SunPak 383 Flash Unit and NiMH Batteries

Anthony Anzalone · Jan 25, 2003

Hi All,

I read in the other posts that the vivitar 285 refuses to work with NiMH batteries... Is this true of the SunPak383? This will be a BIG point in choosing a flash..

thanks,
--
-Anthony

Pastor Bob · Jan 25, 2003

Anthony Anzalone said:
Hi All,

I read in the other posts that the vivitar 285 refuses to work with
NiMH batteries... Is this true of the SunPak383? This will be a BIG
point in choosing a flash..

thanks,
--

Anthony,

That's all I use in mine and no problems at all. I've used both 1850 and 1950 MAh NiMH's. Takes 4 AA's just like the Fuji S602z.
--
Blessings,
Pastor Bob - NJ (USA)
(FinePix S602z/Sunpak Auto 383 Super)

Anthony Anzalone · Jan 25, 2003

Pastor Bob said:
Anthony Anzalone said:

Hi All,

I read in the other posts that the vivitar 285 refuses to work with
NiMH batteries... Is this true of the SunPak383? This will be a BIG
point in choosing a flash..

thanks,
--

Click to expand...

Anthony,
That's all I use in mine and no problems at all. I've used both
1850 and 1950 MAh NiMH's. Takes 4 AA's just like the Fuji S602z.
--
Blessings,
Pastor Bob - NJ (USA)
(FinePix S602z/Sunpak Auto 383 Super)

thanks bob,

hmm cool, have the energizer 1700 MAh (not the cheap ones) would those be ok or should i go and get the hight power ones? I think they are up to 1950's also..
-Anthony

jkirk@oz · Jan 25, 2003

I've used several NiMH brands in my 285 and they're all fantastic. Yesterday I fired 450 shots on a fresh set, and they were still going strong. It wouldn't matter if they were 1600-2000mAH. Its probably a good idea to use the same types as you use for the camera, like I do, that way they're all fully interchangeable.
I doubt the Sunpak story will be any different.
JKirk

Anthony Anzalone said:
Anthony Anzalone said:

Anthony Anzalone said:

Hi All,
I read in the other posts that the vivitar 285 refuses to work with
NiMH batteries... Is this true of the SunPak383? This will be a BIG
point in choosing a flash..
thanks,

Click to expand...

Anthony,

Click to expand...

Anthony Anzalone said:
Anthony Anzalone said:

That's all I use in mine and no problems at all. I've used both
1850 and 1950 MAh NiMH's. Takes 4 AA's just like the Fuji S602z.
Blessings,
Pastor Bob - NJ (USA)
(FinePix S602z/Sunpak Auto 383 Super)

Click to expand...

Anthony Anzalone said:
thanks bob,
hmm cool, have the energizer 1700 MAh (not the cheap ones) would
those be ok or should i go and get the hight power ones? I think
they are up to 1950's also..
-Anthony

Anthony Anzalone · Jan 25, 2003

jkirk@oz said:
jkirk@oz said:

jkirk@oz said:

Anthony Anzalone said:

Hi All,
I read in the other posts that the vivitar 285 refuses to work with
NiMH batteries... Is this true of the SunPak383? This will be a BIG
point in choosing a flash..
thanks,

Click to expand...

Anthony,

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

jkirk@oz said:

jkirk@oz said:

That's all I use in mine and no problems at all. I've used both
1850 and 1950 MAh NiMH's. Takes 4 AA's just like the Fuji S602z.
Blessings,
Pastor Bob - NJ (USA)
(FinePix S602z/Sunpak Auto 383 Super)

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

jkirk@oz said:

thanks bob,
hmm cool, have the energizer 1700 MAh (not the cheap ones) would
those be ok or should i go and get the hight power ones? I think
they are up to 1950's also..
-Anthony

Click to expand...

thanks jkirk

thanks for posting me wrong about the vivitar.. I just remember reading about people having probs with the NiMH thats all.. do you find your 285 to big to carry around with you? what do you think of the sunpak 383 your thoughts are appreciated..
--
-Anthony

jkirk@oz · Jan 25, 2003

You're welcome,

Yeah siiiigh, its big and heavy, but it has 1 HELL of a mean Flash

It saved me from wild animals more than once

I am actually about to purchase a 383 to compare. Both are excellent units, the 383 being lighter and the 285 more power.

