Vivitar 283 w/ Minolta XD-11

spacetrip · May 5, 2016

I'm currently looking for a "quick start guide" to use the Vivitar 283 Flash with my XD-11 that I just picked up. I have no experience with this flash and camera, but I have purchased both and am trying to learn. So far I'm understanding the functions of the XD-11, but having trouble getting it to work the the 283.

I would LOVE a little basic guide on how to use the flash with the XD-11. Do I need to plug the cable from the flash into the X-sync on the camera? What settings do I use on the 283?

I will be using 400 ASA film and plan on taking photos of people that are within ~10 feet, mostly.

Thank you so much.

Chan Tran · May 5, 2016

Download the manual. Set the camera on manual. Set the ISO (ASA) on the flash. Choose one of the 4 available ranges (purple, blue, red and yellow). Set the camera lens aperture to the aperture indicated by the flash. Just mount the flash on the hot shoe. You don't need to use a sync cord. Unless you have a Minolta flash you can't use the camera in either A or S mode.

mgb74 · May 5, 2016

Be aware that there may be ttl functions the camera supports but only with compatible flash units. The Viv 283 is not one of those. The 283 doesn't communicate with the camera beyond the simple flash trigger through the hotshoe. So set as Chan Tran said and enjoy it.

Chan Tran · May 5, 2016

The XD-11 doesn't support any TTL but however if you have a compatible flash like the Minolta Auto 320X or 200X then when the flash is ready and if the camera is in either A or S it would automatically set the shutter speed to 1/100.

John Koehrer · May 7, 2016

Add to what Chan says.
You MUST set the shutter speed to The correct shutter speed.
On the XD11 it's 125 or slower. Faster will give you partially exposed negatives.

Trask · May 8, 2016

Not to rain on the parade, but I recently was given a 283. Before using it, I measured the voltage across the contacts when fully charged -- IIRC it was well above 250V. I am concerned about the effect from arcing of a voltage that high across a flash trigger circuit, so am looking for a Safe-Sync which eliminates the issue. The 283 had a very long production life, so perhaps more modern versions have a lower voltage across the contacts.

Born2Late · May 8, 2016

Trask said:
Not to rain on the parade, but I recently was given a 283. Before using it, I measured the voltage across the contacts when fully charged -- IIRC it was well above 250V. I am concerned about the effect from arcing of a voltage that high across a flash trigger circuit, so am looking for a Safe-Sync which eliminates the issue. The 283 had a very long production life, so perhaps more modern versions have a lower voltage across the contacts.

My 283 has a much lower trigger voltage and it is a fairly old one. The XD11 (I have one) should be OK at the higher voltage, it's the newer digital cameras that you have to be careful with. You can build an inexpensive circuit to reduce the trigger voltage and if you are careful you can get the size down to smaller than a postage stamp.

MattKing · May 8, 2016

Born2Late said:
My 283 has a much lower trigger voltage and it is a fairly old one. The XD11 (I have one) should be OK at the higher voltage, it's the newer digital cameras that you have to be careful with. You can build an inexpensive circuit to reduce the trigger voltage and if you are careful you can get the size down to smaller than a postage stamp.

While it is true that digital cameras are vulnerable to high trigger voltages, they are not the only ones.

Any film camera with electronic rather than electrical flash synch circuitry may be vulnerable. The more TTl flash functions on the camera, the more likely that the circuit prefers low voltage.

Chan Tran · May 9, 2016

But when the XD-11 was introduced (78, 79??) the 283 was a current flash and I didn't remember any warning against using it. I am quite sure it's safe to use flash with high voltage sync circuit with the XD-11. A safe sync is cumbersome and cost as much as more than half the outfit and I wouldn't use one.

RalphLambrecht · May 9, 2016

spacetrip said:
I'm currently looking for a "quick start guide" to use the Vivitar 283 Flash with my XD-11 that I just picked up. I have no experience with this flash and camera, but I have purchased both and am trying to learn. So far I'm understanding the functions of the XD-11, but having trouble getting it to work the the 283.

I would LOVE a little basic guide on how to use the flash with the XD-11. Do I need to plug the cable from the flash into the X-sync on the camera? What settings do I use on the 283?

I will be using 400 ASA film and plan on taking photos of people that are within ~10 feet, mostly.

Thank you so much.

just set an f/stop on the flash and matching one it on the camera,The 283 controls the exposure itself and the green light will verify if the exposure was successful. Be careful that your camera can deal with the trigger voltage of the 383, which is relatively high!

Ian C · May 9, 2016

The trigger voltage of a Vivitar 283 flash likely depends on when it was made. Mine was bought new from B&H about 2002.

I tested it last night with a Fluke 87V digital multimeter. When the flash was fully charged and ready to fire the potential across the trigger contacts read 8.7 volts DC.

I doubt that this would be high enough to harm any equipment.

Vivitar 283 w/ Minolta XD-11

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