Sony HVL-F45RM Wireless Radio Flash

The Sony HVL-F45RM Wireless Radio Flash is a compact external flash designed for Sony’s mirrorless camera system, combining strong output with an integrated 2.4GHz radio transceiver for advanced wireless multi-flash setups. It’s aimed at photographers who want a portable, versatile on-camera flash that can also serve as part of a larger off-camera lighting system without needing a separate wireless trigger.

The flash offers a guide number of 148′ at ISO 100 and 105mm, with the ability to produce approximately 210 full-power flashes on a set of four AA batteries, and can fire continuously for up to 40 flashes at a rate of 10 flashes per second. Full P-TTL/ADI metering compatibility is supported with Sony camera bodies, along with manual exposure control, high-speed sync, and ratio control for more advanced multi-light setups.

A defining feature of the HVL-F45RM is its built-in 2.4GHz radio transceiver, allowing it to function as either a radio commander or a remote receiver as part of Sony’s radio wireless system, fully compatible with Sony’s FA-WRC1M Wireless Radio Commander and FA-WRR1 Wireless Radio Receiver. This radio system offers a 98′ operating range without requiring line-of-sight, and supports up to 15 flash units across 5 groups on one of 14 channels. The flash also remains compatible with Sony’s conventional optical wireless flash system.

The flash head offers a 24-105mm zoom range, expandable to 15mm coverage with a pull-out wide-angle diffusion panel, along with full bounce capability via -8° to 150° tilt and 360° rotation. A built-in 5500K LED light provides continuous illumination useful for video work, with an output of 400 lux at 1.6′ and 10 selectable power levels. The rear features a high-visibility dot-matrix LCD with a Quick Navi interface and customizable function keys, along with two memory settings (MR1/MR2) for quickly recalling frequently used configurations.

Build quality includes a dust- and moisture-resistant design suited to outdoor and on-location shooting, and the flash is notably smaller and lighter than its predecessor, the HVL-F43M, while offering an improved guide number and faster 2.5-second recycle time.

Key Features
– Compact external flash for Sony mirrorless cameras
– Guide number of 148′ at ISO 100 and 105mm
– Built-in 2.4GHz radio transceiver (commander/receiver modes)
– Compatible with Sony’s radio and optical wireless flash systems
– Supports up to 15 flashes across 5 groups, 14 channels
– 98′ wireless operating range, no line-of-sight required
– P-TTL/ADI metering, manual control, high-speed sync, ratio control
– 24-105mm zoom head (expandable to 15mm with diffusion panel)
– -8° to 150° tilt, 360° rotation for full bounce flash
– Built-in 5500K LED continuous light (400 lux at 1.6′, 10 power levels)
– Dot-matrix LCD with Quick Navi interface and customizable keys
– Two memory settings (MR1/MR2)
– Dust- and moisture-resistant construction
– Runs approximately 4 hours per battery charge; ~210 full-power flashes