As soon as I do the comparison, I'll post it. Maybe someone has already done a comparison.
JKirk

Anthony Anzalone said:
Anthony Anzalone wrote:
thanks jkirk
thanks for posting me wrong about the vivitar.. I just remember
reading about people having probs with the NiMH thats all.. do you
find your 285 to big to carry around with you? what do you think of
the sunpak 383 your thoughts are appreciated..
-Anthony

Anthony Anzalone · Jan 25, 2003

jkirk@oz said:
jkirk@oz said:

Anthony Anzalone wrote:
thanks jkirk
thanks for posting me wrong about the vivitar.. I just remember
reading about people having probs with the NiMH thats all.. do you
find your 285 to big to carry around with you? what do you think of
the sunpak 383 your thoughts are appreciated..
-Anthony

Click to expand...

hey.. a head to head comparison would be great! can't wait to hear your results.
--
-Anthony

KC63881 · Jan 25, 2003

Probably that is due to that person's batteries (maybe discharged?) than the flash. I've several friends who have used only NiMHs on their Vivitar 285HV and none of them have any issues with it.

Anthony Anzalone said:
Hi All,

I read in the other posts that the vivitar 285 refuses to work with
NiMH batteries... Is this true of the SunPak383? This will be a BIG
point in choosing a flash..

thanks,
--
-Anthony

--

Check out some fashion shots I have taken: http://mpenza.clubsnap.org/view_album.php?set_albumName=fashion

KC63881 · Jan 25, 2003

Just get the Sunpak SUper 383. It offers horizontally swivel capability which is lacking in Vivitar 285HV. This allows you to bounce the flash off the ceiling when you have the camera in a portrait orientation.

Anthony Anzalone said:
jkirk@oz said:

Anthony Anzalone said:

Anthony Anzalone wrote:
thanks jkirk
thanks for posting me wrong about the vivitar.. I just remember
reading about people having probs with the NiMH thats all.. do you
find your 285 to big to carry around with you? what do you think of
the sunpak 383 your thoughts are appreciated..
-Anthony

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

hey.. a head to head comparison would be great! can't wait to hear
your results.
--
-Anthony

--

Check out some fashion shots I have taken: http://mpenza.clubsnap.org/view_album.php?set_albumName=fashion

John Glover · Jan 25, 2003

KC said:
Probably that is due to that person's batteries (maybe discharged?)
than the flash. I've several friends who have used only NiMHs on
their Vivitar 285HV and none of them have any issues with it.

Some brands of NiMH batteries do not make good contact in certain types of devices, due to the size of the positive buttonon the top of the battery. I've got an MP3 player that is quite particular about the shape of the battery. The Powerex rechargeables are iffy in this player due to the smaller size of the positive pole, while my GP or Rayovacs work just fine.

--
John

Fuji 6900Z, Fuji2600Z,
Pentax PZ-1p, Pentax ZX-M, Pentax MX, Oly Stylus
http://www.pbase.com/jglover

Steve Simpkin · Jan 26, 2003

Me too.

I am also trying to decide between these two flashes.

My sources of information include the informal reviews listed below and this forum.

Sunpak 383 reviews ($70 B&H):
http://www.photographyreview.com/Flashes/Sunpak+383+Super/PRD_84008_3121crx.aspx

Vivitar 285 reviews ($80 B&H):
http://www.photographyreview.com/PRD_84019_3121crx.aspx

The bottom line is that these are both good flashes for the Fuji 602. I am currently leaning towards the Sunpak 383 for its swivel feature. I am also slightly concerned about the reoccurring complaint of a weak plastic shoe mount on the Vivitar 285.

Steve Simpkin

Anthony Anzalone said:
jkirk@oz said:

Anthony Anzalone said:

Anthony Anzalone wrote:
thanks jkirk
thanks for posting me wrong about the vivitar.. I just remember
reading about people having probs with the NiMH thats all.. do you
find your 285 to big to carry around with you? what do you think of
the sunpak 383 your thoughts are appreciated..
-Anthony

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

hey.. a head to head comparison would be great! can't wait to hear
your results.
--
-Anthony

jkirk@oz · Jan 26, 2003

Well, I've tapped it with a ball peen hammer, levered it with a screwdriver, stessed and stretched it. I can see no evidence of weak design or cheap or minimal plastic. Its "sounds" VERY solid, in fact I'd be tempted to say its "too" hard (which would ONLY be of concern if it was dropped on the base). I often flip the camera 0/90 and have NEVER felt it giving way or felt any "stretching". So it just comes down to it being BIG and heavy. Also note, the Sunpak does NOT have a zoom head, its an "expensive" extra (considering it's just a piece of plastic). I "have" got used to it, I'm just the kind who prefers a slinkier, sleeker design

JKirk

Steve Simpkin said:
.... I am also slightly concerned about the reoccurring
complaint of a weak plastic shoe mount on the Vivitar 285.

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SunPak 383 Flash Unit and NiMH Batteries

Anthony Anzalone

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