Incorporating a Vivitar 283 or 285 with a Nkon setup w/Phottix triggers

depends which version you're using but take a look at this article for more info

It should work but there are a few issues. I am just about to pull the trigger on the Strato II Multi myself to use with my 2 SB600s and 4 Vivitar 283s


The Strato II receivers are rated for trigger voltage of 300 but they list only 5 volts for the TTL pass thru hot shoe on the transmitter. Made in Japan 283s are about 275 volts so you don't want to forget and put one of those in the transmitter. Production was later moves elsewhere and some of those have much lower trigger voltage. I have one made in Korea 283 and it measures 8 volts.

Cheap dumb optical triggers work best with high trigger voltage flashes. You might consider going that route . That is how I plan to fire my 283s however if I use a SB600 in TTL mode in the transmitter's hot shoe then the optical triggers will fire on the TTL preflash.


Also if you want to set a 283 to fractional power levels you will need to plug in a Vivitar VP-1 manual power module into its sensor socket on the front. The Vivitar 285 has a manual power control built in.

John

aCreativeJourney said:

aCreativeJourney wrote:

Thanks for reading. I currently have a Nikon D300 and D7000, and an SB800 and SB600. I trigger the flashes off camera using the Phottix Strato II Multi system. I'd like to add one more flash to the setup, and due to cost am considering the old Vivitar 283 or 285. The Vivitar would also be off camera, triggered by the Phottix. Anyone know if this will work?

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aCreativeJourney said:

aCreativeJourney wrote:

Thanks for reading. I currently have a Nikon D300 and D7000, and an SB800 and SB600. I trigger the flashes off camera using the Phottix Strato II Multi system. I'd like to add one more flash to the setup, and due to cost am considering the old Vivitar 283 or 285. The Vivitar would also be off camera, triggered by the Phottix. Anyone know if this will work?

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I am not familiar with the Phottix triggers but I do use flash a lot and also combine newer flashes such as the SB800 with older ones. There can be hot shoe voltage issues with the old Vivitar flshguns. Instead I would recommend the Nik SB26.

Note that it has to be SB26 (not 25 or 27). Voltage presented at the foot is OK and the big plus is that it has a delayed slave mode - which enables it to be combined with, say, SB800 running in CLS/iTTL mode. This is very unusual. Unfortunately, SB26 flashguns are in great demand - mine cost GBP£ 50 on Ebay - and that was cheap.

Here's one of mine - a Jackdaw - SB800 combined with a SB26


D70






David

Very interesting info. I didn't know about the trigger voltage, but your reference started some research. I just bought a 283 for $35, and some research indicates that it should be good. One source said that made in China or Korea was okay, but Japan wasn't, voltage wise.

Thanks for the info. I don't plan on putting it on the TTL pass-through. My 283 will be totally off camera. Just bought a new Phottix receiver for it.

Thanks. I found some data on the Phottix receivers and the Vivitar 283. I should be good. Plus, I don't plan on putting it on the TTL passthrough. The 283 will have it's own dedicated receiver.

I'm looking for a VP-1 Vari Power module. They are tough to find!!

aCreativeJourney said:

aCreativeJourney wrote:

Thanks. I found some data on the Phottix receivers and the Vivitar 283. I should be good. Plus, I don't plan on putting it on the TTL passthrough. The 283 will have it's own dedicated receiver.

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Get the Metz triggers ! they arent to expensive and they can take high voltage..

the only drawback is that sometimes the lens in front of the sensor falls out but you can glue it in....

they are good for longer distances.. and they are universal they can be used to next to anything..

good investment !

Peter

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/34980-REG/Metz_MZ_5368_Mecalux_11_Auto_Hot.html

It is easy to test, I would, to be sure. Find someone who has a voltmeter you can borrow. It took me a minute to test, and my 285 was putting out about 9V.