s7000 and Vivitar 285hv Power Issue

We opened presents early last night and one of the gifts I got was a Vivitar 285hv flash for my s7000. I've done some searching around last night and this morning, but I am unable to figure out how to power (turn on) the flash using the hot shoe! Is there a setting on the camera perhaps to change it to external flash usage?

I can't answer your guestion, but did you check to see if voltage from flash is not to high for your cam. Some flashes put out a lot of volts, my s9100 can take up to 400V. I have a 285 HV but do not know how many volts it puts out,so I have not tried on 9100.

I can't say for sure how many volts (at work right now), but I checked numerous other posts on here beforehand, all of which were saying that they work well together. I've printed the flash manual and have been looking through it, but it doesn't seem to have the answer.

To answer your original question about using an external flash, on the 9000, there is a menue item where by you "turn on" the external flash.

If this is not turned on, the external flash will not fire. Also, with it turned on, the built in flash will not fire.

Hope that helps in getting your 7000 working with the 285. A very good flash, with lots of power. Good luck and Merry Christmas with the new toy!
--
John Nollendorfs

Thanks so much for the reply. Would you happen to know how you access this setting on your 9000? I know it may be different on mine, I am just having a hard time locating it. I looked in my manual and was not able to find mention of external flash usage.

I could not find info in manual either. Checked Vivitar website with no luck. Talked to Fuji rep. they had no info on 285 HV, but I think it is lower than the 285 [smaller model]

Menu button
Left one step
There you are.

Merry Christmas!
Nionyn
--
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Scrappy excuse for a gallery at http://www.Nionyn.PhotoShare.co.nz

For the s7000 the camera can be in any of the following modes P/S/A/M press the F button. then press the right arrow button about 4 time and you will see the flash symbol just switch it on for external flash.

Hope that helps

That info can be found on page 65. The other's answered the rest.
Enjoy the ext. flash. It opens a whole new element to your shooting.

Lawrence

Ok, that's huge, thank you. So now my camera is in external flash mode. I am now starting to wonder if my flash is simply not working; I bought it used on ebay. I have my camera in aperture mode, and in external flash mode, and the 285hv turned to the ON position. The flash is sitting in the locked position in the hot shoe, which has a good connection. I have turned it on, let it sit there for about a minute, and the green light never come on. Unless there is something that I'm missing, maybe there's something about the flash I don't understand, but can I assume that I received a DOA?

Mike,

I'm not familiar with this flash but would think the green light should come on once charged. Maybe just the green light is malfunctioned. Batteries good? Do you hear a high pitch whine from the flash charging up? If so, have you tried snapping a shot after it's charged to see if if it does flash?
It's not sounding good.

Lawrence

I was so excited to see something about the old tried and true S7000 that I spoke incorrectly. You have to press the menu botton then the right arrow button. As far as your flash go you might have a problem there. I have the old Vivitar 3500, once I switch the flash on it will make that high pitch sound and display the red then the green light and will make the beeping sound. So with the flash off of the camera you might want to give it a quick test to see if it works. You might have a bad set of batteries in the camera or worst a bad flash.

dbrown

mikec82 said:

Ok, that's huge, thank you. So now my camera is in external flash
mode. I am now starting to wonder if my flash is simply not
working; I bought it used on ebay. I have my camera in aperture
mode, and in external flash mode, and the 285hv turned to the ON
position. The flash is sitting in the locked position in the hot
shoe, which has a good connection. I have turned it on, let it sit
there for about a minute, and the green light never come on. Unless
there is something that I'm missing, maybe there's something about
the flash I don't understand, but can I assume that I received a
DOA?

Click to expand...

Not necessarily...

From what I have read and my personal experience with my Vivitar 283 (smaller sibling of your 285) this is not unheard of with these units if they have not been used for some time.

First, though, does your flash fire when you use the manual firing (test) button? If it does then check camera settings and hotshoe connection.

If it does not fire using the test button here are some things to try - in sequence:
1. Make sure you are using batteries known to be good.

2. Check that the batteries are all inserted the correct way round. (Yes, yes, I know, but it's amazing how often these things happen - even to me! ;-0 )

3. Check that all battery/battery-clip connections are clean. Just for good measure clean them anyway. A pencil eraser is good for this, but make sure you blow out all the bits when you're done. If you see any corrosion anywhere you'll have to clean a little more... er... thoroughly.

4. Using fully charged batteries (or, better still, a mains adapter if you have one), switch the unit on and leave it on for a while (I've seen an hour or so suggested). I'd suggest you check periodically that nothing is overheating during this time.
Try the flash again.

5. If still no good, repeat step 4 (remember the fully charhged batteries bit) - perhaps a number of times (I've seen 3 or 4 times suggested to be necessary with some units).

With luck your unit will start to work at some point in the above process. When it does (fingers crossed...) it's a good idea to 'form the capacitor' in the following way:

1. Switch the unit on and allow to charge fully - let the ready light stay on for 15-20 seconds.
2. Fire the flash at full power using the button on the unit.

3. Allow to recharge and wait 15-20 seconds again after the ready light shows. Fire again at full power.
Repeat step 3 until you have fired the flash 5 or 6 times.

Job done - though it's a good idea to form the capacitor every so often, especially if you have not used the unit for some time.

I hope this helps, Mike, and that you get your flash working. It would certainly be useful over the coming festive whatsit.
Have a good one,
Cheers,
Nionyn
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