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Sony HVLF20M Multi-Interface Shoe External Flash

  • mfr: HVLF20M
  • SKU: HVLF20M
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Product highlights

  • New Multi Interface shoe for expanded compatibility
  • Extends flash range beyond camera’s built-in flash
  • Bounce flash enables shadowless indirect lighting
  • TTL flash exposure automatically controlled by alpha DSLR
  • Built-in diffuser for wide and telephoto shooting
  • Wirelessly control other compatible flash units with this one
  • Easy intuitive operation
  • Ultra-compact design

Sony HVLF20M Multi-Interface Shoe External Flash

The Sony Multi Interface Shoe External Flash is compact and slim with a body that’s only 0.94-inch thick, but packed with advanced lighting features. Its guide number of 20 (GN202) makes it about two or three times brighter than a built-in flash. Powerful enough to illuminate subjects up to 16.4 feet away (TELE position, ISO 100, F4), it will expand your shooting possibilities.

Extends Flash Range

Though compact and lightweight, the HVL-F20M has a maximum range twice that of the included flash units of the NEX-6 or SLT-A58K and includes Sony's new Multi Interface shoe for expanded compatibility. This is represented as the guide number (GN) of 20 with a 50mm focal distance. 

Bounce Flash 

When set to ‘indoor’ shooting mode, the flash points up to bounce light off the ceiling for shadowless illumination of your subject. When set to the ‘outdoor’ shooting mode, the flash directs light directly at your subject. 

Built-In Diffuser

With the built-in diffuser, the flash illumination covers a wider angle of view or if users want to to shoot at a greater distance, they can rotate the dial on the side of the flash unit to the ‘Tele’ Position. While the 'Tele-inch setting reduces the width of flash coverage, it extends the range to illuminate more distant subjects. 

Easy Intuitive Operation

Unlike most external flash units, the HVL-F20M has no dedicated ON/OFF switch. Instead, power is automatically switched on simply by raising the flash unit into the shooting position. In addition, a switch on the side of the unit quickly moves the flash from direct to bounce, making it easy to obtain flash illumination that suits the shooting situation. A charging lamp indicates when the flash is ready to fire. 

ADI Flash Metering System

The ADI (Advanced Distance Integration) flash metering system offers the optimum flash metering and automatic white-balance compensation regardless of the background conditions or the subject's reflectance. ADI flash metering works in combination with α cameras and lenses that incorporate a distance encoder. When used with these lenses, the camera calculates a guide number to control TTL (through the lens) flash metering. This guide number is calculated according to distance from the subject, ambient light and pre-flash reflectivity of the subject and the background. 

Compact and Slim

The HVL-F20M is only 0.94-inch thick, giving it an extremely slim profile that makes it easy to use and to carry. Its compact body takes up minimal space in your camera case or bag where room is limited, and once you put it on your camera it's very easy to handle.

Specifications

General
Weight 8.3 oz (235 g) (only main unit)
Battery
Battery Type AA Alkaline or Lithium
Mounting
Accessory Mount Not Available

Questions

Customer Questions
No Questions

Returns

Returns are incredibly simple. Please log into your account, find your item you wish to return and follow the prompts to make a return. If you do not have an account, click here to find your order and make a return.
You will receive a full refund when you return an item in its original manufacturer’s packaging, undamaged and unmarked. If the item you are returning is priced at less than $35, you will be charged a 15% restocking fee. Please note you will not be refunded any shipping charges. 
You have 30 days to make a return. During the holiday season, from November 1 to December 31, we extend the return window to 60 days. 
If your order has been noticeably damaged in transit, we strongly recommend that you refuse delivery and notify us immediately. Claims for missing items or items damaged in transit must be made within 48 hours of delivery. If there is carrier damage, please contact [email protected] with your order number and a description of the damage. 
Oh no! Please contact our customer service team so we can resolve the issue immediately. You can call us on 1.800.221.0828, email us at [email protected], or send us a message here.  
We do not currently offer exchanges. Please return the item you purchased within 30 days and order what you’d like instead. 
If you ordered a kit, you must return all components and accessories to receive a full refund. 
If you ordered a product that included a free item, you must include the free item with your return. If not, your return will not be accepted and you will not receive a full refund. 
We currently only offer camera repairs at our Brooklyn store. The item must be dropped off and collected in person as we do not accept shipped items for repair. For more information, please call our Brooklyn store on 1.718.431.7900. 
Most items can be returned within 30 days for a full refund. Click here to read our full return policy. 

