Anyone with experience with the Sony HVL-F32X Flash ?

[Inimatad]

So it's arikevin and myself. Anyone else?

I dunno whether the shops even bother to entertain us with bulk discounts. In my experience, they don't, because their prices is already very low. Last year, I tried the tactic, got 4 colleagues to AP and bought 4 Fuji digicams worth nearly $4000! But the guy didn't budge.

Maybe we try our luck. Once we get enough people, we'll charge altogether to the shop and raid the stocks dry!!!

Pls don't raid the shop without me!!!!
Pls count me in!

 

[pianodancer]

So it's Inimatad, arikevin and pianodancer.

Anyway, is the Far East shop the cheapest so far? Anyone has other lobang? AP? MS? Sony warehouse?

 

[arikevin]

So it's Inimatad, arikevin and pianodancer.

Anyway, is the Far East shop the cheapest so far? Anyone has other lobang? AP? MS? Sony warehouse?

I checked out Sony Style in Funan. It's so expensive. It's at $350 :thumbsd:

 

[pianodancer]

I checked out Sony Style in Funan. It's so expensive. It's at $350 :thumbsd:

That's the official retail price. Thanks for checking.

 

[arikevin]

That's the official retail price. Thanks for checking.

could they sell cheaper :bsmilie:

 

[pianodancer]

could they sell cheaper :bsmilie:

Don't think so. That's a Sony shop. It's like buying a phone from a StarHub Shop compared to the neighbourhood shops... which one can you bargain?

 

[art2d2]

Ok fellow F828ers, so happens this morning cannot sleep, so woke up around 3am, did some test on the 32X. Hehe. I'm no expert flash tested nor reviewer, here are some test photos for the benefit for all.

If you have any better way to do the flash testing, please let me know and I'll try to test it out. Thanks.

http://art2d2.clubsnap.org/gallery/F32X

All photos are taken with tripod either on Program mode and AV mode. No additional effects / adjustment added, images are just resized.

 

[Triton]

Ok fellow F828ers, so happens this morning cannot sleep, so woke up around 3am, did some test on the 32X. Hehe. I'm no expert flash tested nor reviewer, here are some test photos for the benefit for all.

Appreciate your middle-of-the-night effort :thumbsup:
From what i saw, it seems quite similar to my 828/F1000 combo.. maybe can't really tell due to resized images. Anyway here's a comparison with the F828 built-in with a cheapo $30 hotshoe flash. I do not have any images that shows the difference using my F1000 though.. maybe next time.

F828 Built-in

$30 Acheiver flash (straight shooting.. no bounce capability)

 

[pianodancer]

Thanks art2d2 and Triton for the effort!!!

From the photos, I can make a few conclusions:

- F828 built-in flash is superb!! Upon comparison with 32X, there is no underexposed shots.
- 32X flash is superb! The flash metering output ensures photos are not overexposed
- The cheapo flash exposure is a little overexposed, causing the saturation of the image to drop, but nonetheless is lit correctly in the eyes of the cheapo light-meter.

art2d2 - or anyone who has the 32X, the next time you have a chance, can you test the flash outdoors, so we know the performance of the 32X in handling distant objects as well as dark situations, e.g. streets at night. Usually, flash performs poorly at high-contrast situations, i.e. subjects on dark background. In my case with F828, my subjects are over-exposed.

But most importantly, I personally like to know the features of 32X. e.g. does it have a auto-zoom head? How does the modelling light work? And the slow-synchro, AF assist lamp, manual metering, etc. Basically, apart from test shots, we would like a review on the 32X inside out.

Er.. am I asking too much? :sweat:

 

[art2d2]

But most importantly, I personally like to know the features of 32X. e.g. does it have a auto-zoom head? How does the modelling light work? And the slow-synchro, AF assist lamp, manual metering, etc. Basically, apart from test shots, we would like a review on the 32X inside out.

