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Sony HVL-F60R M2 Review: Better Than We Thought

Chris Gampat
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10/21/2021
12 Mins read
Chris Gampat The Phoblographer Sony HVL-F60R M2 flash product images 1.81-60s400 3

Last Updated on 09/11/2023 by Chris Gampat

My favorite things to review for this website are flashes. Most people read about cameras and lenses. But the true creators care about light. Flash is, unfortunately, a place where there needs to be a lot more innovation. That’s the case with the Sony HVL-F60R M2 especially. Being announced today, this is Sony’s new flagship flash. For such an incredibly innovative company, they’re surely holding back on their flashes. In fact, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 flashes feel like a bit of an afterthought. And to be frank, we’re still not sure who would buy them.

Editor’s Note: In September 2023, we updated this review from its original publishing.

Editor’s Note: This review has been updated from its original form.

Some images in this review were shot while on an all-expenses paid press junket to Sony Kando trip, all of our expenses were paid. But, the majority of the images in this review were shot on our own bill. Phoblographer’s editors are trained to resist temptation in the industry, and as such, the opinions in this review are our own. We stand by our words, and transparency is the key here.

The Big Picture

The Sony HVL-F60R M2 is a humdrum update to their flash lineup. It’s competent, but there are much more effective lights out there for cheaper. And for a few hundred bucks more, you can get an Elinchrom One. For what it is, it’s a good flash. But it’s one that the market didn’t need. Sony is an incredibly innovative company when it comes to lenses and cameras. You wouldn’t think so when you look at the flashes, though.

As you’ll be able to, I don’t think you should buy the Sony HVL-F60R M2 even though it’s not a bad flash. There are just far better options on the market out there for cheaper. And for the money, you can still get really great flashes. The crazier thing is that if you go up in price just a bit, you get Profoto flashes. And if you go down in price, you get better flashes from Godox or other brands.

The Sony HVL-F60R M2 receives three out of five stars. Don’t buy one.

Rating: 3 out of 5.

Update 2023

The section above was revamped a little bit to include other sections from our original review. We used the Sony HVL-F60R M2 at the recent Kando Trip in 2023. It seems to me that we had flashes with a few pre-production issues. However, we hadn’t had time to use them again since.

This flash isn’t bad. It remains to be the most powerful flash on the market with a cobra-style head. But the biggest problem has to do with the pricing for the features. On top of that, it’s still using AA batteries and lacks a USB-C port.

And despite the fact that these flashes are better than they were when I originally reviewed them, there’s an even bigger truth. Flashpoint makes flashes just as good for cheaper; we’ve reviewed them. At Kando Trip, everyone I talked to about this flash seemed brainwashed into only using Sony gear and nothing else. But there’s a whole world of great stuff out there.

Here’s the biggest truth, to this day, no one can tell if a photo was shot with Profoto, Sony, or Godox flashes straight from the camera. So at the end of the day, it’s all about price for the features. That’s a war that the first-party camera manufacturers are losing on many fronts.

Pros

  • Cobra head continues to unlock so much potential
  • Stills turns on and off with the camera
  • Faster flash sync with the a1 is pretty awesome, but not necessary at this point
  • Feels well built
  • Comes with Gels and diffuser.
  • Insanely easy to pair with the Sony wireless radio transmitter.
  • Fantastic and incredibly fast recycle speed, but I never machine gun shoot with a flash anyway.
  • Can be used as a receiver with lower end flashes
  • Rear sync and slow sync is a lot better than the previous version
  • Solid white balance performance, except when gelled
  • Improved durability.
  • Never once overheated, but that’s not really an issue with flashes these days anyway.

Cons

  • Why is it still using Double A batteries? It’s 2021
  • Sony touts auto white balance accuracy that only first-party equipment can achieve. But I haven’t had that problem with other brands in years.
  • While the faster flash sync abilities with the Sony a1 are awesome, high speed sync is incredibly accessible these days without issue.
  • Slow flash duration
  • A touchscreen would’ve been a nice addition.
  • The need to constantly pair with other flashes is kind of annoying.
  • Pretty weak for the price point.
  • Sony’s own TTL is really weird compared to Profoto’s
  • It’s $599.99. Why? Just get a Flashpoint Zoom Li-on X R2 TTL that will give you more power output for less money.
  • If you have an older Sony camera body, there’s no point in getting this.
  • It’s 2021 and Sony released a flash without a USB-C interface. Even a far cheaper Flashpoint flash has USB-C.
Buy Now

