I looked at Sony's cheapest flash unit, it was $60.00 more than this one. I thought that I'd be disappointed, boy was I wrong-- this unit provides everything that I need. I'm an advanced photographer (have been shooting since 1971), so I consider myself knowledgeable. If I need a better unit, I would opt for an off-camera setup. I've had a chance to compare this to a Sony unit, I didn't miss anything by buying this one.

This unit is an effective external flash. It seems to illuminate subjects out to about 30 ft. It has both front and rear sync capability if your camera has the option. The flash allows up to 90 degrees vertical tilt, so that flash can be bounced off of walls and ceilings to improve lighting indoors (and sometimes outdoors as well). For a beginner flash it is an excellent value, more expensive models would include the ability to pan the flash left and right for different angles, which can be a useful tool for advanced photographers.Using an external flash also helps to dramatically cut down on the incidence of red-eye in shots of people, since the external flash is usually much higher above the lens than an on-board flash would be, the angle of light hitting the eye is much different, the red eye effect is diminished.An external flash is a must for any serious hobbyist, and if you are on a limited budget, this flash will certainly be acceptable.

Great product. Very fast delivery. Product was exactly as described.

• How did the image on site compare with the actual product? perfect
• Was the product free of any manufacturer defects? yes
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. great workmanship.

I bought this flash as a present fro my wife and we have been very pleased. It fits very snugly and easily onto our Sony Alpha 2 camera. It really brightens the pictures we have been taking indoors. Adjustable direction of the flash is nice to change from direct to indirect (45 degree) lighting. Great value for the price as name brand was over 3 times the price!

• How did the image on site compare with the actual product? Looks just like it.
• Was the product free of any manufacturer defects? Yes
• Please tell us about the quality of the product. Excellent. Sturdy.

I bought this flash to use with my Sony a330 DSLR. I was not disappointed! It did everything the description on "O" promised. I got the lighting I needed at various ranges. I am a serious hobbyist when it comes to wedding photography. You don't get a second chance to get the wedding photos right the first time. If you price compare Sony external flashes, you'll notice a significant increase over the price that's offered by "O." Don't let the great price fool you. It gets the job done in difficult lighting situations. Great fill flash! Requires a little effort to detach the flash from the shoe, but not too difficult. Great battery life, too. If you are unsure if it will work for your use, test it out...for example, if doing wedding photos, go to a rehearsal and do test shots to get an idea of your lighting scenarious. That way, you will have few or no lighting surprises.

It has arrived on time and as described. Good product for the value (half price of the Sonny brand flash). Great entry flash for the beginners. Hassle free connection with the camera. Works perfect giving very bright flash. Little bit hard to remove from the hot shoe with one hand.

I placed this flash on my Sony A100 and compared it to shots taken with the on camera flash. It appears to put out at least twice as much light with more pleasing colors. My longest shot was at about 20 feet. The AF assist light worked in near total darkness to provide a satisfactory picture whereas the on camera strobe could not generate a focused shot. It appears to sync appropriately with the camera. I tried it in both Auto and Aperture Priority modes. The latch that secures it to the camera sometimes sticks and needs some fiddling. The battery compartment door is flimsy. I only used it in direct mode, not in bounce mode, and took about 20 shots. This is a nice affordable flash unit for those wanting more power than the on camera flash and for occasional use as the build may not hold up to heavy usage.

I consider myself an amateur photographer, though I've been doing it for the last 2 years, I have a lot to learn yet. This is my first flash purchase, and I have not studied flashes, but from my use of it already, it has proved to give great lighting, up to a good distance. I've use it tilted at different angles (because as you see the head can tilt). It has taken me some trial and error. It has to be angled correctly indoors for each room situation. When done so, it provides fabulous lighting. I was quite surprised actually. The only thing is there is no control of how much light is projected, except for this tilt. Be aware that it is quite bright, and can wash out your subjects face if you project directly on them at a reasonably distance, but tilt upwards for a bounce of reflection off of the ceiling for a nice warm or milder lighting. Overall I recommend it for beginners but then again it's better to invest on the next Rockinon up with the additional features, for not much more than what this one cost. (This fits fine on the Sony Alpha 100 that I own, except for some reason I can't get it to come off- This is actually very odd, and I don't think I jammed it on there at all, but I'm leaving it on there for now, until...) Not overly thrilled with it, but it's doing the job for me, ....for now.

The flash shipped quickly, in time to test it during a ceremony in a large room. I was able to stand at the back of the room and use a zoom to compose shots. The flash operated well with my Sony Alpha 300, with no over or under exposures, a quick enough cycle time so very few shots were missed.

Great flash! Works very nicely with my Sony Alpha A350