Vivitar 285 compatible with Canon Xti?

[frleal70]

I did a quick search to see if they were compatible, but couldn't find anything specific.

At any rate, came across a Vivitar 285, and couldn't pass it up for the price. I was initially thinking I could mount it on a tripod, and use it as part of a pair to shoot portraits. Once I got my hands on it, and saw how much light it puts out, I started to wonder if I could use it mounted directly on my camera for low light indoor shots.

The Vivitar does not specify if it is an 'HV' or not, so I'm not sure if it's a plain 285 or a 285 HV, OR if there really is a difference.

I did come across a thread on another forum that listed the compatibility of Vivitar flashes with Canons, but for the 285 it only listed a questionable compatibility. There's a company that sales a mount for dual 285s w/ power supply and wireless flash triggers, and this website states that the 285's could possibly 'fry' a DSLR.

Anyhoo, anyone use a 285 on your Canon Xti? I'm going to eventually buy a 580ex flash, but that will have to wait until I upgrade to a new lense. I can't wait to get my hands on a 580 to try one of Gary Fong's diffusers.

Thanks for any help.

[Grandpaw]

I have three Vivitar 385 flashes. They are supposed to have about a 220 volt trigger voltage unless when you look at the front of the flash at the round sinsor that has the 385 number on it and it has 385H. The 385H is for the digital low trigger voltage cameras. To look at them they are just alike except for the addition of the H after the numbers 385 on the front of the flash.

I could not find in the cannon XTi manual where it gives the trigger voltage but I have read somewhere it is supposed to be 250 voltes. I myself chose not to take a chance and bought a new SB600 to go with my Nikon D80, Jeff

A wireless trigger would eliminate any chance of a problem if you are unsure.

[frleal70]

Thanks Jeff.

To be honest, I actually tried the flash on my camera before I did any research. A local photographer said it would be ok, but then I came across the info that it could damage my hotshoe. The flash worked great, no indication that the hotshoe was malfunctioning, but now that I have come across this info I'm a bit concerned. At any rate, I think I'll go ahead and order the 580exII tomorrow.

If the Vivitar did fry my hotshoe, I wonder how I will be able to tell? I'm assuming it won't trigger my 580?

Thanks again for your time.

[Grandpaw]

Thanks Jeff.

To be honest, I actually tried the flash on my camera before I did any research. A local photographer said it would be ok, but then I came across the info that it could damage my hotshoe. The flash worked great, no indication that the hotshoe was malfunctioning, but now that I have come across this info I'm a bit concerned. At any rate, I think I'll go ahead and order the 580exII tomorrow.

If the Vivitar did fry my hotshoe, I wonder how I will be able to tell? I'm assuming it won't trigger my 580?

Thanks again for your time.

Frying your hotshoe is not a problem, but sending that amount of voltage into the camera if it is not made to accept it and frying the electronics inside the camera is what you have to worry about. Myself I didn't want to take a chance. I think that having the piece of mind with purchacing the correct flash is money well spent, Jeff

[frleal70]

I think the camera is working fine, here's a pic I took today.

I received a call from the internet store where I ordered my 580exII to confirm my order. That was a first for me, but what was also interesting was he made a real effort to interest me in the 'new' Sigma EF-530 DG. He said it had built in red eye reduction and also a long list of 'seemingly' better attributes when compared to the 580 exII. He almost had me sold.

Thanks again for the help.

[dumpy]

I think the camera is working fine, here's a pic I took today.

I received a call from the internet store where I ordered my 580exII to confirm my order. That was a first for me, but what was also interesting was he made a real effort to interest me in the 'new' Sigma EF-530 DG. He said it had built in red eye reduction and also a long list of 'seemingly' better attributes when compared to the 580 exII. He almost had me sold.

Thanks again for the help.

Broadway Photo?

[frleal70]

No, it wasn't Broadway Photo. Fortunately I came across a couple of threads describing their less than scrupulous practices.

It was SonicCameras dot com. They sent an email today stating the 580 was out of stock. I'm starting to wonder if they had this information when I called to confirm the order, and that was the reason for their pushing the Sigma. I did think it was odd, when browsing their site, that none of their items had an out of stock notification.

Well, at least they didn't charge my credit card, yet!

Think I'm going to stick with Canoga camera, the place where I bought the camera in the first place.

[frleal70]

Went with B&H Photo instead, they accept paypal and had the Gary Fong diffuser in stock. It was about $100 more than soniccameras, but they seem like a better online seller.

[Grandpaw]

Wise choice grasshopper. You will note that Soniccameras is on the list that IS NOT RECOMMENDED that I have compiled here.....

Recommended sites and sites to avoid

I wish there was some way to get everyone interested in ordering off the Internet to read this sticky. I has some very helpful information on it, Jeff

[brmill26]

Went with B&H Photo [...] It was about $100 more than soniccameras, but they seem like a better online seller.

Classic red flag there. You may save some money at one store over another, but there isn't $100 in a flash. The difference is, B&H will ship you a flash at the end of the transaction...

[frleal70]

It's too bad that thread you linked is not a sticky, Jeff. It would have come in handy.

Thanks again guys.