~POWERFUL! ~versitile (gives you lots of control over aperature) ~really accurate sensor ~great price (can get them real cheap on the used market)

~although i havent had any trouble, i could see myself breaking the shoe off this thing.

When I blew up my first 285hv while trying to make a remote sensor cable (yeah its a funny story), i did not hesitate when buying a new one. If you are reading these reviews to decide between the 283 and the 285, I'd definatly invest the extra money and get the 285 (i own both)

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

2600, 283

Sturdy. four auto-trysister settings. easy to change auto-settings. If you buy a recently made model, it is well worth the price

Older models have high voltage (see www.photo.net for discussions.)Cannot swivel, unlike newer competitor Sunpak 383

Excellant flash for the money. One potential problem is the older models of this flash have very high voltage, enough to try an electronic camera like my ELAN II. I used it as a fill light or main light on a light stand. (triggered by a $20 optical slave.) Sturdy except for plastic shoe mount. Various companies make metal shoe mounts for this product (usually for $40 to $50.) One more auto-trysister setting than the Sunpak 383. I prefer the newer Sunpak 383.

Customer Service

Not needed

Similar Products Used:

Sunpak 383, Sunpak 422, Sunpak 544.

Versitility, sheer power, adjustability,

foot, no swivel for use on my 35mm

Superb flash. One of the best I've ever used. Lights up a gym from one end to the other with little difficulty (with a wide enough aperature). Zoom-thyristor is great and built in meter is usually dead-on if used in full-auto (red) mode. While it is a tank, mine has taken a beating that other flashes would have died over (the Timex of flashes, takes a licking...oh, you know what I mean). I even use it on my auto everything 35mm (in manual mode of course) because I prefer how the pictures turn out and my auto-everything flash cannot be used in manual mode. But where it is especially impressive, is on my RB-67 shooting a wedding. The flash pictures can be enlarged to 16-20 without any noticable increase in grain do to low light. However, I'm certain the bride has a deeper tan by the time I am done shooing the event with that bad-boy. I just wish that I could give 7 out of 5 stars.

Similar Products Used:

Canon 277T, Canon 420EX, Quantaray QTB-9500

Allmost all Good light Good accesories Very ood recycle with nicad batt.1600 ma weather proof Good plastic house

Heavy.

This Product is one of the best kept secret in the photoworld;Its a classic best buy winner,that will always satisfy any serious photographer! i compare it to my Canon pro flash i find this Vivitar 285 better and stronger in most situations,it is for certain the best flash value for money,and highly respected. I use it for sport situations mostly and find it very very good,its better than nay i have tried ,once youll have learned to use it,you just put on automatic and Flash! it have never failed once. One thing i must say it is best functioning with fast Nicad 1600 maa batteries,this is a must. Please find all the accessories and use it again and again. A wonderfull flash.

Customer Service

none

Similar Products Used:

canon all types ..nikon ..metz... and the vivitar 283...also very very good

-robust lighting -simple operation -predictable results -one of the last best buys in the photoworld

-it's large; but what looks silly on an M6 fits an F5 well -the plastic shoe mount is pretty weak

It's rare to find photographic equipment that I'm completely satisfied with. But the is 285 is just that. I bought it to shoot high school football games. I was amazed that a portable, AA flash unit could light up the action from one sideline to the other! It gives you 4 auto flash settings, and 4 manual output settings, selectable with one dial. A great example of something so simple - so good.

Similar Products Used:

Nikon SB-22; Metz masher

-Simple operate -Strong light -CHEAP!

-Weak plastic hot shoe. I broke mine, and replaced it with a metal, now it looks like unbreakable!

Wow, you can't believe how good this flash is! It looks very weak, with cheap plastic construction and bulky design, but God, it does its job! The light out put is very strong, and the auto-flash is very accurate!

