RE: Vivitar 383 Question

[P3D David W. Kesner <drdave@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Patrick,

Congratulations on your great find. I think the Vivitar 283 is one of
the best all around flashes you can get. It is my primary light
source for my caving work - both 3d and flat.

The answers to your questions:

The diamond shaped button next to the light button will glow green
briefly when you fire the flash to indicate there was proper
illumination. You can use this to test fire to see if the flash's
output is great enough to light the subject. This is especially handy
when you are trying to light large areas or distant subjects or use
one of the automatic settings at the far end of its distance range.

The slivery 20 foot range does not have a corresponding auto setting
because this is where the full out put of the flash is needed for the
corresponding f-stop. In other words, set the auto selector ring to M
(manual - full out put) and set the f-stop. You mentioned f5.6, this
is the proper diaphragm setting for ASA 100 film.

By the way, the only real problem with the 283 is the hot shoe mount.
Since the flash is so heavy and the mount is such cheap plastic, it
breaks very easily. The best cure is to buy a replacement base that
is made from aluminum. Most photo shops carry them, including B&H in
New York. Last time I checked they were about $40.00 US. Mine is
broken and not fixed because I never have it attached to my camera
(always use a pc cord or slave unit).

I hope this helps.

David W. Kesner
Boise, Idaho, USA
drdave@xxxxxxxxxx
(No I'm not a doctor - just a nickname)

>Hi,
>I finally came across a sec hand VIVITAR 283 flash for virtually no
>money at all. It has havy weare but works fine (I hope). However
>...... no manual. So I figured out most of it myself but have some
>questions left.
>
>- on the back there is a lightbutton for the exposuretable. What is
>the purpose of the diamond shaped button right next to it and the
>little black plastic protruding "thing" middle/above the two buttons
?
>
>-On the exposure-table there are several coloured area's that
>correspond with settings on the sensor. The silvery 20 FT area,
>however, doesn't seem to have a corresponding colour/position on the
>selector. I.o.w. what position should the selector be put on with
>diaphragma 5.6  for a range up to 20 FT ?
>
>Thanks.
>Patrick.


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