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Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Flashes
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I now own 2 of these Vivitar 283 flash units. One I bought back in the 70s, one recently. The guide number at ASA 100 is 120, so they have plenty of power. The auto thyristor sensor has five settings, and has always done a good job of giving proper light output. The multi-angle flash head automatically compensates (boosts) light output when it's not pointed directly at the subject. There are many accessories available very inexpensively. I own a vari-power module that replaces the auto sensor. It can be set anywhere from full power to 1/16 power. I also own a lens kit which changes the spread of the light beam. In 35mm terms, the lenses are 24mm, 28mm, 70mm, and 135mm. The 24mm and 28mm can be used as diffusion filters to soften the lighting effect. at any focal length. Also in my collection of accessories are a color filter set, a cord to run the flash from an AC outlet, a bracket that holds a standard white/gray card for using the white side to bounce the flash, and a cord to use the flash off-camera. I'll soon be getting the SL-2 auto slave adapter also. You can buy all of this, including the flash, for less than the price of a new Pentax auto flash with a guide number of 54 at ASA 100 with no accessories. The Pentax has more features; the Vivitar has more than twice the power. Any serious photographer will know how to set up/use a manual flash lighting scheme, so as far as I'm concerned the Vivitar 283 is a great buy. CAUTION: older 283s have a high trigger voltage. My old one is over 300 volts, and would probably fry a DSLR. The newer one has a trigger voltage of 8.8V, and I have been using it on the hot shoe of my DSLR with no problems. I'll use the old one as a slave. The 283 has a well deserved reputation as a reliable workhorse. My 35+ year old unit works as well today as when it was new. The mounting shoe is plastic, and the unit is relatively heavy. Care must be taken when it's mounted to prevent the shoe from cracking. I've been moderately careful with my old unit for 35 years and have not had a problem. The new auto flash units are great since they 'talk' to the camera and make adjustments automatically. The old school 'dumb' units like the 283 can't do this. However, if your DSLR has an aperture priority mode and you know how to use it, the 283 will perform extremely well. I have read reviews and seen youtube videos of professional photographers using them as the foundation of their studio lighting setups. At the typical prices on e-bay, you can have your own 'professional' muti-unit flash setup for about the same price as one good auto flash. Viva la Vivitar 283!Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
I am thrilled to be able to use this flash with to my 44 year old 35mm SLR camera. Product was in excellent condition when I acquired it. This flash is packed with features and is easy to use.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
You cannot buy a less expensive more reliable on or for use off camera flash unit. I bought my first one When they came out in the late 70s and now I have five sometimes I gang them all up or use them separately.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Used with a remote trigger (of course, NEVER attached directly to new digital camera hot shoe!) old VivItar 283s and 285s function well. This unit seems in great shape, as described. Thanks for being honest & accurate!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
Best old school manual flash I have used, Works well for slave flash. I have 4 of these.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