Customer Service

NONE

Similar Products Used:

Nikon SB22

-Powerful -Simple -Durable -Big (makes you look more pro :) ) -Cheap -removable sensor -nifty batterie holder

-maybe the shoe, but I've had no problems. -I find that the zoom head slides a little easy. -no ttl or auto zoom....j/k.

Wow. This flash is powerful, solid and cheap. It meets all my needs...and more. There were no regrets when buying this flash. Its simple. Its high enough off the camera to limit red-eye (I haven't had any red eye yet). The recycle time is a little slow but it is what you would expect for something this powerful, and how often do you shoot at full output anyways? The battery holder is "nifty", I bought 2 extras to make for quick battery replacement in the field. The removable sensor is just a bonus. Great flash.

Similar Products Used:

vivitar 2600, Soligor MK-6A

EASE OF USE, TOP QUALITY, MANY YEARS OF USE, AND BATTERIES AVAILABLE ANYWHERE.

OPERATOR ERROR?

I BOUGHT MY VIVITAR 285 FLASH UNIT IN 1980. I LIKED THE FACT THAT I CAN USE THE FLASH FOR SITUATIONS FAR BEYOND THE USUAL AND USELESS TEN FEET. I HAVE TAKEN SHOTS, WITH SUCCESS AT 60+ FEET. I LEFT BATTERIES IN IT FOR A COUPLE YEARS AND WAS ABLE TO CLEAN IT OUT AND KEEP ON USING IT. NOTHING HAS BROKEN ON IT YET, MAYBE PEOPLE ARE TOO ROUGH ON THE HOT SHOE CONNECTOR OR THE NEW ONES MIGHT BE WEAKER? SOME PEOPLE SAY ITS TOO BULKY / HEAVY AND A LITTLE BIT SLOW TO RECOVER; MINE IS USED ON A 70'S STYLE KONICA T-3 [GOOD MATCH] MY KONICA AND ALL MY LENSES ARE HEAVY METAL FROM THE GOOD OLD DAYS AND MANUAL WIND FILM ADVANCE. SO THIS FLASH UNIT IS A GOOD BALANCE [NOT TOO HEAVY AND NOT TOO SLOW.] I HAVE NO PROBLEM USING ALKALINE BATTERIES. [AS LONG AS I REMEMBER TO REMOVE THEM WHEN NOT IN USE.] FOR LASTING QUALITY VIVITAR 285 / KONICA T-3.

Customer Service

NEVER NEEDED.

Similar Products Used:

NONE. AFTER PURCHASING THIS AS MY FIRST FLASH UNIT THERE WAS NO NEED TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE.

Heavy duty, I've dropped this thing a few times and it has handled the abuse w/o a problem. Throws a lot of light when you need it. Simple to use. Most important, it's inexpensive.

Lacks TTL functions but for the price what do you expect. Using AA batteries the flash recycle time is a bit slow.

This is a great workhorse flash that can throw a lot of light on any subject you are working with. From shooting high school football games, to weddings, to bouncing it into an umbrella for portraits its a great flash to have in your bag. Connect this to a Quantum Turbo battery for the best performance.

Incredibly bright, cheap, rugged, accurate and easy to use in auto mode. Did I mention cheap? Can I give it 10 stars for value? Please?

Though it''''s impossible to expect these features for the price point, it doesn''''t have TTL metering or auto zoom since it''''s not dedicated. It''''s also kinda bulky, though I like that since it gets higher from the camera reducing the chance of red eye.

Not that this flash needs another stellar review, but I can''''t help it. Very bright, easy to use AND CHEAP. Though it might not have some of the bells and whistles some of the higher end flashes have, this one is about 1/3 the price and produces the same light. My photography teacher suggested I get this flash to complement my Pentax ZX-M manual camera and I haven''''t regretted it since. This is a dream - especially for photographers on a budget. I intend to hang onto this one for a long time.

Customer Service

Haven''''t needed it.

Similar Products Used:

None so far.