Using Vivitar 283 Flash On DSLR's Question
May 17, 2021 20:04:17 #
The high voltage of the Vivitar 283 flash will harm DSLR cameras. What about connecting the Vivitar 283 flash connected to a DSLR using the PC connections with cord? Would this still harm the camera?
May 17, 2021 20:10:35 #
May be high voltage, Have one, only use it off camera with a wireless trigger. Search here for more info - using a vivitar 283 on modern digital cameras
May 17, 2021 20:23:36 #
Tom 0933 wrote:
The high voltage of the Vivitar 283 flash will harm DSLR cameras. What about connecting the Vivitar 283 flash connected to a DSLR using the PC connections with cord? Would this still harm the camera?
Yes. Don't think that the PC connection and the hot shoe are different. They are the same.
May 17, 2021 20:40:22 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Yes. Don't think that the PC connection and the hot shoe are different. They are the same.
I left the cover off the PC connector one time, grabbed the camera with a flash on the accessory shoe ready to go,
my finger got bit when it touched the uncovered PC connector!!! OUCH!
May 17, 2021 21:22:33 #
May 17, 2021 21:26:52 #
But if your question regarding specifically the Vivitar 283 then there are some of them which a safe to use. The ones that were made in China are safe. Those made in Japan and Korea are not safe.
May 17, 2021 21:28:52 #
BebuLamar wrote:
But if your question regarding specifically the Vivitar 283 then there are some of them which a safe to use. The ones that were made in China are safe. Those made in Japan and Korea are not safe.
Their trigger voltages are different between the ones made in different countries??????
May 17, 2021 21:28:59 #
I have one that was available as an accessory to the 283. I liked that flash a lot and bought every available accessory, most were useful. Except for a couple of minor bits I left behind on jobs, I still have them all. I'd guess a little research would find something that would work. I'll dig mine up and pass on the info when I get a chance.
May 17, 2021 21:29:32 #
Longshadow wrote:
Their trigger voltages are different??????
Oh, yeah! Big time! I wouldn't trust one on an expensive camera regardless of where it was made. Modern strobes are trustworthy and available in many price ranges.
May 17, 2021 21:31:18 #
quixdraw wrote:
Oh, yeah! Big time!
WOW. I would have thought a 283 was a 283....
Usually a manufacturer will append a suffix to different designs.
That's nasty!
May 17, 2021 21:32:29 #
Longshadow wrote:
Their trigger voltages are different between the ones made in different countries??????
Yes according to Vivitar. They made them in Japan first then Korea and they made them with high voltages. The later ones made in China and they used low voltage.
May 17, 2021 21:35:35 #
Some of the last 283’s were low voltage. The made in Japan units were high voltage (200v) as a rule and the made in China units were generally safe (6v). But to be sure use a multimeter to check the voltage between the hot shoe button on the flash and the rail contact on the hot shoe. Be sure the flash is on and fully charged. You should also discharge the flash a few times before measuring to be sure the caps are fully charged. Mine happened to be a 6v model.
May 17, 2021 21:41:11 #
BebuLamar wrote:
Yes according to Vivitar. They made them in Japan first then Korea and they made them with high voltages. The later ones made in China and they used low voltage.
I reiterate:
WOW. I would have thought a 283 was a 283....
Usually a manufacturer will append a suffix to different designs.
That's nasty!
May 17, 2021 21:44:10 #
Someof the earlier Vivitar models had extremely high trigger voltages. Unless you know how to measure the trigger voltage with a voltmeter and verify that it is within the specifications for your camera- DO NOT ATTACH IT TO THE HOT SHOE OR THE PC TERMINAL! Both the hot shoe and the PC connector integrate with the synchronization mechanism in the shutter and will transfer harmful over-voltage to the camera's circuitry. The hot shoe also has a contact that integrates with the camera's TTL exposure control systems.
There is an adapter called a SAFE-Synch that can be used on the hot shoe or placed in line with the synch cord to reduce the trigger voltage to a safe level. Thereis a similar device marketed by Paramount Cords. Your Vivitar flash can be used off-camer with a radio trigger such as the Pocket Wizard.
All these additional accessories are costly and it is probably a better approach to purchase an up-to-date Speedlight that will fully integrate with your digital camera. You can use your Vivitar unit, off-camera with an inexpensive photoelectric cell. A simple 2- light system can yield outstanding results.
Attached is a shot of one of my old Vivitar units. This one tests at a bit over 6 volts- That's OK. Previous modes are found to be much higher. One model 285 tested at 350 Volts and another at 33 Volts- definitely problematic!
There is an adapter called a SAFE-Synch that can be used on the hot shoe or placed in line with the synch cord to reduce the trigger voltage to a safe level. Thereis a similar device marketed by Paramount Cords. Your Vivitar flash can be used off-camer with a radio trigger such as the Pocket Wizard.
All these additional accessories are costly and it is probably a better approach to purchase an up-to-date Speedlight that will fully integrate with your digital camera. You can use your Vivitar unit, off-camera with an inexpensive photoelectric cell. A simple 2- light system can yield outstanding results.
Attached is a shot of one of my old Vivitar units. This one tests at a bit over 6 volts- That's OK. Previous modes are found to be much higher. One model 285 tested at 350 Volts and another at 33 Volts- definitely problematic!
May 17, 2021 21:55:43 #
Longshadow wrote:
Their trigger voltages are different between the ones made in different countries??????
Different years for different countries result in different trigger voltages.
It’s all about time, not about geography.
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