Working with still pictures on a tripod, I use the degree setting to my advantage to get the ultimate lighting fixture for each exposure. Working with it outdoors at night, it is easy to get good lighting for up close exposures.

You cannot store it with regular alkaline batteries for even a short period of time, because the alkaline batteries will leak. I suggest using rechargable NI-MH batteries.

Not being a professional photograper, I find this flash to be very easy to use with my older 35mm(s). It helps to give out a quality exposure, especially in a dim lit room setting. Each degree setting works to your advantage for the proper lighting fixture that you need.

Cheap. It works. AA batteries. Two auto ranges plus manual.

No swivel. No 1/2 or 1/4 manual settings.

I got this flash given to me several years ago. It works. It's never let me down iether. In the closer auto range it meters very well. The only time it might bnot meter very well is if your subject is not, at least, partly in the middle.
You can get a used model vey cheaply.
Buy a safe converter for your DSLR if it's an older model. The trigger voltage may be too high.

Similar Products Used:

Viv 283

Relatively small and light, auto thyristor shortens recycle time and saves power. Comes with gel set. Head moves for bounce flash.

Head doesn't swivel. One more auto stop would be nice. MOST HATED WEAKNESS: Auto-off. The flash shuts itself off after about 2 minutes of inactivity. Not too nice if you've waited for a couple of minutes to capture that perfect shot and when it comes, the flash doesn't go off because it's fallen asleep. After missing several good shots this way, I returned the 2800 and got a couple of Sunpak 383s.

David Alan Harvey of Magnum/NG fame swears by the Vivitar 2800. Take a look at his recent book CUBA for some examples of effective use of night and indoors flash. A very nice, basic and compact unit with 2 auto modes. Pity the auto-off "function".

Customer Service

Called Vivitar USA, no one ever picks up, always get a machine. Left message, no one ever calls back.

Similar Products Used:

Sunpak 383 (a much better non-TTL shoe-mount flash, probably the best on the market right now), Nikon SB-28/SB-28DX

Great value for money. Autothyrister

lock ring is having little backlash but fitts well.

I baught this flash without much knowlegde on flashes. I went to camera shop to buy Yashica fx3 super 2000 then I want to buy a flash for it. There was a tie between Yashica flash and this. Shopkeeper advised me to go for Vivitar. Great, that was nice decision. Since 94 I am using this flash. Good value for money

Customer Service

never needed

Similar Products Used:

None

Dependable, good power for size, not too battery hungry

none noted...

A good, reliable flash with good power for it's size and a decent price. Highly recommended if you just want an on-camera flash but don't need one of the bigger/fancier units...

Customer Service

no experiences...

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 283, 3500

Great buy for the money. Light weight and unobtrusive. Great range and coverage.

Seems to give photos a flatter look than I'd like.

I don't think that you would be unhappy with the purchase and should be thrilled if you found one on ebay for less than $10.

Customer Service

Haven't needed.

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 2600, 728AF

(Mine is the non-dedicated version.) I got this flash with my Olympus OM-G back in 1983, and it has worked very well with a variety of cameras ever since. I get the results I expect 95% of the time.

The locking ring on the shoe mount froze in the open position a few years ago, so the flash wobbles slightly when mounted - but it works fine.

Nice basic flash, with adequate power for most uses and a fine exposure/thyristor system. I'm actually surprised that this one, the 283, and the 2000 are still being made by Vivitar after all these years!

Customer Service

Never needed 'em.

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 200, Vivitar 283, and an "Alfon", plus a variety of larger "potato masher-style" flashes, no