Shooting with the flash

The camera can use the flash to shoot images regardless of the shutter type setting. Since the operation of the camera when shooting with a flash varies depending on the shutter type setting, use the optimal setting in accordance with the shooting environment. When shooting with the mechanical shutter, you can expand the flash sync speed range by using the MENU settings.

Flash performance based on shutter types

Flash sync speed

High-speed sync photography (HSS)

Continuous shooting speed (when you shoot without using a flash)

Flash sync speed*1

Mechanical shutter
	[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [Off]	[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [On] *3
Flash sync speed	1/320 second (Full-frame) 1/400 second (APS-C size)	1/400 second (Full-frame) 1/500 second (APS-C size)

Electronic shutter
	[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [Off]	[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [On] *3
Flash sync speed	1/200 second (Full-frame) 1/250 second (APS-C size)	Not available

*1:: When [Exposure step] is set to [0.3EV]
*3:: Enabled only when the still image shooting mode is S (Shutter Priority) or M (Manual Exposure).

High-speed sync photography (HSS)*1

Status when the high-speed sync photography of a flash is set to ON

Mechanical shutter

[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [Off]
	HSS disabled	HSS enabled
Shutter speed Single shooting	BULB – 1/320 second (Full-frame) BULB – 1/400 second (APS-C size)	1/400 second – 1/8000 second (Full-frame) 1/500 second – 1/8000 second (APS-C size)
Shutter speed Continuous shooting	30 second – 1/320 second (Full-frame) 30 second – 1/400 second (APS-C size)	1/400 second – 1/8000 second (Full-frame) 1/500 second – 1/8000 second (APS-C size)

[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [On] *3
	HSS disabled	HSS enabled
Shutter speed Single shooting	BULB – 1/400 second (Full-frame) BULB – 1/500 second (APS-C size)	1/500 second – 1/8000 second (Full-frame) 1/640 second – 1/8000 second (APS-C size)
Shutter speed Continuous shooting	30 second – 1/400 second (Full-frame) 30 second – 1/500 second (APS-C size)	1/500 second – 1/8000 second (Full-frame) 1/640 second – 1/8000 second (APS-C size)

Electronic shutter

[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: Disabled when shooting using the electronic shutter.
	HSS disabled	HSS enabled
Shutter speed Single shooting	30 second – 1/200 second (Full-frame) 30 second – 1/250 second (APS-C size)	1/250 second – 1/32000 second (Full-frame) 1/320 second – 1/32000 second (APS-C size)
Shutter speed Continuous shooting	0.5 second – 1/200 second (Full-frame) 0.5 second – 1/250 second (APS-C size)	1/250 second – 1/32000 second (Full-frame) 1/320 second – 1/32000 second (APS-C size)

*1:: When [Exposure step] is set to [0.3EV]
*3:: Enabled only when the still image shooting mode is S (Shutter Priority) or M (Manual Exposure).

Continuous shooting speed (when you shoot without using a flash)*2

Mechanical shutter

[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [Off]
Drive Mode	Continuous shooting speed
Hi+	Maximum of 10 images per second After-view
Hi	Maximum of 8 images per second Live View
Mid	Maximum of 6 images per second Live View
Lo	Maximum of 3 images per second Live View

[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: [On] *3
Drive Mode	Continuous shooting speed
Hi+	Maximum of 10 images per second *5 After-view
Hi	Maximum of 8 images per second *5 Live View
Mid	Maximum of 6 images per second Live View
Lo	Maximum of 3 images per second Live View

Electronic shutter

[Flash Sync Spd. Prty.]: Disabled when shooting using the electronic shutter.
Drive Mode	Continuous shooting speed
Hi+	Maximum of 30 images per second *6
Hi	Maximum of 20 images per second *4
Mid	Maximum of 15 images per second *4
Lo	Maximum of 5 images per second *4

*2:: The continuous shooting speeds indicated are the data when shooting without using a flash. When you shoot with a flash, the continuous shooting speed may decrease depending on the flash and how it is used.
*3:: Enabled only when the still image shooting mode is S (Shutter Priority) or M (Manual Exposure).
*4:: Settings when shipped from the factory. You can select [20 images/s]/[15 images/s]/[10 images/s]/[5 images/s] in the MENU.
*5:: The maximum speed of continuous shooting decreases when the shutter speed is set to 1/400 second (Full-frame size) or 1/500 second (APS-C size).
*6:: When shooting in uncompressed RAW, the maximum speed is 20 images/second.

Difference between the flashes that can be used based on shutter types

When [Mechanical Shutter] is selected:

You can use a flash with a sync terminal cord or a flash manufactured by Sony.

When [Electronic Shutter] is selected:

You can use a flash manufactured by Sony that has support for a Multi Interface Shoe.

When [Auto] is selected:

You can use a flash with a sync terminal cord or a flash manufactured by Sony during single shooting, bracket shooting, and self-timer shooting.
You can use only a Multi Interface Shoe-compatible flash (manufactured by Sony) during continuous shooting.

Continuous shooting using a flash

When you perform continuous shooting using a flash, the continuous shooting speed varies depending on the flash you are using and the amount of flash light. Furthermore, when you shoot with a flash by selecting electronic shutter for shutter type, the continuous shooting speed becomes faster than the speed of the mechanical shutter and the images shot may often appear darker due to non-firing of the flash light. In that case, reduce the amount of flash light using the manual setting and adjust ISO and shutter speed, in order to minimize the chance of non-firing of the flash light.