I needed a Flash for my Sony Alpha A100. Before I found my HVL-F42AM flash I was contemplating the Staples HVL-F36AM clearance from Staples, almost pulled the trigger until I found the right price for the HVL-F42AM! I'm here to share it with you!

Provantage has the HVL-F42AM for $196.78 here. I bought mine Saturday and received it today Fedex Ground. And indeed, it's the HVL-F42AM for $196.78 plus S/H (6.40 for me). No Tax! Very slick flash too. I'm impressed.

This is $50 more than the Staples deal with a $25 coupon after tax, a no-brainer as the HVL-F42AM is MUCH better than the HVL-F36AM. This is the best price on the 'net I could find, and is a better deal than any on eBay too.

EDIT: I said it was dead, but turns out if you go and search for "Sony alpha" it will come up and you can add it to your cart!

Still in stock.
-cd
PS $5 Pricegrabber rebate and similar prices available elsewhere

Actually, the minolta lenses do work but for distance encoding. The lenses with 8 contacts take advantage of the whole thing, 5 will be metered and the flash compensated. This does mean that if you've the choice to buy the 85mm 1.4 D vs. 85mm 1.4 you should get the D version though what you'll extra isn't necessarily going to help much ...

Here, read up on the ADI capability when the D lenses are used here.

TowHead said:Actually, the minolta lenses do work but for distance encoding. The lenses with 8 contacts take advantage of the whole thing, 5 will be metered and the flash compensated. This does mean that if you've the choice to buy the 85mm 1.4 D vs. 85mm 1.4 you should get the D version though what you'll extra isn't necessarily going to help much ...

Here, read up on the ADI capability when the D lenses are used here.In some places I've seen "D" or "Digital" used to reference lenses that are suitable only for digital sensors (not film cameras) and therefore won't be suitable for newer DSLRs that are now starting to utilize full frame sensors. Is "D" used differently here?

-cd