Gear Used

We tested the Sony HVL-F60R M2 with the:

Innovations

The Sony HVL-F60R M2 has better durability at the hot shoe. They’re also touting better white balance, but otherwise, it’s not an innovative flash at all. Compared to Canon’s EL1, which is more pricey, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 can’t adapt its power output accordingly. It also lacks a fast flash duration that more affordable Flashpoint lights boast. Overall, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 is an incredibly disappointing update in that it just brings Sony flashes up to par with others in some ways and doesn’t innovate at all.

Tech Specs

  • Guide number 60
  • Overheating protection
  • Linked to camera face detection
  • Enhance auto white balance accuracy
  • More rugged shoe
  • 240 flashes
  • 1.7 second recycle time
  • Up to 200 continuous flashes at 10 fps
  • $599.99.

Ergonomics

The Sony HVL-F60R M2 is a flash that, for the most part, looks like all other hot-shoe flashes on the market. But it’s indeed much different. However, it’s also akin to much of what Sony has done for years.

Turn to the back of the flash, and you’ll find the settings. These are straightforward and simple to use. There’s also a solid lock on the bottom.

Turn to the side of the flash, and you’ll find the batteries. These are double-A batteries. Why Sony is making a flash like this in 2021 is beyond me.

On the bottom, you’ll find other ports. You can connect a PC sync cable and a cable for a battery pack.

And perhaps the biggest insult is the old USB interface. This isn’t even a USB C interface. Why did you do this, Sony?

Like some of Sony’s other flashes, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 has a cobra head. That means it will turn from side to side. The head will also move forward and back. It gives a great coverage area, but it does so differently from other flashes.

Build Quality 

The Sony HVL-F60R M2 is overall built very well. For the record, we didn’t go banging the flash up, dropping it, or even using it in the rain. Quite honestly, I don’t think I’d ever use an on-camera flash in the rain. And if anyone would, I’m pretty sure it would be me. However, it feels incredibly solid, as does every single turn of the cobra head.

Sony did the right thing in addressing the hot shoe concern, though. For years, if the hot shoe got a little bit soaked, the camera would freeze up and wouldn’t let you shoot. It felt almost like using an Epson or Canon printer and being told that you can’t use the scanner because the ink ran out. Using the Sony HVL-F60R M2 on the camera will help prevent that from happening.

For the record, it feels more substantial than anything from Flashpoint, though only slightly. And it almost feels as durable as Profoto’s A10. And sure, the Profoto flash is double the price. But it’s also significantly more capable. 

Ease of Use

To start things off, the menu system of the Sony HVL-F60R M2 is super easy to use. In fact, I’d argue that it’s the simplest to use I’ve seen in years. One wouldn’t think that’s the case with Sony considering their mantle-piercing menu system. However, pairing the flash was a straightforward affair. Changing the configurations, however, got annoying. Here’s what I tested:

  • Sony HVL-F60R M2 as a receiver from the radio transmitter, since this has radio built in
  • Sony HVL-F60R M2 as a receiver for the 46R flash.
  • Sony HVL-F60R M2 as a commander for the 46R flash
  • Sony HVL-F60R M2 and the 46R flash both being receivers for the radio transmitter

Basically, you’ll need to constantly pair them over and over again to get the configurations you want. It doesn’t take long, but it’s a tedious process that could’ve been fixed with the Imaging Edge app, camera, or something.

During my entire time using the Sony HVL-F60R M2, I honestly searched deep in my thoughts to figure out who’d use it. When I spoke with Sony’s external PR reps, we were recommended wedding photography. And that sort of made sense before I got the flash in my hand. When I started to use it, I got different thoughts. I haven’t shot a wedding in years, so I asked Reviews Editor Hillary Grigonis. She agrees with me that it probably wouldn’t make sense vs. the Flashpoint stuff. If a flash breaks, you’d just buy a new one with Flashpoint. And you can find deals for three Flashpoint R2 Zoom Lion lights for the price of one Sony HVL-F60R M2. 

