Name: Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 at ISO 100
Brand: Vivitar
SKU: VV285HV
Price: 79.95 USD
Availability: Discontinued
Rating: 4.45 (49 reviews)

Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 at ISO 100

Vivitar 285HV

Vivitar

Vivitar 233965 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash

Adorama

Photography

Lighting & Studio

Flashes & On-Camera Lighting

On Camera Flashes

Vivitar On Camera Flashes

Vivitar 285HV 

Top Rated Gear: Vivitar 285HV Non-Dedicated Shoe Mount Flash with a Maximum Guide Number of 140 at ISO 100

Everything worked on the 285HV just as described and promised by Adorama. They responded immediately to a problem I had on ordering and got it corrected right away. My item arrived within the promised time and was a brand new item in the box. The flash worked with my Fuji Finepix SL260 and gives me a powerful adjustable flash option for my picture taking.

Just As Promised

I wanted a flash that I could lean some basics on without breaking the bank and this is it.  I also wanted to be able to put it on a bracket and not directly on the hot shoe.  I have a Sony A500 so I'm using a standard to Sony adapter the cord plugs into and then goes to the flash.
It has some automatic settings based on the meter on the front dial that can be used or removed.  I'm using it in a Manual mode mostly as a learning process and this flash lets me reduce the power up to 4 stops down.  It can be used with the usual range of accessories but I don't think it will work as slave flash on my particular camera.  

This is a basic functional flash, I would not recommend it for TTL use. But for basic automatic or manual use, yes, I would say it a great flash unit at the right price point.

Great flash to use and to lean on.

I bought my Vivitar 285 & a Stoboframe used from a newspaper photographer while I was in college in 1978. I was a Photography Major and used my camera every week. I did modeling and art photography for sale. I began photographing weddings and the Vivtar 285 was my only flash until 1998 when I bought a more powerful Metz 80CT-4. The Vivitar 285 ALWAYS worked and had enough power to photograph groups up to 30 people without a problem. I photographed inside churches during ceremonies from 50 feet away and got perfect exposurers. The most dependable flash I have ever owned; I never had a problem with it.

Best Dependable Flash Ever

I use this flash in every wedding that I have, is good in terms of quality, its price is very good compared to its quality.
the shoe is a bit fragile

My Fav Flash ever

I bought this so I could add some more light for portraits of the gradkids. I use it with an Ellinchrome skyport wireless trigger. It does what it's suppose to and was inexpensive. win/win

Vivitar flash

Great flash! very easy to use and quick to learn. I wish it had an optical slave but for the price and if you're using a wireless trigger you really can't complain.

Great product!

Simple and Easy

Today, it's rare to brag about using a piece of equipment that you remember from back in the 70's. This unit was fantastic then and it is fantastic now. Strong, consistent output combined with ease of use and trigger compatibility make it a must in your bag or studio.  
Adorama prices this unit just right for any budget. Thanks guys!

One of the Best ever made!

have used 285's for years,--consistant output is adjustable

old standby

Wow! Fast Accurate Delivery! This flash is a dependable classic. It's powerful and easy to use. If you don't have one, get one from Adorama ASAP!

Great as a Spare or Prime!

I use this as an off camera strobe for generlal use. Usually with a remote non ETTL attached to a monopod or a boom.

A workhorse as an off camera strobe

I like to use it/them off the camera with a remote with or without an umbrella for portraits.  It is not as powerful as a strobe but good enough. I have three that I use at the same time for this; they are small, battery operated and easy to set (used in weddings with great results).  I also used it to shoot with the sun behind subjects; it is strong enough.  Next thing I will try is to mount two or three in one bracket to gain power or to use them at 1/2 power and have faster recycle times.

great value for the price

Have tried different name brand flash units, but Vivitar has always excel in reliability and consistancy in providing the right exposures at all times. For the price of this flash unit, its worth every penny.

A quality flash unit that never fails

I am a semi-retired pro photographer who bought a 285 when they came out in the 70s or 80s as a back-up flash. I used Rollei's and Lumidyne's primarily. It was very dependable and well worth the cost. I recommend it highly. A 4" X 8" white plastic works great as a reflective bounce card.

Vivatar 285 Flash

Created a lightweight, portable, portrait or table top set with three of these lights. Foldable stands and umbrellas and other modifiers with optical slaves as well as wireless triggers offer a few different options for a quick and easy set up, for a fraction of the price of camera manufacturers speedlights. The manual Vari-power output along with the manual zoom is not a bother considering the cost of the unit. The addition of the batteries with charger is only a plus!