Shipping and Returns

Same Day Shipping

All orders placed by 4PM( EST), Monday through Thursday, and by 11AM (EST) on Friday, are shipped same day. Orders placed outside these times will ship the next business day. We do not ship internationally or to Puerto Rico, Guam and other US territories at this time. For more details click here.

Free Two-Day Shipping

We offer free expedited shipping on thousands of items within the continental USA (this does not include Alaska and Hawaii).

Flexible, Easy Returns

If you're not happy with your purchase for any reason, our flexible 30-day free return policy makes it easy to get a full refund. Click here to view our return policy.

Ratings and reviews

Sony HVLF20M Multi-Interface Shoe External Flash

Sony HVLF20M Multi-Interface Shoe External Flash SKU: HVLF20M

Rated 5 out of 5 by from This was all I needed. I already owned a bigger Sony flash but wanted a smaller one to carry with me for those times I didn't think I would even need a flash. And, I wanted this one to serve as the "controller" flash to flash my other flash off camera. I was told this would do the trick. And it does. Very simple to operate. This flash works well. It's basic and it's small, and that's what I wanted. It does have a switch to change between direct flash and bounce flash.
Date published: 2020-01-15
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Won’t shoot higher speeds than 200 This one sucks so bad, it won’t let me shoot higher speeds than 160 on Sony 6,000. Why buy it it, might as well just use the flash your camera has.
Date published: 2018-04-03
Rated 2 out of 5 by from great flash, poor construction I had this flash on my sony rx100. I'm a pro photographer and use a dslr, but also like to have a small point and shoot. This flash really brings the rx100 to a new level and I love the picture quality it gave me. I dropped the camera and the flash broke instantly. I bought a new one, dropped it, and the same thing happened. It broke in the exact same spot, the very thin point where the flash meets the attachment screw. I think Sony should redesign this flash and make this pivot point wider. Yes, I know I dropped it, but it did not drop very far either time (I'm short...from my hip to the ground), and all of my other equipment has gone through so much more without ever breaking. Probably will not buy a third one. I'd recommend the flash if you're careful!
Date published: 2015-02-19
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Perfect for the A6000 A great flash for the A6000, this is my first flash so I cannot really compare it to others but it works great. This is my first flash that lets me take bounce flash pictures. Over the holidays, I took several hundred pictures with it and I have been really impressed with its performance. I used my Sony (CycleEnergy, 800 mAh) AAA rechargeable batteries and they worked great with the flash and the fact that it only uses 2 batteries is a plus since I can swap out them out for another pair fairly quickly.
Date published: 2015-01-07
Rated 1 out of 5 by from It was good for a while I bought this flash less than a year ago for my NEX-7. It complimented the camera well since the built it flash is not high enough to get over some of the lenses. Also, it allowed bounce flash pictures. It was a reasonably good flash for it's size. However, within a year it would only take one picture and would stop (batteries were not the problem). I may have taken 40 - 50 pictures with it. Now it does not work at all.
Date published: 2014-12-09
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Outstanding Value and Performance Very compact and adds great clarity to my photos. I use this as an add on to my A35 and I could not be more satisfied. Huge upgrade from built-in flash.
Date published: 2014-03-31
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Nice flash, but poorly constructed I bought this flash to use on my SLT-99V to command my HVL-F58 flash wirelessly. I used it one time in this manner and it worked amazingly well. However, when I took the flash off of my camera, using extreme care as I had been warned about the frailty of it's mount connector, the mount connector separated from the flash and could not be reattached. Upon a closer examination I saw how poorly designed and cheaply built the connection was between the flash's mount connector and the main part of the flash. I returned the flash to my vendor and replaced it with a HVL-F43M, albeit at a $250 cost differential. The F43M has given me no problem whatsoever. It's mount connector is outstanding and seems to be constructed to the level of excellence that I have come to expect out of Sony camera products.. unfortunately I cannot say that about the HVL-F20M.
Date published: 2014-01-06
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Good for small places Was visiting family for Christmas and I did not like the flash results on my A77. I wanted something small to easily take with me and use while taking pictures of family in the house. You are able to bounce the light so that your subjects do not have that glossy flash look. I was really happy with the Christmas pictures. It worked well also taking pictures of groups outside at night close up. The only down side is that after a few shots with the flash it takes some time to recharge. I missed a couple shots because of that. I found that if I shut it off (folding flash down toward the camera) then turned it back on (flipping back up) it helped recharge a little faster. There is also a etched piece if plastic in the flash that you can turn down so that a direct flash is not so harsh. Works up to 100 ft IMO but better 75 and under I did not need any adapter for this to fit my A77. I am pleased with the purchase.
Date published: 2014-01-01
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