Vivitar 285 alternative

MFstooges

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Joined
Feb 10, 2010
Messages
955
Format
35mm
Hola,
I finally junked my Vivitar 285 after it broke the shoe twice and melted the battery terminal. Best investment I made so far. So now I'm looking for better alternative if there's any. Has higher GN (My 285 GN is 20 in meter) and can be abused with slightly higher voltage (I used 7.4v lithium battery for fast recycling) and around the same price is even better (I got my 285 for $15 LOL). Any advice for the alternative?
 

Bill Burk

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Feb 9, 2010
Messages
9,308
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4x5 Format
I have a 285 and 283. I like the 283 more but probably because I bought it new (and the 285 kind of fell in my lap)
 

AgX

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Apr 5, 2007
Messages
29,973
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Germany
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It depends were in the world you are located. I for instance very rarely come across any Vivitar flash, but countless of other makes.
I never paid more than 5€ for any on-camera flash (except for those by the camera-makers).
I can't advise on the higher feed voltage, as I never tried that.
 
Last edited:

larfe

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Joined
Jul 21, 2015
Messages
154
Format
35mm
I've a "made in Japan" 285 I'm not using and won't mind selling you if you want that
 

John Koehrer

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Apr 3, 2004
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Aurora, Il
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There are metal shoes for the 283/285. You lose the hot shoe but gain a pc>standard(2 prong AC) plug.
 
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