Camera Labs

Ok, I'm probably getting way ahead of myself here... but assuming the rumours hold out, I'm more likely than not to get the A850.

The question I'm trying to answer is what flashes can control which others? Haven't managed to search for the answer.

Both the manuals suggest the F58 is needed as controller, and neither has been updated to include the F20 in that role. But can the F42 act as controller? The F20 seems rather expensive, and a second F42 seems better value on the cheap end, without going all the way to the top model.

Then again, the F20 seems hard to find at all at the moment, maybe it'll look better by the time the A850 is around...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

I believe, I'm not entirely sure though, that both the 58 and 20 flashes allow you to control the other flashes in groups, whereas the 42 will act as a general controller. You'd have to check the manuals to be certain though...

- Bjorn -

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Street and documentary photographer | Google+ | Twitter | Blog | Tumblr

Leica M9-P (my article on Camera Labs) | Leica D-Lux 5 | 50mm Summilux

The 20 cannot do ratios. It's basically just a wireless trigger like the PUF in the lower A series.

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flickr

Sony α300
Sony HVL-F58AM Bounce-Shift Flash
Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di
Sony 50mm F/1.4 SAL-50F14
Sony 100mm Macro F/2.8 SAL-100MF28

Slowy going through the manuals, so far looks like only the F58 allows full control, the F20 triggering only, and other flashes can't/don't control at all.

Someone somewhere must have this listed in a simple format...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

In the amazon page (well, here in the US) and I believe Sony Style. It says the F20AM cannot be used for ratio groupings, just triggering as you said.

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flickr

Sony α300
Sony HVL-F58AM Bounce-Shift Flash
Tamron SP 17-50mm F/2.8 XR Di II LD Aspherical (IF)
Tamron SP 70-200mm F/2.8 Di
Sony 50mm F/1.4 SAL-50F14
Sony 100mm Macro F/2.8 SAL-100MF28