Vivitar 283 best flash gun ever made. I have a collection of these vintage flash guns and all work perfectly. They work great with cheap ebay flash triggers that allow you to use the flash off camera, avoiding the high voltage that can be produced by these vintage units from damaging digital cameras. Fitted with eneloop rechargeable batteries you can get a good amount of flashes due to the excellent internal battery saver circuitry, not like some of the modern flash guns of today.
Great Video! Ihave a 283but just haven't used it. Now I will have to dig it out and try it!!! I still shoot film becauseI like the fact that I have a negative that can be stored and saved for future use. No electrical malfunction can destroy it as with a digital image.
I totally love my Vivitar 283. In my opinion this flash gun is as relevant today as it was when it was released all the way back in the 70s. It’s still pretty versatile thanks to all its accessories. If you’re a flash shooter like me you can’t help but to be enamored with this very capable flash unit.
Back in the day, there were literally thousand of 283s all over the place. It had a deserved reputation of being incredibly tough. It was not the most powerful, but it was an effective balance of power, size and weight compared to others. Vivitar offered it in several versions with different power sources, along with more accessories than any other of its flash units. Many other companies offered other accessories to further expand utility. You could run a studio on these things if necessary. Today, the big risk of buying a 283 is its age. Flashes run on capacitors, and those in the 283 have been around well beyond a normal useful life for those components. Try before you buy. (They either work or they do not - no in between. For someone who knows what they are doing, the capacitors can be replaced.)
Well said Randall! I think indeed the fact many perfectly working units are still around is testimony to their great quality. I also very much love all the accessories available for these units. I don’t have all of them and some seem hard(er) to find. I’ve very much been enjoying my copy since I took an interest in its history. No, it doesn’t have the modern day bells and whistles such as high speed sync or build in wireless capabilities but there is a real, and personally to me, quite an addictive charm to the tech of that era and at the end of the day the Vivitar 283 gets the job done beautifully. Thanks so much for watching!
Hi Neil, yea they are. If you buy a few receivers and one transmitter with a few of these puppies you are good to go in a studio. Thanks so much for watching.
It was laudible in being somewhat of a first of the type, but the features that you praise it for soon appeared in other flash units of that time and usually improved on it. The Vivitar 285HV for a start, which combined the Auto and Manual modes in one module, then the Vivitar Series 1 600 which had a head that swivelled as well as tilted. Rival Sunpak leap-frogged the Viv 283 with their 383 and 36DX. (All those have similar Guide Numbers.) Above all, I'd avoid the 283 because of the questionable high trigger voltage - don't expect an Ebay seller to know what you are talking about if you ask them, so it is a lottery whether you get a early or later one. Vivitar should have changed the model number when they lowered the voltage, to 283ii or something, but they didn't. If you really like the idea of the 283, I advise getting the very similar but significantly better 285HV (the "HV" suffix is a must) because they were made a bit later so did have a safe lower voltage.
Hi, as mentioned in my video the ones which were manufactured in Korea have the lower trigger voltage so all you’d have to ask a potential EBay seller is if the unit made in Japan or Korea. In my video I did advice against purchasing the Japan units which are really only an issue with newer cameras. If I’d like all the fancy features I can easily shoot with my Nikon SB-600. That is not what this video is about. The 283 is a great value for the money and highly capable of producing great photography, especially when on a budget. This flash unit was very popular back in the day with many professionals so I’m sure it had some merit to it. I respect your opinion but I respectfully disagree. Thanks so much for watching.
Hello from Mexico, I liked your video, although I still have a question: how do I know where the flash was built? and how do you make the connections of the flash with the transmitter? Could you make an explanation about that topic? Thank you very much and regards.
Hi Yara! At the bottom of the flash, right above the foot, below the sensor it will say “Korea” or “Japan”. You could also ask the seller which trigger voltage the unit has but I would go with the Korea model. Any wireless transmitter system is going to have a transmitter and a receiver. They communicate with each other. Some are brand-specific but in case of the Vivitar 283 you need a generic one that is not brand-specific. So the receiver will have a hot shoe and you put the flash in it. Sometimes you can also connect the receiver to the flash with only the PC cable. I have seen that too. For instance Pocket Wizard is a very popular brand and the receiver does not have a hot shoe but connects to the flash with cables. Enjoy shooting your Vivitar 283. It’s an awesome flash. Lovely question! Thanks so much for watching and for you compliment.
