Can I safely use old Vivitar Thyristor 285 flash on a Nikon D500 without damaging the camera?
Nov 1, 2019 17:53:52 #
I have a Visitor Thyristor 285 flash that I purchased to use with a Pentax film camera. I wrote to Nikon to ask if this could be used safely as on-camera flash with my Nikon D500 and they would not answer since it was not their product and they had not tested it with their equipment. I would hate to mount this on my D500 and have it damage the camera in some way. It uses 4 AA Alkaline batteries. Anyone have this unit and know if it can be safely used with a modern digital camera...especially the D500?
Nov 1, 2019 18:21:46 #
No - search this online (is vivitar 285 safe to use with modern digital cameras?) to verify. Be a shame to take a chance and fry your camera. There are very inexpensive new flashes that are compatible. Purportedly there is a 285 HV model which is safe.
Nov 1, 2019 18:32:38 #
Thanks so much. That's what I feared. Maybe I can figure out a way to use this unit as a slave so I don't have to trash it altogether. That's the next project. jak
Nov 1, 2019 18:54:58 #
Vivitar made this model for a very long time. The earlier ones are unsafe but the later ones are safe. To make sure use a meter to measure the sync voltage. Nikon cameras are rated for up to 250V but I wouldn't use it if the voltage is more than say 12V.
Nov 1, 2019 19:36:57 #
jak86094 wrote:
I have a Visitor Thyristor 285 flash that I purcha... (show quote)
I wouldn't take the chance. Besides even if it would trigger it wouldn't talk to the camera. ETL/ ETTL functions would be inoperable.
Nov 1, 2019 19:38:15 #
jak86094 wrote:
I have a Visitor Thyristor 285 flash that I purcha... (show quote)
Yes, if you use a Wein Safe Flash or use it with off camera with a slave trigger. I would never mount a flash on a camera anyway, but even if you use the PC port, you can still fry a camera with too high a trigger voltage. The Safe Flash will be your best bet.
Nov 1, 2019 19:56:50 #
quixdraw wrote:
No - ....... Purportedly there is
a 285 HV model which is safe.
No - ....... Purportedly there is
a 285 HV model which is safe.
You hafta test the particular 285.
Mine is low voltage, and it's not
the "HV" version. But, my 283 is
VERY high voltage, and acoarst
the two models overlapped over
time in the marketplace. So, no
one can answer your question
but you and your volt meter !
Nov 2, 2019 09:37:23 #
NO! Emphatically.
Thyristor's are designed to carry hi voltage AND HIGH CURRENT.
Unless you isolate it from your camera (as Gene suggested) leave it on the shelf.
Thyristor's are designed to carry hi voltage AND HIGH CURRENT.
Unless you isolate it from your camera (as Gene suggested) leave it on the shelf.
Nov 2, 2019 09:52:18 #
Sometimes..when in doubt, I use a wireless system....transmitter fits on the camera, receiver on the flash hotshoe. They're less than $30 on ebay... Nyms
Nov 2, 2019 11:19:36 #
Rich1939 wrote:
NO! Emphatically.
Thyristor's are designed to carry hi voltage AND HIGH CURRENT.
Unless you isolate it from your camera (as Gene suggested) leave it on the shelf.
Thyristor's are designed to carry hi voltage AND HIGH CURRENT.
Unless you isolate it from your camera (as Gene suggested) leave it on the shelf.
You mean modern flashes like Nikon SB5000 , Canon 600EX don't have thyristor? The fact that all modern flashes with low voltage trigger have thyristor. The fact is that the flashes with the highest sync voltages are the old one before they used thyristor to control flash duration. So the thyristor has nothing to do with high voltage sync.
Nov 2, 2019 11:25:39 #
BebuLamar wrote:
You mean modern flashes like Nikon SB5000 , Canon 600EX don't have thyristor? The fact that all modern flashes with low voltage trigger have thyristor. The fact is that the flashes with the highest sync voltages are the old one before they used thyristor to control flash duration. So the thyristor has nothing to do with high voltage sync.
I'll defer to your more current familiarity with the technology. If the unit in question is an older Vivitar, I'll stand by my NO
Nov 2, 2019 11:32:37 #
I have several of those old Sunpack auto 2000 DZ Thyristor lashes I use for hair and background lights. I use them with some Yougnuo flash trigggers and they work fine. I wouldn't attach them directly to your camera though, as they are a higher voltage and might damage it.
Nov 2, 2019 13:26:51 #
Here are two helpful links.
http://dpanswers.com/roztr/volt_finder.php
http://dpanswers.com/content/genrc_flash_measuretv.php
http://dpanswers.com/roztr/volt_finder.php
http://dpanswers.com/content/genrc_flash_measuretv.php
Nov 3, 2019 12:15:17 #
jak86094 wrote:
I have a Visitor Thyristor 285 flash that I purcha... (show quote)
I would not take the risk, instead get a NICE Nikon flash were there are no concerns about compatibility! The 285 was quite nice back in its days, but by todays standards, its a lousy flash, so why take a risk?
Nov 3, 2019 12:30:13 #
Since they are useless so if anybody has one or more of those please send them to me. I can use them.
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