Powerfull, easy to use unit. The 57 chevy of flashes. Everyone makes accessories for it.

I've had no problems with my unit so far and I've had mine 10 years. I've "read" that the foot is a weak point.

Great value. Would by another if anything happened to the one I have.

Customer Service

Never had to call them yet.

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Vivitar 215. Smaller without the rotating head. Very basic flash

it does everything you need it to do, plus an endless list of add ons if possible purchase Vivtar's pistol grip...it works great with this unit

weak foot

it is worth every cent that it costs......a very powerful unit

Customer Service

locally repaired

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only flash I have ever purchased but I have tried others

Keeps it simple, set the f/stop to the little colored dial and shoot. It's powerful and reliable, and what more could you ask for in a compact flash?

nothing. Every accessory in the world has been made for this flash.

What else is there to say. The 283 has been the workhorse of the compact flash since its conception. I can't seem to get enough of them. The automatic function is perfect for thoughtless shooting and with a VP-1 (for manual control) attached, I run an entire portrait studio with three of them optically slaved. They just never die. One of mine has belonged to my father for over 10years and works every time. The best flash for the cost, anyday.

Customer Service

never a thought of it.

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Sigma 430 Super
Canon 380EX
2 other 283's

I demand simplicityy and toughness of my equipment. I use ancient, manual Nikon and Mamiya equipment and have found the 283 fits right in. Auto mode is dead on, the unit recharges quickly (which is not really a concern of mine, but is nice nonetheless), and the old girl has seen rain, snow, heat,and abuse over the last ten or so years and has never once cried "foul."

A bit big, especially when one's backpack is optimized for spacial efficiency.

Find one and buy it.

Customer Service

Never had to use it

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Sunpak Auto124 (also pretty good)
Rollie 121 BC (small, accurate, but not enough oomph)
Braun Hobby 140 BC (ditto)

Simple unit with many accessories available. Bounce capability and good power. It's been made since the 1970's in the same form, so they must have done something right.

Mine broke after I had it about 3 weeks (the unit could not be turned off due to an internal short). Rather heavy for hot shoe use. The "foot" has a reputation for being easily broken, but I haven't experienced this.

A good flash for those not needing a dedicated unit. It has a reputation for being reliable, so maybe mine was an aberration, or maybe they don't make 'em like they used to. Vivitar gets knocked down a notch by me for their lackadasical service and communication.

Customer Service

I called Vivitar about the problem, and they had me send it to a service center. That place kept it several weeks before sending me a letter saying that they were sending it to ANOTHER center because they couldn't fix it. It took me well over a month to get my flash back. Considering how new it was, I think they should have just replaced it instead of giving me the runaround. They weren't easy to get in touch with, either.

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None

Cheap, reliable, sturdy.

Heavy for compact SLR.

I have two of them and I like them very much.
Since I prefer to perchase old flash from auction, here is my one-penny worth of advice. First, don't believe the value of guide number specified by manufacturer; perform a test to check yourself. For example, the guide numbers of the pair I recently perchased fall around 60 ft, i.e. half the manufacturer's specification. (That might be due to the fact that the models are old but this test is essential if you want to use manual mode.) Secondly, when you are going to use old flashes, check the discharge voltage at the foot. I have heard old models used to have high discharge voltages that might fry electronic circuit of a modern camera. Fortunately, I have no problem using the two old vivitar 283 with my Pentax ZX-50.
Now as for the general performance and features of this flash, this is the best at this price. It never fails me. The four-colored auto settings plus the manual setting is perfect for most flash photographic situations. Flash filling in daylight is also very easy and effective. The photography has taken a new turn for me as I switched over to vivitar 283 from camera's built-in TTL.

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I bought my 283 when it was first introduced. When was that? Maybe 1975 or 1976. The strength of this flash is that it offered, and continues to offer, incredible bang for the buck, especially considering it is cheaper today then it was in 1976!. Over the years I did have a few reliability issues. yes, my mounting foot broke. And the electric eye sensor failed. I still consider this an excellent flash, but I have to admit I miss my even older Honeywell, which I always thought gave somewhat warmer color renditions when used with color film than does the 283. As a non-TTL auto flash of significant power, this flash was and remains aces. Can it remain in production another 25 years?

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None

cheap, reliable, sturdy, easy to use, lots of accessories available (so they say)

accessories hard to find, at least in The Netherlands. The foot is said to be weak, but I have not had any problems.

A very, very good flash! I bought one secondhand for use with my Minolta XM (XK), because it was really cheap and offered good specifications. It delivered fine; I got myself a VP-1 module for manually reducing the flashoutput. Try to get a grip with camerabracket; it will improve handling by much! Some time ago I found a 283 in the bargainbasket of a store and got it for free, because the sensor was missing and did not work. After attaching the sensor of my other 283 and an AC-adapter it perform like new! I only regret the lack of system back-up overhere; I cannot get hold of the NC-3 nicadpack, the bouncereflector and aftermarket metal foots. But I understand that in the US that is not an issue. When you want a reliable flash, or a couple of, then buy the 283. It is excellent value for money and will never let you down.

Customer Service

Never needed. Should one break down, I will buy another.

Similar Products Used:

Metz, Minolta

Good power output, dependable, works with 20 year old cameras and the latest digital cameras.

Need to remeber to coordinate the auto modes with the f-stop of the camera.

I've used my Vivitar 285 for 20 years. I've used it with a Nikon FM 35 mm, an Olympus C-2000 digital (a HUGE improvement over the built-in flash alone), and Mamiya 645E medium format.

Do yourself a favor and get a bounce or diffuser attachment. This softens a very harsh light in closeup work.

I want to get a Vivtar 285 as a secondary flash (because you can turn down the output).

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None

Reliable and Dependable
Many accessories
Can be used off the camera
Accurate auto-sensor

Calculator dial only goes up to ASA 400 (ISO 400/27°)
No easily used fill-flash capabilities

If you need a flash to use with a camera that doesn't have Through The Lens (TTL) flash control, this is one of your best choices.

The flash works as well today as it did when I first bought it, despite taking its share of abuse. Pretty good for a unit that I bought *21* years ago! If only everything was made this well . . .

Customer Service

Hasn't needed service

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Vivitar 285HV