Hey there, I inherited one of these that's marked manufactured in China. Would the qualify as the Japanese or Korean voltage? Also, what year range were these made? Thanks for the vintage kit overview!
Hi, I do believe the China model was a later model with the lower trigger voltage of 6-12 volts. You could always get a volt meter and quickly test it. Even if it has the higher trigger voltage it’s still an amazing flash gun and you could use that with older bodies. Have fun shooting it and thanks so much for your kind words and for watching.
I bought a Canon 5 D mark ii and there was a Japanese 283 that came with it. Not sure if the owner used the flash with the Canon as he had a lot of cameras, but my guess is that he did. I wonder if it did some damage to the flash circuit in the camera? Wondering if I should test the flash circuit in the camera somehow?
Hi Tom, you could get a universal voltage meter and test the trigger voltage of the flash. It’s rather easy. There are at least 2 videos on it. Even if you have the version with the higher trigger voltage it’s still a great flash to use with other cameras that can take the higher trigger voltage. Thanks so much for watching and have fun with the 283.
Hello got the same model of the flash but, for how many months i didnt used it. Now my problem is it doesnt fire anymore even using a new fresh batts. What could be the problem any idea? Thaanks
Hi Harvey there could be many problems. Have you checked the battery compartment for dirty contacts? The one major problem these flashes have is old capacitors. Once they break down you essentially do have to replace the unit. Thankfully you can find one in great condition for very little money on EBay. Hope this helps and thanks so much for watching.
O.K. lets stop the presses, Since 1981 I've had a Vivitar 283 and yes I do still shoot 4X5 Sinar P negatives, 6 X 7 negatives, in the 80's this flash has made me thousands of dollars even in 2024 on my Canon mark iv .
I’m not familiar with the 285 although I have been interested in it. I do know that in both models the base is indeed a reason for concern. Personally I do love the 283. Thanks so much for watching.
Vivitar 283 best flash gun ever made. I have a collection of these vintage flash guns and all work perfectly. They work great with cheap ebay flash triggers that allow you to use the flash off camera, avoiding the high voltage that can be produced by these vintage units from damaging digital cameras. Fitted with eneloop rechargeable batteries you can get a good amount of flashes due to the excellent internal battery saver circuitry, not like some of the modern flash guns of today.
Completely agree the 283 is a phenomenon flashgun. It still holds its own even against modern flash units.
Thanks so much for watching.
Great Video! Ihave a 283but just haven't used it. Now I will have to dig it out and try it!!! I still shoot film becauseI like the fact that I have a negative that can be stored and saved for future use. No electrical malfunction can destroy it as with a digital image.
I totally love my Vivitar 283. In my opinion this flash gun is as relevant today as it was when it was released all the way back in the 70s. It’s still pretty versatile thanks to all its accessories. If you’re a flash shooter like me you can’t help but to be enamored with this very capable flash unit.
Back in the day, there were literally thousand of 283s all over the place. It had a deserved reputation of being incredibly tough. It was not the most powerful, but it was an effective balance of power, size and weight compared to others. Vivitar offered it in several versions with different power sources, along with more accessories than any other of its flash units. Many other companies offered other accessories to further expand utility. You could run a studio on these things if necessary. Today, the big risk of buying a 283 is its age. Flashes run on capacitors, and those in the 283 have been around well beyond a normal useful life for those components. Try before you buy. (They either work or they do not - no in between. For someone who knows what they are doing, the capacitors can be replaced.)
Well said Randall! I think indeed the fact many perfectly working units are still around is testimony to their great quality. I also very much love all the accessories available for these units. I don’t have all of them and some seem hard(er) to find. I’ve very much been enjoying my copy since I took an interest in its history. No, it doesn’t have the modern day bells and whistles such as high speed sync or build in wireless capabilities but there is a real, and personally to me, quite an addictive charm to the tech of that era and at the end of the day the Vivitar 283 gets the job done beautifully.
Thanks so much for watching!
Powerful units, and they are great for a portable studio unit.
Hi Neil, yea they are. If you buy a few receivers and one transmitter with a few of these puppies you are good to go in a studio. Thanks so much for watching.
