Need help picking out a flash for my a300

[wharvey86]

I am planning on getting a new flash for my camera and wanted to know if anyone can help put into noob terms what the actual difference between these flashes is and if it would be worth the extra money for someone like myself. I am by no means a professional photographer so i dont want to have to spend a ton of money on a flash whose features i would never use. I do plan on doing some indoor and outdoor portraits with them (mostly for practice on my family). If anyone has any info or experience on these different flashes and a suggestion for which one to get than by all means chime in!
-HVL-F42AM- https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wc...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665337928

-HVL-F58AM- https://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wc...10151&langId=-1&productId=8198552921665462455

 

[Early]

The HVL-F42AM ought to do you proud if you're thinking of remaining an amateur, though even that seems a little expensive. I don't know what happened to the 36HD made by Minolta. That would have been plenty good enough for about $160. And, though the Minolta was reliable, I don't know who is making the flash units for Sony these days, so you're on your own with that.