I got this flash for my Sony DSCW1 camera because the one criticism of this camera was that the built-in flash was weak and had a limited range of about 10-12 feet.

This external flash certainly does work to augment the flash capabilites of the DSCW1. In my tests, it appears to be effective outdoors at night at distances of up to about 50-60 feet.

The HVLFSL1B is NOT controlled directly by the camera - there are no electrical connections whatsoever. Instead, there is a light sensor on the HVLFSL1B which senses the light of the DSCW1's built in flash and this triggers the HVLFSL1B.

And so, in fact, this External Slave Flash will work for practically any camera, whether they have a hotshoe or not, as long as they have a built-in flash (the DSCW1 does not have a hotshoe - the mounting bracket of the HVLFSL1B is attached to the tripod screwhole of the DSCW1).

Furthermore, one does not even have to mount the HVLFSL1B to a camera, or even have it pointing in the same direction as the camera. It is possible to use the HVLFSL1B as a bounce flash, pointing it at a side wall or the ceiling. As long as the flash of your camera reflects off whatever the HVLFSL1B is pointed at, it will fire.

So this is great! At last, a bounce flash that will work for practically any point and shoot camera that has a built in flash!

The only downside of the HVLFSL1B is that instead of regular AA batteries, it uses these non-rechargable lithium CR123 batteries (the same battery used in many point and shoot 35mm film cameras). ARGH! Anyway, that's why I took off one star.