Vivitar Flash 285

I own a vivitar 285 hv flash and I'd like to use it on my canon digital rebel, but I'm afraid that it may fry the camera's hotshoe. Has anyone been able to use it and the camera still be ok? PLEASE PLEASE let me know, i saved for a long time to get this camera and I really don't want it to mess up. Be certain of your answers. and Thank you!

I would not take the chance!

If yours is an older model - it may hit your camera with over 200 volts of trigger voltage, which will make a nice toast of the fine electronics inside.

Some of the newer models of 285 come with low trigger voltage (6 volts) and they should be fine, even though I think Canon suggests that even that may be too much.

If you really really want to use it, measure it's voltage (if you know how) and use at your own risk!

LEM.

2009-03-26 14:04:43 by magics329

The question isn't IF - it's WHEN the foot will break on a vivitar. Fortunately, it's an easy fix. Watch as I repair one of these in ...

I need a price range of no more than $40, including the sink cord with the flash

Check on ebay. Be sure to ask what is included, such as the Remote Sensor for off-camera flash and ask if the battery compartment is free of corrosion. Also, ask if there is any damage, especially to the "foot" on the unit.

2007-08-20 10:37:18 by behppy03

Price: $199.00 $199.00

FP/High speed flash synch up to 1/800th sec.
Triggers flash or cameras
Full ETTL II /iTTL Autoflash and Ratio flash and exposure tracking

A guy at the photo store I go to told me that using my Vivitar 285 was ok with my N6006 film body, but not with my D200 digital body and that it would "fry" the circuit board in the D200. I didn't think the 285 had a high enough voltage for that. Anyone have any info?

Yes, you run the risk of frying your camera. I have two Vivitar flashes and a Braun flash all of which represent a similar risk.

The problem is that in the film days the sync was simply a switch in the camera so it didn't matter what voltage was in the flash, the camera simply turned the flash on and off. The digital SLRs however are a bit different. There's a circuit board behind the flash shoe, not a simple switch and that circuit board works on a very low voltage, a lot lower than a typical flash from the past. This is what gets fried eventually.

The modern flashes get around the problem by having a very low voltage current in the actual shoe. When the circuit board activates the flash it turns on that low voltage current which then in turn activates the flash inside the flash unit. The camera itself does not activate the flash, only that low voltage activating circuit.

But all is not lost. You can buy a little gadget that will fit in the flash shoe of the D200 called a Wyne Safesync. By sitting between the camera and the flash the camera is protected from the voltages of the flash and everything works just like in the past. I have one and it's worked perfectly with all three of my flashes.

I don't recall what I paid for it but it's not cheap. I think it was well over a hundred dollars but then that's still a lot cheaper than buying a new flash or repairing the camera.

2007-06-01 13:38:20 by nonesuch

I have used these flash units with my earlier cameras but the manual warns against using other than Nikon on the hot shoe. What are the risks? Will the camera(s) be damaged?
Thanks,
Tim

Yes, your D80 can only stand a trigger voltage of 12v or less.

Some of the older Vivitar 283 and 285 flash units use trigger voltages from 12v to 600v depending upon when they were made or exact model number ... for instance the 285HV has a voltage of 12V. The 285 has a voltage of 350V.

You should really call the Nikon help line 800.NIKON-UX and ask them for any information they have on Vivitar flash units.

What can happen? You can fry the electronics on your D80 .. no warranty coverage for that.

2009-02-23 14:31:39 by thansler

would the light of the b800 totally dwarf that of the 285 HV if the b800 were used as a main light (in a brolly box or umbrella) and the 285 hv as a fill light (in an umbrella)?
thanks fhotoace... i guess my main questions are 1. will it take more than one vivitar 285 to make an adequate fill light if a b800 is the key light? and 2. is an umbrella or brolly box sufficient for each of those lights? or would you recommend a soft box? i'm afraid of getting a square catchlight in my models' eyes

It can be done, but you will have to trigger the 285 using something like a Pocket Wizard or a long connector from your hot shoe to the flash on a stand with umbrella.

Usually whew we are using a lot of external battery powered flash units, they are triggered using some king of radio remote control and they are used as accent lights in the background. The key light can be an AlienBee and you can mount a couple of external flash units in a soft box for fill if you want. You just have to do a lot of tests to get the balance correct for the shot you are lighting.

2009-03-02 19:28:17 by johndeand