Vivitar 285HV & Canon XTi

CWSkopec

So I think I'm OK to use my new Vivitar 285HV on my Canon XTi without the Wein Safe sync or other hot shoe adapters, but I'd like to check with you, more knowledgable folks before I do.

I just got a new Vivitar 285HV from B&H yesterday and am looking forward to playing around with a better-than-pop-up flash, but Pathfinder cautioned me that there are some reports the the 285's output voltage is over the 6volts that my XTi will tolerate. After a lot of checking around the net yesterday it looked like those reports mostly pertained to the older 285's not the 285HV, but I still didn't want to chance my camera's internal health to save $40 and use the flash without the safe sync adapter. Instead I stopped by Home Depot on the way home and picked up a voltmeter to test the flash myself.

The directions for the voltmeter were in English, but read a lot like gibberish so I started the test by measuring something with a known voltage to make sure I knew how to use the meter. I found a 9v battery in a drawer and measured that first. Got a reading of 9.3v and figured that meant I was doing it right so I moved on to the flash.

The highest reading I got off the flash was 4.8 - 4.9v. So I'm well under the 6v max output to use on my camera. I'm not missing anything right? I measure the flash through it's entire cycle time, including hitting the manual flash button to make sure the voltage didn't spike when it was tripped. Both the battery and the flash are running on Direct Current, right?

Did I do it right? Am I safe to use it?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts!

Art Scott

the old vivitars and for that matter all old flashes had sync voltages into the hundreds of volts................

According to everything I have been able to find the New Vivitar 285 HV,s are safe to use atop or with sync cable attached to camera.......

Excerpt from Strobists Article and interview of Jim Wellington of Vivitar............

Strobists Article wrote:

I spoke with Jim last week to get the skinny on the reintroduction of the 285HV. The 285HV is basically a pimped-out 283 that also offers a zoom head and full manual control - just the way we like it. 285HV's are also safe for your digicam, with a ~6v trigger voltage.

PLEASE NOTE that older 285's which are NOT designated as "HV" are NOT voltage safe and can fry your digital baby. Be warned.

Article link ..................

Al Jacobs Article on the 285HV ........Al Jacobs....builder of the external battery called the BLACK BOX.....

CWSkopec

Art Scott wrote:

the old vivitars and for that matter all old flashes had sync voltages into the hundreds of volts................

According to everything I have been able to find the New Vivitar 285 HV,s are safe to use atop or with sync cable attached to camera.......

Excerpt from Strobists Article and interview of Jim Wellington of Vivitar............


Article link ..................

Al Jacobs Article on the 285HV ........Al Jacobs....builder of the external battery called the BLACK BOX.....

Thanks for the links, Art!
I was pretty sure I'd be OK to use the flash, but it's nice to get a couple more opinions.

Toshido

I also remember reading that the Vivitar 285HV was low voltage and safe for DSLRs. The vivitar 285 (non HV) is not.

sorry I do not remember where I read it but I did come across it recently while looking up full manual flashes.