BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

I sold my Sony NEX F3, Sony EVF and little Sony flash (which doesn't fit in the NEX6) to upgrade to the NEX6 because it has a built-in EVF and a so-called "UNIVERSAL" hotshoe. Yeah, right! Stupidly I thought the word "universal" meant I could attach and USE a 3rd party flash without having to pay Sony's ridiculous price for a flash to work on the NEX6. Wrong! I've tried three flashes so far, and NONE will fire from the NEX6's "universal" hot shoe. They FIT... they just don't fire. I'd love to hear Sony's definitiion of the word "universal." Does anyone know of a flash for under $100 that will work on the NEX6, either with a hotshoe adapter or directly attached to the 6? I don't NEED TTL... I'd LIKE it, but Manual mode would be fine. Very frustrating to have a thousand dollar camera with a hotshoe that cannot accept any flash other than a $500 unit from Sony. Who pays half the price of a camera just for a flash? Crazy, and very disappointing to have to rely on the little on-camera flash, which, by the way, creates a big shadow area on images taken with SONY'S 16mm f/2.8 pancake lens with the SONY wide-angle adapter attached. The wide-angle adapter has a non-removable lens hood on it that the flash can't fire over in direct mode. I have to tilt the flash up a little while using it to eliminate the shadow. So lame.... Otherwise I love the camera, but these irritations are very frustrating....

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

Bob, here's a thought/solution for you:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Wireless-Remote-Flash-Trigger-Set-Umbrella-Support-2-Recivers-for-Sony-Minolta-/251036000995?pt=Camera_Flash_Accessories&hash=item3a72e962e3

Use a bracket, get the flash off the camera. :thumbup:

BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

Thanks, but the guys at B&H Photo say unless it says NEX on it, not just Sony, it won't work on the NEX 6. I've tried three flashes that said they were for a Sony camera, but they don't work on the NEX line, so I'm guessing this device won't work on it either, but thanks for the suggestion....

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I know that my Sony Alpha flash works directly on my NEX-7 and off camra with a Zeikos cord for Sony Alpha. Those wireless triggers work with Sony Alpha and other flash units. I got the info off of UHH on another thread with-in the last two months....don't remember the subject.

It is on my "buy" list so that I can use my Canon flashes with my NEX-7.

I'll purchase in the next few weeks and if I remember I'll send you a PM on how they work out. For the price it is worth a try.

BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

Thanks much. Sorry for a dumb question, but does the NEX 7 have the same hotshoe as the NEX 6? I thought they were different. I live in a small town with no camera store here, so no way to try it. I'm going to Atlanta in May so maybe I can find a store there where I can try some devices to see if they work, thanks....

robert-photos Loc: Chicago

I went from a NEX-5 to a NEX-7 skipping the 6 so I don't know. You might need an adapter....see the discussion:
http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/50102835

Also take a look at:
http://sonyalphalab.com/2013/01/sony-nex-6-and-flash-photography-on-and-off-camera/

BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

I will, thanks much!

Peekayoh Loc: UK

Sony's universal hot shoe doesn't mean it's not proprietary, no camera maker offers that. It will however fire any flash in manual mode. My best guess is that you didn't turn on "fill flash" in the menu. If you did, then the camera is faulty.

BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

I respectfully disagree, sir. I've tried three flash units supposedly designed for "Sony" cameras. One didn't even fit into the "universal" hotshoe on the NEX 6 and the other two would not fire when in the hotshoe. The Yongnuo worked fine as an off-camera slave unit when I used the built-in, on-camera Sony flash with the Yongnuo in S1 mode, but it would not fire when in the camera's "universal" hotshoe. And yes, I had the camera in Fill Flash mode. According to the guys at B&H Photo, the ONLY flash units that will work in the NEX 6 are those made by Sony, all of which are several hundred dollars. Sony is due to release a small flash for the 6 in mid-May, but it doesn't swivel and is $150. I'll wait for Yongnuo to offer a multi-function flash for the NEX 6 that both tilts AND swivels ...hopefully some day....

Peekayoh Loc: UK

That's your privilege of course but I can assure you that the NEX-6 should fire any flash in manual mode. If not and you have set it up right, it's broken.

I know for a fact the NEX-6 will fire radio triggers so it must also fire a flash.

nozer

Hi. Im suffering the same issue. Did you come to any solution yet? Did you contact Sony's customer service?

Thanks,
Benjamin

BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

The people at B&H said this flash will work on the NEX 6 FOR SURE, so I ordered one. When it arrives I'll post something here to let everyone knows if it works from the NEX 6 hot shoe or not. Stay tuned:

Photoflex Starfire Shoe Mount Digital Flash $128 from Amazon or B&H (or Adorama). More than I wanted to spend, but it has all the features I want (tilt and swivel) so I bit the bullet.

nozer

Ok looking forward! Thanks for the fast answer!

BobD Loc: New Bern, NC

Well that latest flash also did not work, so I bit the bullet and have ordered Sony's $350 HVL-F43AM Flash Unit. If THAT doesn't work, then as someone said here earlier, the camera is defective and I'm returning it to Amazon for a replacement. The Sony flash arrives tomorrow so I'll let you know. VERY frustrating to have such a great camera and such a sucky "universal" hotshoe! Either its defective, which sucks... or it will only use expensive Sony flash units, which also sucks. : ( Stay tuned....

nozer

thanks for the answer. what a sad news