Good Step Up From Basic

A considerable amount of my work is covering live events, meaning, people and LOTS of candid portraits. The previous reviewers sound like they need to get some experience with the unit and with more advanced flash technique.

Since I get knocked around at these events, I use the unit on a DSC-F707 and have had no problems whatsoever. It's tough and reliable. Battery life is as you'd expect for a high powered strobe. I do not keep the unit on continuously, however.

As far as technique, I prefer to bounce the flash off ceilings (white) and walls (white) for a softer look. No problem with harshness. Short of that, I use a Stofen OmniBounce (OM-SB5) attachment, again, vertically, for a nice, relatively even fill. The F1000 has performed like a champ.

My only complaints: the shoe is not a hotshoe. You must use the attached ACC cord. Secondly, I'd prefer the unit have a swivel so I could bounce light from behind me.

For a proprietary flash, particularly if you can find it used on eBay, it's a pretty good deal.