Er.. am I asking too much? :sweat:

Yes you are asking too much ! Go buy the flash ! Haha, just kidding pianodancer ! :bsmilie: :blah:

Actually the manual the comes with it only describe some basic functions of the flash. There are still a few things I haven't test out yet, But there is a 5-step manual output control. The AF Assist lamp is an orange light beam from the flash. Other than that, I just use everything auto. I don't think I can do any good flash reviews since I do not have that much of experience using flashes from other makes. Anyway, many people in the dpreview forum recommends this flash, so personally to me, this is a very good buy.

The documentations that comes with the flash can be found here , do a search on HVLF32X.

http://www.iq.sony.com/srvs/sosdocs/default.asp

 

[pianodancer]

Yes you are asking too much ! Go buy the flash ! Haha, just kidding pianodancer ! :bsmilie: :blah:

The documentations that comes with the flash can be found here , do a search on HVLF32X.

http://www.iq.sony.com/srvs/sosdocs/default.asp

Yes I have the intention to buy it!! :lovegrin:

And many thanks for the link to download the manual! It's what I've been looking for!

 

[Triton]

Took this with the F828 slow-synchro flash mode and the HVL-F1000.. I think I did mount the Sto-Fen Omni-Bounce for this shot.

"Having Fun"

 

[alicebob1]

I PM dementate yesterday, he told me it's at Pan Foto & Electronics (#02-42 Far East). He told me to bargain with the lady who gives him good discounts.

Sometimes I wonder whether Far East really sells cheaper cam stuffs than the usual places (AP, CP, MS, etc.)... if so how come no one seems to talk about them?

Hi,

Just went to that shop this afternoon. A guy quoted me $320+. When I replied that I saw someone in the internet bought it at $240, he said cannot be - claimed that that is way above his cost. Then he said net net he can give me at $295 (if I pay cash). Not sure what's happening here. Either you "kio tio" a very very good deal, or he is trying to "ketok" me. Anyone else tried buying from there successfully?

Also, anyone bought from anyway else (AP, CP, MSColor etc) at prices below $300? Pls advise. Thanks very much.

 

[Del_CtrlnoAlt]

last time CP gave me a equote is about 250-270 u can try... i deleted the equote liao.

 

[pianodancer]

Hi,

Just went to that shop this afternoon. A guy quoted me $320+. When I replied that I saw someone in the internet bought it at $240, he said cannot be - claimed that that is way above his cost. Then he said net net he can give me at $295 (if I pay cash). Not sure what's happening here. Either you "kio tio" a very very good deal, or he is trying to "ketok" me. Anyone else tried buying from there successfully?

Also, anyone bought from anyway else (AP, CP, MSColor etc) at prices below $300? Pls advise. Thanks very much.

You should have looked for a lady instead. Maybe dementate remembered wrongly, maybe it's $340 instead of $240. Maybe Far East is revealing once again it's infamous stance - i.e. ketok!

 

[arikevin]

You should have looked for a lady instead. Maybe dementate remembered wrongly, maybe it's $340 instead of $240. Maybe Far East is revealing once again it's infamous stance - i.e. ketok!

aiyoh... they no respect for the customer ah :dunno:

 

[Inimatad]

aiyoh... they no respect for the customer ah :dunno:

Far East ? Good service and honest salesmanship - Nahhhh!!! Too good to be true lah. They are probably in cahoots with their brothers in Lucky Plaza.

 

[pianodancer]

Anyone has any latest update on the stock availability and price of the F32X? Need to get one over the weekend, got an event to cover.

Maybe I should get a compatible, like Metz, but still has no idea which model is compatible.

 

[djork]

The F32X is pretty good, use it on my V1 and 828, bounced correctly, the images come out quite nicely although the flash is really powerful, I overexposed a closeup of a wedding cake by pointing the flash forward instead of upwards. Overall, if you need to do flash photography with a V1 or an 828, this is a good choice. I got mine at Far East Plaza for $240.

good deal..

 

[pianodancer]

It's official. No F32X stocks in Singapore at all. I spent the weekend shopping at Peninsula, Sim Lim, Funan... no one carries the stock. Not even official Sony stores have them.

There goes my event shoot. Guess I have to rely on my built-in flash.