I want to Live the Strobist Life

Are you folks that have the 285HV happy with them? I have seen some negative comments elsewhere.

The peanut slaves are known to be throublesome

L

Other than the fact that there's unconfirmed, but possibly true rumors that Vivitar isn't making them anymore, I haven't had any problems.

That's not typical though. People have received DOA units or units that die after six or seven flashes. The reported to not be as reliable as the older units. I've have one of mine since October, I believe, and the other for about three weeks.

I have been using my a lot over the last month. I love it. NO issues. I will be getting a peanut to see if it works. What is the equivalent of a VIVITAR 285 in other brands?

slimninj4 wrote in post #4877489
I have been using my a lot over the last month. I love it. NO issues. I will be getting a peanut to see if it works. What is the equivalent of a VIVITAR 285 in other brands?

Sunpak 383. They're like $80 I believe.

Yea, the Sunpak is what I have intentions to buy but I was curious because it seems many folks talk well about the Vivitars but then occasionally I see negative comments. I don't recall seeing any bad post about the Sunpaks (which is the brand I used 30 years ago).

keep an eye out for RADIO POPPERS, they promise to be the best to use for remote triggers

FlashZebra wrote in post #4863468
To "Live the Strobist Life" you will need to change you name to Pineau, have a couple of kids, and move to Hawaii.

Enjoy! Lon

It isn't so hard to make a couple of kids

about the life of strobist... I have no idea how is shis lifestyle, but recently I've seen video about Chase Jarvis. His lifestyle looks great to me. So much tavelling, so much fun doing photos. Damn good.

I'm trying to learn strobist style lighting now... got my sb25's, remote triggers now looking for some nice (but also do not want to spent much money on them) stands. Thanks for some posts from above.

dano57 wrote in post #4878864
Yea, the Sunpak is what I have intentions to buy but I was curious because it seems many folks talk well about the Vivitars but then occasionally I see negative comments. I don't recall seeing any bad post about the Sunpaks (which is the brand I used 30 years ago).

It looks like Vivitar stopped making the 185hv. You'll probably see a lot more people using the sunpaks now. They're comparable flashes, it's just that mpex offered the viv's in their strobist kit, so I think that's how they ended up getting out.

coalcliff wrote in post #4878933
keep an eye out for RADIO POPPERS, they promise to be the best to use for remote triggers

I promise if you give me $5000 you'll get it back one day.

coalcliff wrote in post #4878933
keep an eye out for RADIO POPPERS, they promise to be the best to use for remote triggers

For non-dedicated flash units, absolutely not. Radio Poppers will be useful if and only if you've already invested in $300+ dedicated strobes...

bieber wrote in post #4902109
For non-dedicated flash units, absolutely not. Radio Poppers will be useful if and only if you've already invested in $300+ dedicated strobes...

Yup. They only "piggyback" native ettl onto a radio signal.