Vivitar V2000 General Purpose Electronic Flash for 35mm Camera Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)The good news: This is a great little flash - lots of power (guide number 79 at ISO 100) and it recycles quickly despite not being labeled as a thyristor model. Note: it is not a zoom bounce -- the bounce head does not extend (or swivel) but it is designed to be compact and that it is. The unit I bought from one vendor was as described and worked well with my Nikon N50. It had a port that was obviously for a sync cable but the port appeared to be designed for a (relatively) standard 2.5mm male miniplug, rather than the proprietary Vivitar interface you find on the 283/285hv professional level flashes (or the model 2500 bounce zoom series, etc.). I attached a Paramount Sunpak PC coiled sync cable to the flash (using the male miniplug described above) and connected the camera end of the cable to an X port on a Nikkormat FTn. The flash fired no problem. That is good news as it means sync cables are readily available for anyone who needs one. The unit works fine in full manual mode, using the guide number to calculate the exposure, and has two automatic modes that also seem to work very well.
The drawback to buying this item on Amazon: I liked the flash so much I wanted to buy a backup and so I bought a second flash from abesbeergarden. It was billed as being a model V2000 and used the same photo - a picture of a bounce flash. What arrived was an earlier model 2000 (no V prefix). The older model is NOT a bounce flash and has a permanently attached sync cable - mine functioned but this is not a good thing as once it breaks it cannot be replaced. Buyer beware: be certain that the device you purchase is indeed a BOUNCE flash (v2000)
To illustrate the difference I've uploaded a photo of the two devices side by side:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Vivitar_2000.jpg
The older, non-bounce, flash is on the left. As shown, the V prefix on the newer model is not printed on the plastic case. The principal differentiating feature is the bounce head which is present on the V2000 and absent from the 2000.

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Guide Number: 79 / Easy-to-use calculator chart / Hot shoe and PC cord for any 35mm camera / Adjustable angle for Bounce effect

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Vivitar 285HV Auto Professional Flash for Canon EOS XSI XTI T1I 1000D 450D 40D 30D 20D 10D 5D + LCD Screen Protectors + BP MicroFiber Cleaning Cloth Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I had a 580EX II and was looking for a less expensive flash which I could use for strobe experiments. I am very happy that I chose Vivitar 285HV.

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ButterflyPhoto has Offered Top quality products for all digital cameras for over 15 years. Every product is guaranteed to work 100% perfectly and is 100% Brand New in its original Package. Each item includes a Full Worldwide warranty and is 100% sanctioned for safe use. ButterflyPhoto is a Leader In the Consumer Electronics Business, Our ratings throughout the internet are second to None.

Solid. Sturdy. Hefty. Old school. Mention "Vivitar 285" to photographers who've been around a while and those are the words that come to mind. The 285 (and its cousin, the 283), were long considered "workhorse" strobe units by working pros and have been around in various incarnations since 1972. In those 35 years, they've probably found their way into more camera bags than any other portable flash unit.

Key Features Auto Bounce Control Built-in Vary-Power Control Thyristor Battery Saving Circuit Sufficient light Indicator Zoom Flash Head Lighted Calculator Dial 4 Auto f / Stop Complete Accessory system Available Uses High Voltage Battery Pack / HVP-1 Uses Power Pistol Grip / PPG-1


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Kit Includes: ♦ 1) Vivitar - Vivitar 285HV Auto Professional Flash ♦ 2) Zeikos - Deluxe Universal 5" LCD Screen Protectors ♦ 3) ButterflyPhoto - ButterflyPhoto Micro Fiber Cleaning Cloth

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Vivitar 285HV Auto Professional Flash Review

Average Reviews:

(More customer reviews)I compared the 285HV with Sunpak 383 Super and I found out these differences and similiraties:
1. Both are non-brand specific Manual/non-TTL auto flash for use in practically any camera with standard hotshoe.
2. Both have the same Guide Number of 120.
3. In Manual mode, they can slice their power output from 1/1 to 1/16th except that the 285HV is missing 1/8th.
4. In non-TTL auto, the 285HV has four auto-aperture settings while the 383Super has only three.
5. The 383Super can do vertical and horizontal bounce (swivel) while the 285HV can do vertical bounce only.
6. The 285HV has zoom positions to cover 35mm, 50mm and 105mm focal length lenses. It also includs an extra-wide flash head adapter to cover 28mm focal length. The 383Super has no zoom position and can cover only 35mm focal length and up.
7. I havent measured the sync voltage of the 383 Super but I am sure that the 285HV has a sync voltage of 6V DC as I measured it myself.
8. The 383 Super locks on the hotshoe by turning a screw while the 285HV has a one-action locking lever.
9. The 285HV has a lovely illuminated (yes!) calculator dial which is practically a tiny work of art! Its a pity though it has no varnish of some sort to protect its surface markings from scratching.
I can live without 383 Super's additional swivel and 1/8th power ratio. I need the 285HV's direct, brute light power when shooting inside high-ceiling rooms and dim conditions where I cannot approach my subjects. The zoom-capable flash head helps in this situation because it boosts precious flash range just a bit more than what the 383 Super can.
I can also use the extra-wide adapter when using the 18-55mm lens of the D40 at 18mm. In film terms, 18mm focal lenght on the D40 is 27mm- just perfect for the 28mm extra-wide adapter.
I prefer the one-action locking lever of the 285HV. The locking lever makes the flash more stable as compared to the turn screw on my other flash.
Of course, the 285HV has none of the programmed high-tech artificial intelligence of expensive flashes (say,a Nikon SB800 or a Canon 580EX), other than its auto-thyristor and manual controls. However, in its auto thyristor mode, I found it to be accurate. Sometimes in tricky situations (say, a white board behind your friend) it under-exposes, as expected. But thanks to the digital SLR where I attach it to (Nikon D40), I can quickly make corrections on the spot by examining the LCD! Easy!
Although plastic, Vivitar build it well. Solid feel with no loose parts which are not supposed to be loose. Overall, a beautifully made simple flash. But for what it was made to do, from my experience a least, it does very well, consistently and reliably.

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The built-in variable power of the Vivitar 285HV auto professional flash provides you with fill flash and the ability to shoot properly exposed rapid-sequence pictures. This vertical bounce flash gives your photographs soft, professional lighting. The four f-stops give you control over the flash distance range and the depth of field, while the auto Thyristor circuitry allows for a faster recycling time as well as more flashes per set of batteries.

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