Flashy bugger

[_dobbo_]

I've been struggling with lighting in my "studio" (read garage painted white) and couldn't stomach the thought of £xxx on proper studio lighting, so without further ado I splurged some cash on two Vivitar 285HV flashes and remote triggers.

First problem is you can't buy these in the UK - ebay, or B&H photo in New York appear to be the only options. I went for B&H photo, ordered Monday afternoon, delivered Wednesday lunchtime. Probably the same time a first class letter would take from London.

Two flashes, and two optical triggers



Flashes fired using SB600 on the body





Early indications are that thes opens up interesting creative lighting options.



These bad boys are fully manual - this dial on the side is used to manually calculate the setting based on your ISO/Aperture/Distance values:



Then you just crank the power dial to the desired setting:



All in all, I'm pleased with the purchase even if I did get stung for import duty. That and 5 minutes later my bloody AF servo gave up the ghost in my lens... But that's a different thread!

[nick_bbb]

Oooh they look cool

I've got a old flash and a remote trigger I've been playing about with but lack of control is a problem. The other set up I've been trying is some daylight temp lights and a generator but that proved to be a big PITA too, generator is very noisy.

[_dobbo_]

I think the 'Vari Power' dial addresses the control issues - I'm anticipating using the camera to offer more fine control if needed.

Cost wise, even with getting stung for VAT the whole lot came in at less than my single SB600! On the other hand - build quality and features don't come close. It doesn't feel like you are getting an incredible bargain, just a lot of light for not that much money.

[Deanphoto]

Vivitar 285's rock, I use 2. If you'd like a lead battery mod how-to (battery lasts forever and recycle times reduced greatly1) then send us a mail!

[paul.deitch]

very nice, why only two and not four?

[_dobbo_]

I'd like six of them but I have a wife who would kick my arse.

I already have a Nikon SB600, so I guess three flashes is pretty good going for an amateur.

Edited by _dobbo_ on Thursday 20th March 22:58

[JD]

Hi

Sorry to thread crash, but seeing as the search isn't working for me..

the triggers you are using, are these ones that go off triggered from the flash of your SB? or are they radio triggers?

I've just ordered some 285s, these are my only flashes and need a way of triggering them from my 350d

[_dobbo_]

JD said:

Hi

Sorry to thread crash, but seeing as the search isn't working for me..

the triggers you are using, are these ones that go off triggered from the flash of your SB? or are they radio triggers?

I've just ordered some 285s, these are my only flashes and need a way of triggering them from my 350d

they aren't radio triggers. The triggers are optical - they fire when the flash fires the main on the body of your camera. enjoy!

[JD]

_dobbo_ said:

JD said:

Hi

Sorry to thread crash, but seeing as the search isn't working for me..

the triggers you are using, are these ones that go off triggered from the flash of your SB? or are they radio triggers?

I've just ordered some 285s, these are my only flashes and need a way of triggering them from my 350d

they aren't radio triggers. The triggers are optical - they fire when the flash fires the main on the body of your camera. enjoy!

ah excellent, thanks!

[paul.deitch]

i emailed vivitar to ask why the flashes were not listed on their web site. they said that its only a question of time and that they will be available in europe 'soon'

[_dobbo_]

That's interesting - I read somewhere that Vivitar had announced they were out of the flash game and only doing cameras. I hope that's wrong!

[paul.deitch]

here's part of the reply from them...

X-Hotpop-Folder: inbox
X-Message-Delivery: Vj0zLjQuMDt1cz0wO2k9MDtsPTA7YT0x
X-Message-Status: n:0
X-SID-PRA: [e-mail]
X-Message-Info: JGTYoYF78jHzZ6aVdEqbf64PFsvKo6AEYPL/CT59gNF4fHNQorJuuyXi32PGTsqdpXFswOVntmmxW1HxJMQT6mboTpSBUc32
From: [e-mail]
To: xxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Vivitar - Customer Service - Paul Deitch
Date: Wed, 26 Mar 2008 17:46:22 -0600
X-RCPT-TO: <[e-mail]>
EStamp: EmailServer
X-OriginalArrivalTime: 26 Mar 2008 23:46:37.0706 (UTC) FILETIME=[A1C8E6A0:01C88F9B]


Hi Paul,


Sorry for the inconvenience, We dont have it on our website yet and we still upgrading it. You can try and google it for the reviews.