It was laudible in being somewhat of a first of the type, but the features that you praise it for soon appeared in other flash units of that time and usually improved on it. The Vivitar 285HV for a start, which combined the Auto and Manual modes in one module, then the Vivitar Series 1 600 which had a head that swivelled as well as tilted. Rival Sunpak leap-frogged the Viv 283 with their 383 and 36DX. (All those have similar Guide Numbers.) Above all, I'd avoid the 283 because of the questionable high trigger voltage - don't expect an Ebay seller to know what you are talking about if you ask them, so it is a lottery whether you get a early or later one. Vivitar should have changed the model number when they lowered the voltage, to 283ii or something, but they didn't.
If you really like the idea of the 283, I advise getting the very similar but significantly better 285HV (the "HV" suffix is a must) because they were made a bit later so did have a safe lower voltage.
Hi, as mentioned in my video the ones which were manufactured in Korea have the lower trigger voltage so all you’d have to ask a potential EBay seller is if the unit made in Japan or Korea. In my video I did advice against purchasing the Japan units which are really only an issue with newer cameras.
If I’d like all the fancy features I can easily shoot with my Nikon SB-600. That is not what this video is about. The 283 is a great value for the money and highly capable of producing great photography, especially when on a budget.
This flash unit was very popular back in the day with many professionals so I’m sure it had some merit to it.
I respect your opinion but I respectfully disagree. Thanks so much for watching.
Hello from Mexico, I liked your video, although I still have a question: how do I know where the flash was built? and how do you make the connections of the flash with the transmitter? Could you make an explanation about that topic? Thank you very much and regards.
Hi Yara! At the bottom of the flash, right above the foot, below the sensor it will say “Korea” or “Japan”. You could also ask the seller which trigger voltage the unit has but I would go with the Korea model.
Any wireless transmitter system is going to have a transmitter and a receiver. They communicate with each other. Some are brand-specific but in case of the Vivitar 283 you need a generic one that is not brand-specific. So the receiver will have a hot shoe and you put the flash in it. Sometimes you can also connect the receiver to the flash with only the PC cable. I have seen that too. For instance Pocket Wizard is a very popular brand and the receiver does not have a hot shoe but connects to the flash with cables.
Enjoy shooting your Vivitar 283. It’s an awesome flash.
Lovely question! Thanks so much for watching and for you compliment.
Hey there,
I inherited one of these that's marked manufactured in China. Would the qualify as the Japanese or Korean voltage? Also, what year range were these made?
Thanks for the vintage kit overview!
Hi, I do believe the China model was a later model with the lower trigger voltage of 6-12 volts. You could always get a volt meter and quickly test it. Even if it has the higher trigger voltage it’s still an amazing flash gun and you could use that with older bodies. Have fun shooting it and thanks so much for your kind words and for watching.
I bought a Canon 5 D mark ii and there was a Japanese 283 that came with it. Not sure if the owner used the flash with the Canon as he had a lot of cameras, but my guess is that he did. I wonder if it did some damage to the flash circuit in the camera? Wondering if I should test the flash circuit in the camera somehow?
Hi Tom, you could get a universal voltage meter and test the trigger voltage of the flash. It’s rather easy. There are at least 2 videos on it. Even if you have the version with the higher trigger voltage it’s still a great flash to use with other cameras that can take the higher trigger voltage.
Thanks so much for watching and have fun with the 283.
I have the 285. Need to rebuild my battery packs and get the rest of the gear to hook it up
I really love my 283. It’s a real winner.
Hello got the same model of the flash but, for how many months i didnt used it. Now my problem is it doesnt fire anymore even using a new fresh batts. What could be the problem any idea? Thaanks
Hi Harvey there could be many problems. Have you checked the battery compartment for dirty contacts? The one major problem these flashes have is old capacitors. Once they break down you essentially do have to replace the unit. Thankfully you can find one in great condition for very little money on EBay.
Hope this helps and thanks so much for watching.
@@TheFilmFellow solved the problem the issue was dirty contacts. Thaanks for the reply and this informative video
@@HarveyG. Glad you got it resolved.
@@HarveyG. Glad you got it fixed. It’s an amazing flash and yes sometimes those contacts need cleaning. Happy shooting.
O.K. lets stop the presses, Since 1981 I've had a Vivitar 283 and yes I do still shoot 4X5 Sinar P negatives, 6 X 7 negatives, in the 80's this flash has made me thousands of dollars even in 2024 on my Canon mark iv .
I had the 285 flash. Good in its day but not that easy to use. Eventually snapped off at the base!
I’m not familiar with the 285 although I have been interested in it. I do know that in both models the base is indeed a reason for concern.
Personally I do love the 283.
Thanks so much for watching.
@@TheFilmFellow Thank you for the video.