Re: "TL;DR: Just go with Sony. Been super satisfied..."

• I hear that, but I've been super happy with the Godox V350S TTL Li-ion Flash. On an A7CII, the TTL works well as long as you update the firmware. The lithium battery is the real winner tho. It keeps recycle times snappy for street shots and you dont have to lug AAs around. Its a solid choice for the price.

> Then I saw the Godox V350S which has that nice lithium battery but people online keep saying the TTL is really hit or miss on Sony bodies. Like someone mentioned, the Godox is a solid choice, but I've actually found that even the V350S can feel a bit chunky on the A7CII when you're weaving through crowds in the city. Last summer I was doing a series in Brooklyn and my wrist was killing me by hour three. Switching to the LightPix Labs FlashQ X20 for Sony was a total game changer for my street work. Its way smaller than the Sony or Godox options and costs way less, usually around 70 or 80 bucks. The TTL isnt perfect, sure, but for street stuff I usually just dial it in manually anyway. Plus the head pops off so you can hold it in your left hand for some cool off-camera angles while the transmitter stays on the hotshoe. It doesnt have the crazy recycle times of a lithium pack but for casual street shots it works well enough without making the camera tip over...

Adding my two cents here because I've been using the Nissin i40 Compact Flash for Sony for a couple years now and it really hits that sweet spot. I had a similar panic before a night shoot in the Lower East Side a while back because my main gear was just too heavy for my A7C. The i40 is tiny but feels way more solid than the budget units. The physical dials on the back are the real winner for me. When you're moving fast on the street, being able to just click a dial for TTL or manual power without digging through menus is huge. I found the TTL to be way more reliable on my Sony bodies than the Godox stuff I've messed with. It uses AAs, which can be a drag for some, but if you're in NYC you can literally find batteries at any corner bodega if you run out mid-shoot. It doesnt have the crazy recycle speed of a lithium pack, but for street photography, you rarely need to fire five shots a second anyway. Its a decent option that wont break the bank or your wrist.

Saving this whole thread. So much good info here you guys are awesome.

TL;DR: Just go with Sony. Been super satisfied with their native flashes because the reliability is unmatched for street gigs. Honestly, you cant go wrong staying within the same brand for TTL.

Honestly, I have had issues with pretty much every small flash I've tried. Reliability is a total nightmare with these compact units and they're just not as good as expected once they start getting warm. Unfortunately, gear failing on you is the absolute worst... reminds me of my last trip to the city when my favorite boots completely fell apart. I was walking near Central Park and the entire sole just peeled off. I had to limp around for three miles looking for a shop that wasn't a total tourist trap just to buy some overpriced sneakers I didnt even like. My feet were killing me for a week after that. Anyway lol sorry kinda went off topic there.

Same setup here, love it

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