Honestly, after messing around with lighting on my a6000 for years, you gotta consider the workflow more than just the light output. It makes a huge difference in how much you actually enjoy using the gear.

• Power Source: Go with a lithium-ion model like the Godox V860III-S. AA batteries are basically a nightmare when youre doing a long shoot because they get slow and hot. The Li-ion packs last all day and the recycle time stays snappy.
• Remote Work: Look into getting a Godox X2T-S TTL Wireless Flash Trigger. It lets you get the flash off the camera which is where the real DIY magic happens for portraits. Using a flash on a bracket or stand is way better than direct light.
• Safety First: Be careful with those older Minolta units. Some have weird voltages that can actually fry the sensitive electronics in modern mirrorless bodies. Its usually not worth the risk even with an adapter.
• HSS Utility: Youll definitely want this for shooting outdoors. The a6000 has a pretty slow sync speed of 1/160, so without HSS, you wont be able to use a wide aperture in daylight without overexposing everything. Its kinda a learning curve at first but once you get the hang of how TTL works it makes life so much easier. Let me know if you need a hand with the specific setup steps...

Building on the earlier suggestion, if you want something that actually fits the size of the a6000 without it feeling top-heavy, you should look at these two. Most flashes are too bulky for mirrorless bodies imo.

• Nissin i40 for Sony: Very compact and uses physical dials for settings which is way faster than digging through menus. Great for TTL but the battery door can be a bit flimsy if youre rough with it.
• Sony HVL-F28RM External Flash: This is a newer official option. Its built like a tank and has great wireless features, but its definitely more expensive for the power output you get. About those Minolta flashes... honestly, dont bother. Youll need the Sony ADP-MAA Shoe Adapter to even mount them. Even then, getting TTL to work properly is a coin toss and usually they just fire at full power. Better to stick with something native that talks to the camera properly so you dont miss shots while fiddling with settings.

Godox TT350 is recommended.

I've been shooting for a long time and tried a bunch of setups, so here's my take. I used to hoard those old Minolta flashes because they were dirt cheap at thrift stores. I think I read once that you need a specific adapter to even get them to slide onto the Sony multi-interface shoe, but I'm not totally sure if TTL actually carries over through the pins.

• Check out the Strobist lighting 101 guide if you haven't yet. It's basically the bible for off-camera light.
• Look up the Botzilla flash voltage list. Not sure if it's still updated but it used to be the go-to for checking if old gear would fry a modern digital body.
• Maybe peek at some YouTube videos from the Friedman Archives. Gary Friedman knows more about the Sony/Minolta transition than anyone I've ever seen. I remember trying to mount an old Maxxum flash years ago and it just... didn't fire. Could've been a dead unit or just bad luck, but it's worth digging into the forums before you buy anything vintage... some of those old voltages are way too high for mirrorless boards.

My buddy told me the exact same thing last week. Guess he was right lol.

I've been using the Godox TT350S with my A6000 for about 2 years now. Compact, affordable (~$85), TTL compatibility, and decent power for its size. Great for everyday shooting without weighing down your setup. The recycle time is reasonable and battery life is solid for casual use. If you need more power, consider the Godox V860II-S instead.

I've been using the Sony HVL-F32M with my A6000 for two years now and couldn't be happier. It's specifically designed for Sony mirrorless cameras, has good TTL metering, and the bounce capability is excellent for indoor portraits. A bit pricier than third-party options ($300 range) but the seamless integration is worth it.

Godox V1.

For TTL and HSS on a budget, the Godox TT350S or V350S are popular choices. While older Minolta flashes might work, compatibility can be tricky. For reliable performance, sticking with dedicated Sony or compatible third-party flashes like Godox is generally recommended.