If you use a TTL flashgun with extensive information at the back you might get a bit lost with all the digits and letters. You may ask yourself “what is important and what does it mean?”
Below we highlight the most relevant data and its meaning.
Although your particular flash may look slightly different, the LCD image below is generally recognisable for most types of Sony and Sony compatible flash units.
1. Indication for TTL flashmode.
2. Indication for High Speed Flash Sync.
3. Indication for automatic zoom. When zooming in or out with the lens on the camera, the flash automatically spreads the light over the image based on the focal length. Certain flashguns may not indicate A-zoom. Nevertheless, automatic zoom will be recognised, unless manual zoom is set.
4. Indication for flash compensation.
5. Distance range indicated by numbers and a black bar chart. It is the range of distances where the flash can properly reach the subject. Ignoring the distance will result in an over- or underexposed subject. The minimum and the maximum limits are indicated in meters, but can be changed to feet in the menu of the flashgun. Please note that Metz Mecablitz 58 and 400 only show the maximum distance. However, a certain minimum distance should be taken into consideration.
Flash unit with limited data
Your flash unit may not show all the data as mentioned above. However, the camera settings are recognized by the flash. With those settings, the flash offers a certain minimum and maximum distance.
The following flashguns don’t show flash distances, but it’s important to be a aware that a minimum and maximum distance must be taken into account.
- Sony HVL42
- Metz Mecablitz 26 and 36
- Godox TT350
- Yongnuo YN568, YN685 and YN968
- Nissin Di700, i40 and i60
- Sigma EF610
If you have a flashgun limited data at the back, read here about the meaning of the symbols.
