Vivitar 283 Manual

RacinRandyRacinRandy Registered Users Posts: 187 Major grins
edited December 30, 2009 in Accessories
Does anyone have, or know where i can get, a manual for the Vivitar 283??

My Aunt had one with a Pentax K1000, She gave me the flash but she doesn't have the manual for it. I am uncertain how to turn the power down or what the dial thingy on the side does.

Is this a safe flash to use on a Canon Rebel XS? voltage-wise?

TIA
Randy

EOS Rebel XS Digital/ EOS 7D/ EOS 6D
50mm f1.8/ Tamron 70-200 f2.8 is/ 24-105 f4L
Canon speedlights and Alien Bees

Comments

  • ziggy53ziggy53 Super Moderators Posts: 24,132 moderator
    edited December 29, 2009
    RacinRandy wrote:
    Does anyone have, or know where i can get, a manual for the Vivitar 283??

    My Aunt had one with a Pentax K1000, She gave me the flash but she doesn't have the manual for it. I am uncertain how to turn the power down or what the dial thingy on the side does.

    Is this a safe flash to use on a Canon Rebel XS? voltage-wise?

    TIA

    I have a couple of the Vivitar 283 flashes. Supposedly some of the very last units manufactured were considered safe for digital at 12 volts, but the vast majority are not safe at all. You can test the unit but to be safe you really should use a Wein Safe Sync:

    http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/245292-REG/Wein_W990560_Safe_Sync_Hot_Shoe_to.html

    http://www.adorama.com/WNSSHSHS.html?searchinfo=wein+safe+sync

    Yes, the Safe sync is a little pricey, but it's worth it not to fry your camera (which would be much more costly.) I have one and I highly recommend it.

    The Vivitar 285HV "is" generally considered safe for most modern cameras without any further precautions, but it is on the high side of trigger voltages that are considered safe. Note that the Vivitar 285 (without the "HV") is "not" safe so don't confuse the two models.

    As far as the controls on the Vivitar 283:

    http://www.cameramanuals.org/flashes_meters/vivitar_283.pdf

    Be sure to save a copy of the PDF file above.
    ziggy53
    Moderator of the Cameras and Accessories forums
  • pathfinderpathfinder Super Moderators Posts: 14,708 moderator
    edited December 29, 2009
    The 283 were workhorses, and are still quite useful.

    I use mine off camera with an optical peanut slave, and then I never have to worry about the trigger voltage hurting my camera.
    Pathfinder - www.pathfinder.smugmug.com

    Moderator of the Technique Forum and Finishing School on Dgrin
  • Art ScottArt Scott Registered Users Posts: 8,959 Major grins
    edited December 29, 2009
    you ccan also use it with a Radio Frequency trigger like the RD616's that I use or the others that have been mentioned on here in several places....

    VIVITAR automatic electronic flash MODEL 283     manual

    :Dnow repeat after me......GOOOOOOGLE IS MY FRIEND, google is my friend.....google is my friendclap.gifclaprolleyes1.gifrofl
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  • RacinRandyRacinRandy Registered Users Posts: 187 Major grins
    edited December 30, 2009
    Ziggy, I knew posting here was a good idea!! Thanks a lot!!

    Art, I was wondering about that voltage thing cause Mom got me the 616's for christmas!!!! They are SAAWEEETT!!!

    PathFinder, Thats exactly how i intended to use it!!
    thumb.gifbowdown.gifbarb
    Randy

    EOS Rebel XS Digital/ EOS 7D/ EOS 6D
    50mm f1.8/ Tamron 70-200 f2.8 is/ 24-105 f4L
    Canon speedlights and Alien Bees
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