS is crucial when shooting ongoing construction or similar faster events. With this feature, you are likely to capture fast pictures without dark spots.
Which of my top flashes for the Sony A6000 have HSS support?
I include both TTL flashes for Sony a600 and manual options as well. Whether you opt for a TTL flash or a manual, one is okay for most uses in real estate
A manual flash offers you control of the perfect conditions for lighting, depending on your distance. When capturing listing images, a manual camera offers you illumination just like the TTL mode provided you get the settings right.
TTL mode automatically calculates the ideal level of flash brightness depending on the distance between your camera and the subject. Using TTL allows you to save time when taking quick photos while rapidly changing positions.
Your flash may lower its illumination than your Sony a600 needs to capture greatly-lit images in TTL mode. It might be best to change to manual mode in such instances.
If you are a newbie real estate photographer, TTL flashes like the GODOX TT350S might suit you better. TTL-compatible cameras also allow you to switch to manual when needed. Manual flashes work fine if you understand how to set your lighting conditions.
The recharge duration dictates at what speed your flash is ready to light the scene next. Recycle speed is essential in dimly lit conditions demanding capturing of photos in quick succession.
The higher your flash’s recycle speed, the faster you can capture photos without some getting underexposed. While the recycling speed may not be a big issue for most real estate
What are the maximum recycle speeds of my best options?
You should use a camera flash when the available ambient lighting can’t sufficiently illuminate the subject as per the ISO, shutter speed, and aperture settings. You can also use the camera flash to add some artistic effects to your photos, such as hard shadows.
The Sony A6000 is not compatible with all the camera flashes available in the market. Like the lens mount on a Sony A6000, the mounting of the flash varies across brands and models. It is, therefore, advisable to consider whether the flash is compatible with your camera before buying.
The batteries of a camera flash can be rechargeable or not, depending on the type. For instance, some camera flashes use lithium-ion batteries that you can recharge once they drain. In contrast, some flashes use AA batteries that need to be replaced once they discharge.
You cannot get much when capturing night photos with your Sony A6000 with an unsuitable flash. That is why you should consider one of these flashes for your Sony A6000, for superb lighting conditions on any occasion.
