Vivitar 283 an Underpowered Unit???

Hey y'all I just received my Vivitar 283 from an eBayer to replace the dead Sunpak 383 Super. Is it just me, or is this Vivitar 283 an underpowered flash unit compared to some others? I measured direct flash on full (I assume) manual power from a distance of about (guesstimating) 20-25 feet indoors and got f/5.6 at ISO400 on the L-358. I had the dome raised and aimed at the flash.

Does that sound right?? Seems awful weak to me. Unless I'm just spoiled by my other units - Vivitar 5600, Sunpak 383 (former), and Canon 580EX.

I haven't compared to the other units using the same method but I do know those other three are about equal to one another on full power.

The Vivitar 283 should have an almost identical amount of power as the Sunpak 383.

Enjoy! Lon

OK I just ran a quick comparison. Each flash mounted on the same stand, I assume the 283 is like the 383 in coverage angle, so I set them all to 35mm. Walked over to the same location with the meter (placed and left it in a shoe in the same spot on the floor) and here are the results:

All at ISO400.

Vivitar 5600: f/9
Vivitar 283: f/3.2
Canon 580EX II: f/11

Maybe I'm not actually setting full power correctly. If that's the case, I have no clue how to set it. I turned the dial on the front (sensor) to M. I'm again assuming the 283 has no variable manual without the Vari-Power module and therefore puts out at 1/1. Mine is indeed without the Vari-Power module.

cdifoto wrote in post #5733497
OK I just ran a quick comparison. Each flash mounted on the same stand, I assume the 283 is like the 383 in coverage angle, so I set them all to 35mm. Walked over to the same location with the meter (placed and left it in a shoe in the same spot on the floor) and here are the results:

All at ISO400.

Vivitar 5600: f/9
Vivitar 283: f/3.2
Canon 580EX II: f/11

Maybe I'm not actually setting full power correctly. If that's the case, I have no clue how to set it. I turned the dial on the front (sensor) to M. I'm again assuming the 283 has no variable manual without the Vari-Power module and therefore puts out at 1/1. Mine is indeed without the Vari-Power module.

Setting the dial on the front of the unit to "M" gets you manual full power from the flash.

Enjoy! Lon

That's what I expected. My metered results don't make sense though.

cdifoto wrote in post #5733557
That's what I expected. My metered results don't make sense though.

Try blinding the sensor and setting it to one of the other color coded modes. This should get you a full powered flash also.

Enjoy! Lon

Good call. Not sure why I didn't think of that before. Seems there's a problem with my el-generico triggers. When I fired the flash with my test button, consistent readings were there and as expected (f/10). When I fired them with the ebay triggers, I'd get ranges from f/10 to f/3.2, to e.u. (underexposure). Good thing I have Skyports arriving tomorrow.

cdifoto wrote in post #5733984
Good call. Not sure why I didn't think of that before. Seems there's a problem with my el-generico triggers. When I fired the flash with my test button, consistent readings were there and as expected (f/10). When I fired them with the ebay triggers, I'd get ranges from f/10 to f/3.2, to e.u. (underexposure). Good thing I have Skyports arriving tomorrow.

That is very odd, all these radio slave devices do is initiate the flash, so I do not understand how the triggering device is affecting the power level.

Enjoy! Lon

I don't either, but it is, or at least it seems to be. No issues with using the test button (with and without the sensor covered) but inconsistencies using the wireless (with and without the sensor covered). To me that means it almost has to be the triggers...or the hot shoe to pc adapter somehow. Really weird thing is the wireless was fine with the 5600 and the 580EX II. Maybe my 283 and eBay wireless simply don't play nice together.

The Skyports are supposed to show their faces tomorrow so I'll test again with those.

cdifoto wrote in post #5734190
I don't either, but it is, or at least it seems to be. No issues with using the test button (with and without the sensor covered) but inconsistencies using the wireless (with and without the sensor covered). To me that means it almost has to be the triggers...or the hot shoe to pc adapter somehow. Really weird thing is the wireless was fine with the 5600 and the 580EX II. Maybe my 283 and eBay wireless simply don't play nice together.

The Skyports are supposed to show their faces tomorrow so I'll test again with those.

Be careful. The Skyports are rated at 50 Volts on the sync circuit and that Vivitar 283 could be anywhere from 6 Volts to 500 Volts.

Enjoy! Lon

I wish I had a friggin' tester for this flash...that's why I haven't placed it on either of my dSLRs. Would my camera still fry if I used the Skyports and it was over-voltage, or would the Skyports themselves burn out instead, or would it be a case of everything becoming toast? If the flash was a danger, wouldn't something have happened when I was using the eBay triggers though?

I have/had an el-cheapo plastic one somewhere but I don't know what happened to it.

cdifoto wrote in post #5734324
I wish I had a friggin' tester for this flash...that's why I haven't placed it on either of my dSLRs. Would my camera still fry if I used the Skyports and it was over-voltage, or would the Skyports themselves burn out instead, or would it be a case of everything becoming toast? If the flash was a danger, wouldn't something have happened when I was using the eBay triggers though?

I have/had an el-cheapo plastic one somewhere but I don't know what happened to it.

You only attach the flash to the Skyport receiver, it is the only component that will be challenged.

I have read that the Skyport Receiver will actually tollerate a lot more than 50 Volts (but I cannot verify this), but 50 Volts is the specification in the literature that comes with the Skyports.

Enjoy! Lon

I guess I'll find out soon enough. I would have thought the eBay triggers would have fried already if it was a problem though. Can't imagine they have a high tolerance for juice. I'll see if my brother in law has a multimeter I can mooch for a bit just in case. If not, I may play it safe and use the 5600 in Mexico then order a multimeter when I return. I know it's ok, since I use it on both my 10D and my 1D II all the time.

cdifoto wrote in post #5734398
I guess I'll find out soon enough. I would have thought the eBay triggers would have fried already if it was a problem though. Can't imagine they have a high tolerance for juice.

My experience is quite contrary to that. The inexpensive radio slaves I have (about 15 sets) all have no problems with high sync Voltages.

But making the assumption that the Skyport will be tolerant has no basis either. They might take the Voltage, they might not. And 50 Volts is definately the specification in the Skyport info.

Enjoy! Lon

Hmm. I'd hate to fry a perfectly good set of Skyports so early on. Would a place like Wal-Mart or Lowe's sell multimeters? I don't have time to order one online before leaving.