Vivitar 2800 Flash Reviews

Rating
Reviewed by:

Headspin
( Intermediate)

Review Date
December 25, 2007

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
1 to 3 months

Review 1 of 7

Price Paid: $29.00 from eBay

Summary:

Not being a professional photograper, I find this flash to be very easy to use with my older 35mm(s). It helps to give out a quality exposure, especially in a dim lit room setting. Each degree setting works to your advantage for the proper lighting fixture that you need.

Strengths:

Working with still pictures on a tripod, I use the degree setting to my advantage to get the ultimate lighting fixture for each exposure. Working with it outdoors at night, it is easy to get good lighting for up close exposures.

Weaknesses:

You cannot store it with regular alkaline batteries for even a short period of time, because the alkaline batteries will leak. I suggest using rechargable NI-MH batteries.

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Rating
Reviewed by: David W
(Intermediate)

Review Date
December 12, 2007

Overall Rating
4 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Used product for
More than 1 year

Review 2 of 7

Price Paid: $0.00 from n/a

Summary:

I got this flash given to me several years ago. It works. It's never let me down iether. In the closer auto range it meters very well. The only time it might bnot meter very well is if your subject is not, at least, partly in the middle.
You can get a used model vey cheaply.
Buy a safe converter for your DSLR if it's an older model. The trigger voltage may be too high.

Strengths:

Cheap. It works. AA batteries. Two auto ranges plus manual.

Weaknesses:

No swivel. No 1/2 or 1/4 manual settings.

Similar Products Used:

Viv 283

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Rating
Reviewed by: ghloweworm
(Professional)

Review Date
September 5, 2002

Overall Rating
3 of 5

Value Rating
4 of 5

Used product for
Less than 1 month

Visitors rate this review
4.60 of 5,
1 votes

Review 3 of 7

Price Paid: $30.00 from Samy's

Summary:

David Alan Harvey of Magnum/NG fame swears by the Vivitar 2800. Take a look at his recent book CUBA for some examples of effective use of night and indoors flash. A very nice, basic and compact unit with 2 auto modes. Pity the auto-off "function".

Strengths:

Relatively small and light, auto thyristor shortens recycle time and saves power. Comes with gel set. Head moves for bounce flash.

Weaknesses:

Head doesn't swivel. One more auto stop would be nice. MOST HATED WEAKNESS: Auto-off. The flash shuts itself off after about 2 minutes of inactivity. Not too nice if you've waited for a couple of minutes to capture that perfect shot and when it comes, the flash doesn't go off because it's fallen asleep. After missing several good shots this way, I returned the 2800 and got a couple of Sunpak 383s.

Similar Products Used:

Sunpak 383 (a much better non-TTL shoe-mount flash, probably the best on the market right now), Nikon SB-28/SB-28DX

Customer Service:

Called Vivitar USA, no one ever picks up, always get a machine. Left message, no one ever calls back.

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Rating
Reviewed by: sasi kumar g
(Intermediate)

Review Date
September 4, 2001

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
3.67 of 5,
3 votes

Review 4 of 7

Price Paid: $60.00 from Madras, India

Summary:

I baught this flash without much knowlegde on flashes. I went to camera shop to buy Yashica fx3 super 2000 then I want to buy a flash for it. There was a tie between Yashica flash and this. Shopkeeper advised me to go for Vivitar. Great, that was nice decision. Since 94 I am using this flash. Good value for money

Strengths:

Great value for money. Autothyrister

Weaknesses:

lock ring is having little backlash but fitts well.

Similar Products Used:

None

Customer Service:

never needed

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Rating
Reviewed by: Shawn Carroll
(Intermediate)

Review Date
October 28, 2000

Overall Rating
5 of 5

Value Rating
5 of 5

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5,
2 votes

Review 5 of 7

Summary:

I don't think that you would be unhappy with the purchase and should be thrilled if you found one on ebay for less than $10.

Strengths:

Great buy for the money. Light weight and unobtrusive. Great range and coverage.

Weaknesses:

Seems to give photos a flatter look than I'd like.

Similar Products Used:

Vivitar 2600, 728AF

Customer Service:

Haven't needed.

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