Dptips :. Digital Photography Tips, Tricks, and Techniques

Stopped by Kamera Korner in San Jose today and was surprised to learn that the Vivitar 285 (HV), 283s are no longer in production and discontinued by Vivitar. Its suprising since Vivitar’s 285 Model has undoubtly lit more picutres in the last 25 years than any other unit. The Vivitar units were the best bang for the buck with a guide no. of 120 GN and a more than affordable price of $60-80 New and $30-50 Used on flebay.

Well that is going to change as B&H Photo no longer stocks it and fewer and fewer are starting to appear on Ebay. As you all know the law of supply and demand, prices are going to start going up. Even the clerk at Kamera Korner told me he wished they could’ve known the news earlier and stocked up.

I guess my successful hunts/hunting for Vivitar 285HVs on Ebay will soon come to a close and I will have to face the reality that photography is NOT a cheap hobby after all. Yes, I scored two units for less than $40 last year and have shot them exclusively via Pocketwizard Radio Slaves. About a year from now, I would be lucky to see a used and beat unit for $50+. As you all know, people hate change…just think of the number of photographers who still rely on these flagship Vivitar flash units! Regardless, I am going to take my black plastic bars (soon to be gold?!) and continue to use them until they pop no more. Hopefully by then a replacement / clone will be produced. If all else fails, I will have some trusty monolight strobes to do the job.

Best,

Ivan

PS. The 285HV units have a lower triggering voltage of 6V. There are reports of OLDER / NEWER models with higher/lower triggering voltages. For Digital SLR cameras, it is recommended you double check the trigger voltage with a voltmeter since the Digital SLR hot-shoe syncs are rated no where close to the 270V capacity some of the older units use. You surely dont want to have your Canon’s 6V hotshoe fried! Read Strobe Trigger Voltage and Why Photographers should care? if you want to learn more about strobe triggering voltage.

PSS. Attached Vivitar 285HV / 285 and Vivitar 283 Flash User Manuals:
(Please Right Click and “Save Target”)
Download Vivitar 285HV / 285 User Manual
Download Vivitar 283 User Manual

Why pay $5+ for these instructional / Owner manuals on Ebay?! Any Photogtaphy Junky knows better!