550EX and Vivitar 285 setup

Played around yesterday with my 550EX on my 10D and a Vivitar 285 with a Wein peanut slave on a light stand. It didn't take too long before I was getting good histograms. But I'm wondering if anyone has advice to give regarding optimum settings for such an arrangement.

I had my 550 on ETTL at -1. Had the Vivitar set on the yellow setting. Nighttime in a standard room with ambient light from two incandescent table lamps. Camera on manual at 1/90, 5.6, manual focusing. Don't ask me how and why I settled on these numbers, but, as I said, the histograms at these settings were better than most that I get when using the 550EX alone. Plus, I had some nice side lighting on my subject.

I'm wide open to suggestions, especially from someone who has played with this flash combination. Would I gain THAT much if I sprung for a 420EX to use instead of the 285?

Floyd Lawrence

My light weight location kit is very similar to what you describe. I run a 550EX/turbo battery setup on camera and a Sunpak 383 with a homemade 6volt battery setup on a light stand with an umbrella shoe flash bracket and umbrella. For quick work I just set the sunpak to an auto setting (usually f8.) and set the camera to Manual f8 and whatevershutter speed matches the conditions and leave the 550EX on manual. Take a few test shots, adjust the 550 accordingly and stir until done. The only thing that the 420EX will give you is wireless E-TTL. Neat to have but not required.

As long as you NEVER put that 285HV on the shoe of your 10D and fire it life will be beautiful. If you do, start saving for a replacement shutter right now.

Good luck to you.

Thanks, justme. I hadn't thought of putting the 285 on the 10D, but I do have two of them. Don't know if they're what's known as HV type, however. Does it say that somewhere on the flash? If so, it doesn't on my pair, which must be oldies. Still, couldn't these be used with a Wein safe-sync in my camera hotshoe? I'd hate to be the first to try doing so...I have better things to do with $1500.

Floyd

The voltage on the 285/285HV is dependant on when it was made. Some are as low as 10volts others exceed 150volts. You could use a safe sync and stick on on your 10D but why tempt fate if you already hae a 550EX? If you have two of the 285's I suggest you put them to use as a portable home studio light set. With some light stands, peanut slaves, umbrellas and a few umbrella shoe flash brackets you'll have a cheap portable studio. If you wanna go all out, you could build universal flash batteries like I did and be completely portable.

Well, I've pounded a few nails and sawed a few boards in my day, but "build universal flash batteries"? Hmmm. Any resources you can point me to for that task?

I agree with you re the 285 on a 10D. I've tempted fate enough during my lifetime, but I'll avoid it on this issue.

Floyd

The batteries I built are based in part on this design

I've changed them to suit my purposes and I sourced the battery and charger myself at quite a savings over what he paid. I'm also using a different tamrac pouch but his design is quite sound. I have yet to run one of these batteries flat while in the field.

I'll do you one further and give you thisLINKto the umbrella bracket info.

I hope this helps you out.

I used three 285s with peanut sensors triggered by my dedicated on-camera flash. I always set everything to manual flash and manual camera. After testing the two front light flashes with my flash meter, I would set the F-stop accordingly. The remaining two 285s were used as backlight which if directed appropriately will minimally affect the F-stop exposure.

Bev