Konica Minolta Maxxum 3600HS TTL Shoe Mount Flash

This was an excellent addition to my Dimage A1. It integrates perfectly with the cameras computer. When you zoom, it zooms and always generates the correct amount of light for the shot.

The little flash that comes with most cameras is fine for close ups, great for convenience, but falls short for taking great pictures. This flash will take your photography to a new level. The 3600HS pivots upwards so you can bounce the light off the ceiling, eliminating red eye. You will see more color even in well lit outdoor conditions. And it will eliminate shadows on your subjects much better than the little one that comes with the camera. It will have an effect at a far greater range too.

Since I am fairly new to the world of pro-sumer digital photography I thought I could get by with having just the onboard flash, I was wrong. I found that my indoor and low light pictures with the onboard flash couldn't compare to the awesome pictures I was taking in good light with my A2. I did my research and found that the 3600HS was a good bet for my budget. I bought this flash and started taking much higher quality indoor pictures right off the bat. This thing works seamlessly with my Dimage A2 and it is money well spent. If you aren't sure whether or not to buy an external flash, you can take it from me that if you go with this guy here you won't be wrong. The only complaint that I have is it's size, It is fairly large.

Duh!- the boy starts to get it

Good flash equipment makes great camera equipment even better.

I purchased the 3600HS(D) and I'm so impressed with its usefulness and function and quality. The 3600HS(D) provides remarkable flash output with the maximum guide number of 118 feet at ISO100 in a compact body that easily attached to my DiMAGE A2. That's a lot of firepower coming out of a compact flash unit. No more wimpy built in A2 flash for me.

Flash coverage is automatically available from 24mm to 85mm focal lengths, and further extends to the 17mm focal length with the included Wide Angle Adapter. All from one flash unit. I enjoy the way it automatically adjusts when I adjust the focal length of my camera. (You can hear it zooming when you change the lens focal length.) Even at 200 mm equiv. the flash coverage was excellent when I zoomed indoors. No more forgetting to change the zoom on the flash and ending up with an over, or under exposed picture. The 3600HS(D) assures highly reliable metering accuracy, and this flash is one of a few units in its class that provide High-speed Sync. I was able to snap three flash photos of the dog in just over two seconds. (NEAT)The Wireless/Remote High-speed Sync is also available when the 3600HS(D) but I haven't experimented with that off-camera flash yet.

The flash turns on, and off automatically when I use the A2. I like that. No more forgetting to turn on, or off, the flash. The camera and the flash `talk' to each other and the camera automatically makes the WB decisions and flash duration determinations. I can shoot with it on AUTO, P, S, and A (as well as M). That's a lot of flexibility!

I paid about $170 delivered for mine (here on Amazon), so its not cheap, but I am very impressed with its functionality and to be honest, I'm surprised how much better it has made my Minolta DiMAGE A2 seem. We are now always ready for whatever flash picture situation arises. Bring on the holiday parties and get-togethers!

Now, if I can just learn how to make a good cup of cappuccino. . . .
Or figure out exactly how to pronounce "DiMAGE?"

Lyndol