Setting a 285hv, I'm confused

I just purchased a Vivitar 285hv and want to use it off camera triggered with a pocket wizard. I've read and reread the manual, I've read the stickies here and have also searched and read through many posts. I'm still confused.

How do you set the flash for manual operation?

Does the calculator on the side only calculate, or is this where one would set the different power levels?

Should the power levels be set on the mode selector dial on the front?

Should both dials be set at matching levels? There isn't a full 1/1 setting on the front dial.

I know many of you out there have this flash, please kill my confusion. Thanks in advance.

The dial on the side does not control the flash output.

The only thing the does control it is the wheel in the front. On the standard wheel you can set it to 1/16, 1/4, 1/2 and full power.

Alternatively, you can set the wheel to "color" modes which gives you autoexposure at f 2.8, 4, 8 or 11.

If it works like the Vivitar 283, you rotate the round knob like thing on the front of the unit (below the flash tube) to either the color "auto" setting you want, or the power level you want.

The dial on the side is just a circular sliderule type calculator and is not actually connected to anything. It is just to educate the user on possible distances, etc.

Enjoy! Lon

londuck wrote in post #2850726
It is just to educate the user on possible distances, etc.

Or confuse the students. lol

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2850736
Or confuse the students. lol

Did you ever get your pile of camera accessories?

Those optical slaves were on closeout by the dealer, that is why the price was so good. I think they are all gone now as I think I purchased the last of them.

Enjoy! Lon

Thanks for the quick responses. So, I assume the "M" on the front wheel is full power?

ean36 wrote in post #2850765
Thanks for the quick responses. So, I assume the "M" on the front wheel is full power?

Most likely, M on the 283 is full power, but the 283 only has full power without an add on accessory.

Enjoy! Lon

I just inherited a boatload of these things from my uncle. This is how to set them to manual:

In manual mode, the side dial has no effect, but for the sake of clarity, turn the side dial so that the triangular pointer points to "FULL."

Then, turn the camera so that it is facing you. Look at the "vari power" knob. Turn it counter clockwise to yellow.

The yellow is the lowest auto setting.Turn the knob clockwise. Then there's red, the next highest auto setting, then blue, then purple which is the highest auto setting.

The next set of settings on the knob will be manual settings. Continue to turn the knob clockwise. You'll see M (the highest setting, 1/2, 1/8/ and then 1/16 (the lowest manual setting).

If you feel inclined to put this flash on your camera DO use a Wein HSHSB to reduce the risk of frying your camera.

THanks a bunch, now I can go to bed clear headed. I've got a 580ex for on camera use, the vivitar will not be mounted (that dosen't sound right) on the camera.

londuck wrote in post #2850763
Did you ever get your pile of camera accessories?

Those optical slaves were on closeout by the dealer, that is why the price was so good. I think they are all gone now as I think I purchased the last of them.

Enjoy! Lon

They should be in transit. I should get mine next week sometime.

If I knew those were the last slaves, I'd order another 5-10 of them. The price is right.

DocFrankenstein wrote in post #2850881
They should be in transit. I should get mine next week sometime.

If I knew those were the last slaves, I'd order another 5-10 of them. The price is right.

I think the ad indicated "wholesale" price (or some such rot). I suspect the price was even a lot better than "wholesale".

Enjoy! Lon

londuck wrote in post #2850925
I think the ad indicated "wholesale" price (or some such rot). I suspect the price was even a lot better than "wholesale".

Enjoy! Lon

Well... there's about 5 3 cent parts which go into making of a slave. So considering how much indian labour costs, they're still making a profit.

I'm glad I got five of them. Even if two die, I can still slave a four strobe setup.