petrochemist Loc: UK

The OP wants to use what they have. Adding an optical slave will enable triggering like the SB26 at less cost, little if any extra inconvenience and can be used with another flash if the current one isn't up to the job.
Checking e-bay it seems the SB-26 goes for £30+ (cheaper ones being parts only), while slaves are typically £5.

amfoto1 Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA

To use the Vivitar 285 is easy. All you need is a standard hot shoe type of optical trigger that any other flash going off nearby will trigger.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Optical-Slaves/ci/1736/N/4168864834

If your SB-16 is set up with the hot foot for an F3, that's different. There may be a sync connection of some type on the side that can be used with one of the other types of optical trigger. Or, there was a standard hot foot made for the SB-16, in place of the one specifically for the F3, allowing the flash to be used with cameras other than the F3. If you had one of those "feet", it would use the same hot shoe type optical trigger as the 285.

The SB-16 manual here http://cdn-10.nikon-cdn.com/pdf/manuals/archive/SB-16.pdf shows both type of feet available for the flash, and might have more info about other ways of triggering them.

You'll also need some sort of "stand" to put those off-camera flashes on. I think many of the hot shoe style optical triggers either have a cold foot on the bottom (no electrical connectivity), or a 1/4" screw socket, or both. So there should be some way to mount them on a tripod or whatever you else might have for this purpose.

Either of those older flashes would be used manually. They don't give TTL control the way modern flash like your SB-5000 does. However, as someone stated, you can control their power output and if you dialed them down to the right level, could use the SB-5000 in TTL controlled mode. You also could put some sort of modifier like a diffuser or mini softbox on those off-camera flashes, which would reduce their output. Whatever you decide, it will take some experimentation to arrive at distances and power settings to use with those manual flashes, but it's possible.

Bobspez Loc: Southern NJ, USA

Thanks for clarifying that for me.

Chian Kho

To all hoggers who responded to my question, thank you very much. Much to think it over.

Chian

uhaas2009

I tried with an Minolta flash/ sb 700/sb 800. The result wasn’t good, Minolta flash showed less power in light-maybe this flash is breaking down.
With the 5000 I would stick with other Nikon flash or use just godox. Sure godox and Nikon work but it is more of a hassle......

Chian Kho

Thanks. There is what I learned about Godox. What about MIOPS? Are you familiar with this brand?

Chian

vg Loc: Kansas City area

I concur, you can’t go wrong with the Nikon sb 910.