Tried and true

I love this flash! I think it beats the vivitar DF-383 which I had for a few months and its more expensive!

Great Flash!

This is a very versatile flash. I have used it on-camera as well as off-camera and am very pleased with the results. I have used this outdoors as well as in my studio. The output is consistent although the recycling time is a little slower than regular studio strobes.
Since this does not have E-TTL, you do have to be mindful of the manual settings at all times. With a little bit of practice, you won't even have to look at the settings dial to work out the correct exposure.
I was so pleased with the first one I bought that I got another one from Adorama.

Better than expected

I've dropped these down stairs, on the concrete and they just keep working.  I have not had any problems with the 3 that I have and I am very happy.  I primarily use them in manual mode, but I have used them in Auto and they work very well either way.  I do not understand why someone would pay $500 for a strobe when these work so incredibly well.

Built like a tank

Works great , excellent value for the money spent.

Great product at a great price

Wanted a flash that gave me control over my images that wasn't dedicated and it does that well just like the 283 I used to have, this also gives me direct control over the power with 1/16, 1/4 and 1/2 power settings. the only complaint I have is with the sync plug that vivitar has used from the beginning, come on guys, give it up and switch to the standard plug which works consistently without rubber bands or tape to hold it all the way in. I can't believe vivitar still uses this I know a lot of people that have had vivitar flashes and this has been a big complaint for a long time.

as good as the old 283

CAUTION !!!...VERY HIGH TRIGGER VOLTAGE...USE ELECTRONIC INTERFACE BETWEEN CAMERA HOT SHOE AND FLASH TO REDUCE VOLTAGE/CURRENT AT CAMERA INTERNAL CONTACT(S)...OTHERWISE WILL BURN OUT CAMERA FLASHTRIGGER CONTACT(S)....ESPECIALLY WITH DIGITAL CAMERAS WHICH HAVE REDUCED CURRENT-CARRYING CAPABILITY VS FILM-TYPE CAMERAS...IN ALL CASES PREFERABLE TO USE THE DEVICE LOWERING CAMERA CONTACT(S) CURRENT...PROTECT CAMERA...I like the unit because of aforechecked characteristics plus being a rugged unit...Would recommend with the cautions stated

CAUTION: VERY HIGH TRIGGER VOLTAGE...

I couldn't resist the temptation to modifying this unit. I added an input jack for external battery pack, but this is just me. Otherwise you don't need it. You just put in the batteries and you're goo to go. I'm so happy with this product, for sure I'll buy another soon...:)

great product

great flash for the money. light weight, reliable, and powerful!

great buy for the money!

This is a very nice, inexpensive flash, the proprietary sync plug kind of sucks but it is easy enough to make an adapter.

nice small strobe

I had used this flash ( - HV) with Nikon FM when I was a newbie almost thirty years ago! Had used it for over eight years before giving it away!

I bought this unit again and use it with a series of cameras including Nikon D50 and D90. Though it takes precedence over TTL metering, the increase in consistent quality makes it desirable.

I am very comfortable once again with indoor or night photography requirements.

Back in play after thirty years

This unit is a replacement to my 285, which I've been using since 1984. That earlier model proved to be both a reliable and versatile flash unit. It still works, but now the green ready light no longer works (I simply fire it on instinct and still get good lighting). With performance like this, the 285HV was a natural choice for a new unit. I find that my experience does not demand any of the "lazy-brained" features of dedicated units. The 285 and 285HV allows me to stay in full control of how my frame-exposure decisions

A consisently good device

I basically bought this to add off camera flash with the use of a wireless trigger. This is just a hobby so I wanted something inexpensive with manual variable output. This flash performs perfectly for me. I would highly recommend it for the hobbyist looking to experiment with off camera lighting. I use inexpensive cactus triggers.

Great flash for general, non dedicated use.  Works great as an accessorie fill in flash along with TTL dedicated unit.  The flash is well made, excellent recovery time and fill capability.

Great general purpose flash

I bought two of this, and both decide to stuck in one level of power (one on full and the other on 1/6). I search for this problem an it appear to be common in this product. Sure, they will last until the warranty exist.

Be carefull

Works fine on and off of my 20D. Get a wireless controler and a stand with the umberella bracket.

Don't judge a book by its cover

Quick and easy adjustments, good power for an expensive unit. For what it is 
it is a great little flash.