Where the Sony HVL-F60R M2 really started to show its colors is with real-life use. I tested the flash in documentary, portrait, and event scenarios. It’s fantastic that you can get exposure preview with the Sony a1, but it’s still not always accurate. Sony’s PR reps, again, reasoned that this is because the camera doesn’t even know that the flash exists. In my mind, that made sense. So a lot of the time, I ended up not even using the exposure preview setting. As it is, exposure preview is terrible for autofocus performance, and it drains battery life. I rarely use it. By that logic, I also don’t wear sunglasses in the dark.

The Sony HVL-F60R M2 is a Guide Number 60 light. And for what it’s worth, it also has a pretty slow flash duration. I know this from the results we got shooting high-speed sync. What that means is that you’ll consistently need a faster shutter speed to kill the ambient light. That could affect the battery life and, of course, the motion-stopping ability. Comparatively speaking, the Flashpoint Zoom Lion R2 flashes can overpower the sun with less effort. In actual life use, it means that you’re also staying more consistent with shutter speeds. You could be outside shooting at 1/1,000 and overpowering the sun with fast flash duration. Then you only have to go to 1/125th when you go inside, theoretically. But with the Sony HVL-F60R M2, you’ll have to go to 1/8000th all the way down to 1/125th instead. The extra fiddling around with the shutter speed could cost you a great shot that you’ll miss.

One of my more significant problems with the previous flashes from Sony was the second curtain flash sync and slow sync. It sometimes felt like I was using an old Minolta system instead. Thankfully, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 addresses that very well. But it’s still not the best I’ve seen for the second curtain. Take a look at the photo below; it’s from an old Lumopro LP-180 flash. It was excellent at stopping motion and accentuating the faster stuff. This photo was shot at 1/6th of a second, according to the EXIF data.

Sadly, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 can’t do stuff like this partially because of the slower flash duration. Instead, Sony leaves trails like you see in the photos below. They’re alright, not, but they’re again, nothing special at all. For these, we had to shoot at around 1/30th of a second because the Sony couldn’t stop the fast motion. Why? Again, it’s a flash duration issue.

I really wish Sony had given this flash a faster flash duration. But instead, you’re better off reaching for Flashpoint, Godox, or Profoto gear. For the record too, these images were harder than you’d think to pull off. The Sony light kept trying to overpower the background and made the scene super bright when I was using Tamron lenses. This was in TTL mode. When I switched to Sony lenses, it was fine.

Sony tells the press that the flash also works to deliver better white balance. And indeed, that’s the truth. My buddy Alex came to visit me in Queens, and in total, we shot maybe five photos maximum. In this specific place, we only shot two images. But the Sony HVL-F60R M2 and the Sony a1 nailed the shot. Granted, there’s something to be said for just how incredibly efficient I am on a set. But it’s also hard to deny how good the white balance is.

High-speed sync is yet another issue. Specifically, it’s an issue with looking at the camera’s exposure preview setting. The Sony a1 tells you that it can estimate what the flash exposure will be. But with HSS, that predictability is as accurate as a weatherman who predicts a sunny day when it’s raining outside. Yet again, because of the lack of fast flash duration, you’re probably going to need to do more editing. In fact, lots of these images were edited in some way or form. Essentially, stand by typical flash principles, look for controlled light areas.

Update 2023

In a previous iteration of this review, I stated that “there is no point in using this off-camera except if you’re indoors, at night, or have a lot of light control. For the money, you may as well get an Elinchrom One or a Flashpoint flash instead.”

It appears that the first version of this flash that I tested might have had some pre-production bugs.

The two photos above were shot with an infrared Sony a7 using the Sony HVL-F60R M2 on-camera. It did a great job when using this way and pointing it right at the subject.

We used the flashes in bright sunlight with the new Sony a7c II using Kando as well. Those images are below.

Truthfully, there wasn’t a situation where I felt this flash did a bad job. But in every single situation, I surely felt like my Profoto lights and other comparably priced flashes could’ve done a better job. More importantly, they’re also all still way outdoing LEDs that claim they can overpower the sun.

Indoors, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 clearly has an advantage with subdued lighting to make it shine. Outdoors, you’ll drain the power and it will struggle — but it will also succeed, just barely.

In situations where there’s a fair amount of shade, the Sony HVL-F60R M2 can perform quite well because of the control you’ve got. I’d be lying though if I didn’t say to myself and the reps “Man, I wish I brought my Profoto lights.”

