Vivitar 285HV Review

	© Paul LeFevre
	Vivitar 285HV Vari-Power module set at 1/2. Click photo for more Vivitar 285HV images.

Setting manual mode is easy and straightforward -- just turn the Vari-Power module to M for full-power manual. You can also directly set 1/2, 1/4 and 1/16 power. In manual mode, you can use the calculator dial to determine which aperture to use based on the distance; focus your subject, note the distance, find that distance on the calculator dial and set your camera to that aperture. The control dial has click-stops that let you set which manual power level you're using, so you can still use the distance guide on the control dial to guide exposure settings. You can also use the guide number to do the distance math in your head, but the calculator dial is quite handy. Manual mode works quite well and will never be fooled by bright or dark subjects.

Additionally, as you lower the power setting the flash's strobe duration gets shorter (1/1000th sec. at full power manual, down to about 1/16,000th of a second at lowest power), so the low-power manual modes are great for stopping really fast action like balloons bursting. With no LCD menus to step through, this is by far the easiest flash of the group mentioned above to use in manual mode -- just twist the Vari-Power knob and you're set.

Which brings up the real strength, of the 285HV: manual use, especially as an off-camera flash. Using the 285HV as an off-camera main or fill flash, you can set your camera's aperture quickly based on the calculator dial and distance to subject, and get good results in a flash, as it were. The 285HV has enough power to still give reasonably small apertures when bounced off a wall or umbrella for a softer look, or you can dial down the power to shoot with larger apertures for depth of field control.

There are two downsides, however, to using this flash off-camera. First, the sync cord included with the flash is only about six inches long and uses a proprietary Vivitar plug on the flash side; to use it farther away, you'll need to purchase either a male-PC-to-male-PC extension cord, a longer PC cord with the proprietary Vivitar plug (several vendors have these available) or make your own cord by cutting up the included one and extending it. The other downside is that the flash does not include a built-in optical slave trigger, so you can't trigger it by firing another flash unit without buying accessories.

Fortunately, a "peanut" optical slave can be had for $10 or so and the unit can also work with numerous wireless flash triggers currently available on the market. I used a Wein Peanut Optical slave with good results, as well as my Pocket Wizard wireless triggers. If you've only used your camera's built-in flash or a hot-shoe unit on the camera, you'll open a whole new creative and quality range for yourself when you go off-camera. See the links section below for some good resources on using shoe-mount flash units off-camera.

If you're looking for the hottest, most computerized, priciest, fully automatic flash available for your camera, the 285HV is probably not for you. But for under $90, this reborn classic delivers plenty of power, solid basic features and easy manual control that will produce good results in most situations that call for flash. Although I have a few minor grumbles, overall the Vivitar 285HV is an outstanding value in a flash unit that delivers what it promises. If it provides half of its ancestors' longevity, I expect the Vivitar to be in my bag for many years to come -- and to get used a lot. Welcome back, old friend.

Pros:
- Great value (street price around $89)
- Solidly built, great feel, less to break
- Good power output, battery life
- Straightforward, uncomplicated flash that delivers
 
Cons:
- Proprietary sync connector, no built-in optical slave
- bounce head does not swivel
- separate diffuser panel easy to lose

Vivitar 285HV Specifications

Flash Coverage (at 4 ft.)

Tele (105mm)	Normal (50mm)
Wide (35mm)	SuperWide (28mm)

Further Information and Links

Vivitar Home Page
We have a whole section of articles on flash and lighting on PopPhoto, but the article Better in a Flash is a good starting point.
The Strobist Blog is a terrific resource for everything having to do with off-camera flash with portable strobes such as the 285HV. A must-see. Do take the "Lighting 101" FREE on-line course.

Paul LeFevre is a photographer, writer, and amateur astronomer. Check out his work at: lefevre.darkhorizons.org