MiroFoto

Does anybody have this item. It is very cheap and I wanted to use it as a side light in a slave mode .
After firing the on-camera flash, the Vivitar fired also. BUT the intensity was low , almost nothing.
I just can not figure out how to regulate it … except by the positioning at distance.
Of course I do not have a manual... dummy. Is it possible that the camera TTL is adjusting it? (Nikon 7100).
It has the control: Wide, tele & normal. Also distance/F-stop/ISO. But I do not see any difference in the flash intensity.
It should be simple and easy, but …. no good luck.
Thank you M

rwilson1942 Loc: Houston, TX

Looking at the diagram on Amazon, I see that it has an 'exposure table'.
That would seem to indicate that it is not adjustable.
No way that your camera TTL is controlling it.
Slave flashes are designed to fire when another flash fires.
I think what you see is what you get as far as flash intensity is concerned.

lamiaceae Loc: San Luis Obispo County, CA

Not sure what is going on with your flash product there. The old film days Vivitar Flash units were OK. Does seem weird if there is no change between settings. Have you tried to take a photo using it? From the scale on it I'd says it is fairly powerful. Some how published guide numbers are used differently today and mean something different. I've noticed that with the couple new flash units I own (purchased new in June). Via my old school knowledge I'd say it has a guide number of 92-ish. I've had a few small flashes with G.N.s of 56. My now dead high power Metz had a G.N. of 197! So to me your Vivitar slave should give a correct exposure at 10 feet of f/9.2 at ISO 100. But I have no idea what mode(s) do what on your unit or any other setting. There is a setting for the angle of the lens used or angle of coverage. You need a flash guru.

BebuLamar

This is a case where a meter is useful. Fire the flash manually and measure the output with the meter. I think that flash has a setting to either account for the preflash or not.

MiroFoto

lamiaceae … Thank you . I have taken photos in few settings and saw no difference . I will try again tonight for the setting you have gave me, & be more precise . Thanks M

Spirit Vision Photography Loc: Behind a Camera.

I have taken to using the older Vivitar 283 and 285 units as slaved units. Much more power and variable power output settings. WEIN makes cheap sensors that you can attach to them.

MiroFoto

lamiaceae Kiron Kid - Thank you for help

I tried again ….at both ends of scale - it flashes, but no impact on a test Face. I know , in the past it worked OK . I will try later again...… and let you know about this beast. Thanks again Miro