Four of these flashes are around the same cost of a Profoto B10; and you can have your flash in one hand with the camera in the other.

Image Quality

Can you really tell that this output is from the Sony HVL-F60R M2? No — that’s especially the case when it comes to editing the photos. But you can tell it’s from a weak Speedlight of some sort. By looking at images, we can know if they were shot with a strobe or a high-powered Speedlight. If you’ve shot with flash for years, that’s pretty easy to do. But you can’t identify a photo by the manufacturer at all. That, especially, is the case with the Sony HVL-F60R M2. It doesn’t make a case for buying it any better.

Extra Image Samples

From day one, the Phoblographer has been huge on transparency with our audience. Nothing from this review is sponsored. Further, lots of folks will post reviews and show lots of editing in the photos. The problem then becomes that anyone and everyone can do the same thing. You’re not showing what the product can do. So we have a whole section in our Extra Image Samples area to show off edited and unedited photos. From this, you can make a decision for yourself.

Unedited

Edited

Model Credits go to Alex Simmons and Robespierre Dornagon.

Who is the Sony HVL-F60R M2 For?

Truthfully, I’m not sure who would buy the Sony HVL-F60R M2 except for Sony ambassadors. The cobra head design is quite nice. But everyone would either reach for an LED light, a cheaper flash, or a more powerful strobe and get similar results. Even crazier, I’m shocked that it doesn’t have a bright LED for video work.

Sony HVL-F60R M2 Review: Better Than We Thought
The Sony HVL-F60R M2 is a humdrum update to their flash lineup. It's competent, but there are much more effective lights out there for cheaper. And for a few hundred bucks more, you can get an Elinchrom One. For what it is, it's a good flash. But it's one that the market didn't need. Sony is an incredibly innovative company when it comes to lenses and cameras. You wouldn't think so when you look at the flashes, though. As you'll be able to, I don't think you should buy the Sony HVL-F60R M2 even though it's not a bad flash. There are just far better options on the market out there for cheaper. And for the money, you can still get really great flashes. The crazier thing is that if you go up in price just a bit, you get Profoto flashes. And if you go down in price, you get better flashes from Godox or other brands. The Sony HVL-F60R M2 receives three out of five stars. Don't buy one.
3
build quality durability ergonomics flash flash duration flashpoint high speed sync hss lenses price profoto sony sony a1 sony a7r III Sony Flash Sony HVL-F60R M2 speedlight
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Chris Gampat is the Editor in Chief, Founder, and Publisher of the Phoblographer. He provides oversight to all of the daily tasks, including editorial, administrative, and advertising work. Chris's editorial work includes not only editing and scheduling articles but also writing them himself. He's the author of various product guides, educational pieces, product reviews, and interviews with photographers. He's fascinated by how photographers create, considering the fact that he's legally blind./ HIGHLIGHTS: Chris used to work in Men's lifestyle and tech. He's a veteran technology writer, editor, and reviewer with more than 15 years experience. He's also a Photographer that has had his share of bylines and viral projects like "Secret Order of the Slice." PAST BYLINES: Gear Patrol, PC Mag, Geek.com, Digital Photo Pro, Resource Magazine, Yahoo! News, Yahoo! Finance, IGN, PDN, and others. EXPERIENCE: Chris Gampat began working in tech and art journalism both in 2008. He started at PCMag, Magnum Photos, and Geek.com. He founded the Phoblographer in 2009 after working at places like PDN and Photography Bay. He left his day job as the Social Media Content Developer at B&H Photo in the early 2010s. Since then, he's evolved as a publisher using AI ethically, coming up with ethical ways to bring in affiliate income, and preaching the word of diversity in the photo industry. His background and work has spread to non-profits like American Photographic Arts where he's done work to get photographers various benefits. His skills are in SEO, app development, content planning, ethics management, photography, Wordpress, and other things. EDUCATION: Chris graduated Magna Cum Laude from Adelphi University with a degree in Communications in Journalism in 2009. Since then, he's learned and adapted to various things in the fields of social media, SEO, app development, e-commerce development, HTML, etc. FAVORITE SUBJECT TO PHOTOGRAPH: Chris enjoys creating conceptual work that makes people stare at his photos. But he doesn't get to do much of this because of the high demand of photography content. / BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TIP: Don't do it in post-production when you can do it in-camera.