Vivitar 285HV Flash for SLR Cameras (Black)

by Vivitar

• Guide number: 36 DIN
• Zoom flash head
• Auto bounce control
• Vertical bounce flash
• Auto Thyristor circuitry

Product Details

Product Manual [678kb PDF]

• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 3 x 4.5 inches ; 1.1 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B00004TVSP
• Item model number: 285HV
• Batteries 4 AA batteries required.
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (123 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #30 in Electronics > Camera & Photo > Flashes > Shoe Mount Flashes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 27, 2000

Product Description

Amazon.com

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.

Product Description

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. This smart flash has a sufficient light indicator that allows you to make the most of your photos. Includes a variable power control with optional VP-1 remote sensor capability .

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

89 of 89 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Vivitar 285HV or Sunpak 383 Super? Your Choice November 22, 2007

By hobbyist-2006

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.

90 of 94 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars great flash for the money December 2, 2002

By Lakan Kildap

Let's get to the bad stuff first:

1) no swivel
2) printed numbers on calculator dial may wear off or get scratched off (UPDATE: no, they haven't been scratched off yet by mes, but in the hands of heavy/pro users they might be. Bottom line, for casual use, the printed numbers are durable enough.)
3) plastic foot may break
4) sync cord, battery holder and AC adapter are hard to find in stores
5) of course, no TTL, but we already knew that

OK, the good stuff (really good)
1) very powerful, big grins on subjects after they hear the loud pop and see the light. This is one big gun.
2) meter is surprisingly accurate
3) zoom head and wide angle adapter
4) generous auto range of 4 apertures, variable power settings of 1/2, 1/4 and 1/16
5) if you use flash as main source of light, don't shoot closeups with flash and have no need for TTL, this is all the flash you need (UPDATE: actually with the proper set up, you can even use this for close-ups)
6) did I say this flash is so affordable?

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars solid work horse with a gotcha November 30, 2008

By Magnus

Amazon Verified Purchase

I started out buying more expensive Canon flashes but didn't need the E-TTL features. Based on a web review, I bought a couple of Vivitar 285HV's and used them with my existing off-camera triggering system (which consists of Elinchrom Skyport radio triggers and Wein optical hot shoe triggers). All of my existing triggers fired through the hot shoe of the flash and have worked with a variety of flashes, including older Vivitar 283 flashes.

However, the 285HV is triggered on a different contact point than most flashes. It works fine on-camera, but doesn't work at all with any of these remote triggering options.

I've found that you need to use the trigger port on the side of the flash. Wein peanut slaves have a high failure rate, but Sonia triggers seem to work much more consistently well with this flash.

Once your system is working, these will fire consistently well. They don't recycle as fast as some of the more modern and expensive designs, but if you take your time and compose each shot well, you should be just fine. I've been replacing all of my other flashes and standardizing now on the 285HV for my field gear.

I use these for semi-professional fashion and art photography and it often surprises people to see me using such humble looking equipment and yet I get great results from them.

*** LONG TERM UPDATE ***
These flashes only last a little over a year and then they are kaput. I have had a few of them, all purchased around the same time, and in the middle of a shoot they will suddenly flash brightly and then not work anymore. As far as I can tell, these units are sealed up and not meant to be repaired.