Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

For the price nothing can beat 285HV. Built quality is really good, it is a surprise since it's design date back from the 70s. Built almost like a tank. It's a great sub for 430EX if you don't need the fancy E-TTL stuff. I hope Vivitar would never discontinue 285HV.

It's a simple no frill flash. The power adjustment knob is hard to bump by accident which is a plus. The auto thyristor works fine. I don't use it that much since I do everything manual.

I have 3 of these puppies. Non swivel's head is not a problem for me since I put the 285s on light stands anyway.

The light's color seems to be warmer compared to Canon's flashes.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

Two flashes broke - had to deal with Vivitar customer service both times to get a replacement. Only under threat of a lawsuit did they finally send me a replacement. Their answer to dealing with a customer issue is to take a message and just not call back.

Otherwise, the flash is powerful, and the zoom function is nice. Though it makes the flash a little top heavy and bulky. When I'm shooting with it on camera, I miss the ability to swivel/rotate the head, a feature found in other similarly priced/spec'ed flashes that I have, such as the Sunpak 383 Super Auto Flash. The swivel comes in handy if I need to bounce it off a wall, or I'm shooting in portrait orientation and I need to bounce off the ceiling.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

I needed a flash with manual control, but did not want to spend a lot in the process. I considered buying a used Nikon unit, but went with a new Vivitar instead. I am quite happy with my choice. I wish that I could dial the power down to 1/32 and 1/64 for more tricky situations, but outside that I have no complaints. (And I can effect those settings with neutral density gels anyway, so no big deal).
I have only used this unit in off-camera applications, along with CyberSync triggers.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

for the price you cant go wrong, besides special features, it does what its supposed to, and provides good light, planing on buying another, btw dont forget to buy a vivitar to pw cord, its included vivitar to pc.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

This flash is good due to its simple manual controls. One dial sets your power. Simply pull the flash head to zoom. It doesn't have all of the bells & whistles, but its good for what it is. The built in slot works well for filters/gels.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

Bought this flash along with other basic studio lighting equipment to use in conjunction with going through "The Strobist" bootcamp, etc. After a little bit of getting acquainted with its settings I have found it to be a very reliable and accurate strobe with plenty of power. My only complaints are that the manual zoom slider is a bit clunky and stiff, but this is only a minor inconvenience, and the power setting guage on the side is sometimes hard to read.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

If you need a flash buy this one! It has worked great for my studio and the photographs are beautiful!

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

Bought because the 285HV has a 12 volt trigger. Digital cameras can be damaged by the older units 200+ volt trigger. The unit can be simple to use or as complex as you want to make it. Quick recharge with new AA batteries but NiCads are much better. Remote triggers must be the new V2 (low voltage triggger) or you will have problems. No TTL but it does have a Vari Sensor Module that automatically adjusts flash output. Very hard to beat for the price.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

I have used the Vivitar 285 for years, preferring to keep buying Safe Syncs than give up my favorite flash. Now that the new 285 is safe (and I tested it myself with a volt meter--it's down to between 2-4 volts as opposed to 10-12 before), I can't think of any reason you wouldn't use this inexpensive, fully manual flash that won't give you the unpredictability of auto TTL, especially for fill.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

I purchased this flash to use with my Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 and I'm very satisfied. The unit is very powerful and relatively easy to use once you learn how to use all the dials. Compared to the cost of a dedicated flash, the Vivitar 285 is a good value.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

You really can not beat this flash for the price! I have used older 285hv and non hv's for years and have found them to be exceptional units that never leave you hanging. One of mine even survived a house fire, the housing is a little warped now but it still works perfect! It would be nice to have more vari power options, more like the 283 with the vp-1 module. Another thing that coul be improved is the hot shoe foot, a metal replacement can be bought for a buck on ebay, it should be standard. The auto modes work great for single flash use and are a big plus for people who are not manual ready. The output calculator is very accurate but a little tricky at first. I would recommend this flash to any one!

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

the flash does what it is supposed todo and I bought it as secondary flash to my sb-600. But honestly right now I'm thinking about returning/selling it because a second sb-600 would have worked better. my main problem is, that it is so big compared to the sb-600 and is not so adjustable like the sb-600 you only get 1/1 1/2 1/4 1/8 1/16. with not adjustments in between.

its is also not very sturdy and I'm really afraid that it falls apart if I drop it. And flash are screaming, drop me drop me... My sb-600 on the other hand survives everything.

So is it a good flash? Yes!
Does it what its supposed todo? Yes!
Would i buy it again? No!
Is it simply to use? Yes!

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

Great manual flash for a variety of off-camera uses. The only cons: 1) proprietary sync-cord connection, 2) finicky with the cheap eBay radio triggers *unless* you make sure to "form the capacitor" as instructed in the manual (i.e., when not used for a while, charge the flash to full power and discharge it and repeat this cycle about 3 - 5 times).

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

Inexpensive, but powerful flash. Great for off-camera photography (just attach a slave trigger). Be sure to condition the capacitor as per the instruction manual (power up to full charge, then discharge, repeat about 5 times). The built-in slot for the diffuser works great for holding gels, too. And if you're using the cheap [...] triggers, make sure the flash and the trigger both have fresh batteries or they won't work well together.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

Very easy to control power levels.
Glad they updated for digital use.

Comments about Vivitar Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 @ ISO 100:

I received my first 285HV and instantly got great results... well, for a few minutes anyway. The flash died less than an hour after I bought it. From the results I saw with the first few shots I know it has great capabilities, but this particular unit was a lemon. Hopefully it will get replaced without too much pain. From all the other great reviews I'm sure this is a low frequency failure and my next one should be good. I'd give it five stars if it weren't for the first unit being defective.