Sunpak 383 replacement???

Rudi wrote in post #5919490
Warren, I think the Vivitar 285HV will be in production for the foreseeable future. I mean, they brought it back from the dead recently, most probably because of the "Strobist" demand. If they went through all the trouble of bringing it back, I think they will milk it for all it's worth, and with no competition it could be worth quite a bit!

Rudi, you make a valid point there in regards to the "back from the dead" comment. Forgot about them being resurrected.

I feel frustrated that i kind of got into this whole flash/lighting concept at point in time where there isn't as much availability/choice. Even running around the local camera stores in Sydney yields nothing.

One just wants to have his cake and eat it too!!

FlashZebra wrote in post #5919486
There is no way for us to sort this out with anything other than time. But, again my dollar is on the 383 being available again in the not to distant future, but I could be very wrong.

Lon,
Even if you do earn your dollar in being correct that the 383 re-surface, i have a dollar betting that they will be re-instated to backorder status within a day!!!

Warrenism wrote in post #5919606
I feel frustrated that i kind of got into this whole flash/lighting concept at point in time where there isn't as much availability/choice. Even running around the local camera stores in Sydney yields nothing.

To be fair, running around the local camera stores in Sydney is usually an exercise in futility on a good day!

You could do a lot worse than the Vivitar 285HV for off-camera work, Warren. In fact, I'm thinking of buying a couple and seeing which flash I prefer to work with, then selling the other brand. It could go either way...

Rudi wrote in post #5919780
To be fair, running around the local camera stores in Sydney is usually an exercise in futility on a good day!

So running around on a bad day must be sheer ignorance

I want to avoid the vivitar for the reason that i'm required to purchase additional pc sync cables in order for them to work with the skyports.

I'm not entirely prepared to fork over 500 dollars for the 580Ex II for new generation flash that is relegated to manual anyway.

Warrenism wrote in post #5919804
So running around on a bad day must be sheer ignorance

I want to avoid the vivitar for the reason that i'm required to purchase additional pc sync cables in order for them to work with the skyports.

I'm not entirely prepared to fork over 500 dollars for the 580Ex II for new generation flash that is relegated to manual anyway.

Cables are cheap, as are hotshoe adaptors.

Warrenism wrote in post #5919804
I want to avoid the vivitar for the reason that i'm required to purchase additional pc sync cables in order for them to work with the skyports.

That's the case with the Sunpaks, too. The Sunpak jack is a longer version of the mini jack, and to get reliable triggering with the Skyports, you will still have to get other cables, or, like me, splice the existing cables.

Awesome, they become unavailable just when I thought I might actually buy one.

B&H now states "Approx. Arrival July".... so get ready to buy them when they get 'em!

Rudi wrote in post #5919853
That's the case with the Sunpaks, too. The Sunpak jack is a longer version of the mini jack, and to get reliable triggering with the Skyports, you will still have to get other cables, or, like me, splice the existing cables.

The Sunpak sync connector is a longer version of the SUBminiphone plug, not the miniphone plug.

But as you indicate the Vivitar 285HV and the Sunpak 383 are both the same with regard to cables. Both use a proprietary sync connector.

Enjoy! Lon

Rudi wrote in post #5920851
B&H now states "Approx. Arrival July".... so get ready to buy them when they get 'em!

Thats good news. The status changed from Back-Ordered to Approx. Arrival July.

With only 15 days left in July that should be anytime now.

I would say get your index finger poised on the F5 button!

So are there any other recommendations for other flash units?

rodal126 wrote in post #5921770
Thats good news. The status changed from Back-Ordered to Approx. Arrival July.

With only 15 days left in July that should be anytime now.

except they changed it from "7-14 business days" which it said for quite a while

Warrenism wrote in post #5924758
So are there any other recommendations for other flash units?

As others have mentioned before, the Vivitar 285 is the other fairly highly regarded unit, which usually sells for the same price.

Can I interject a question in here for a minute please?

I am wondering (I have a thread asking about this actually) is it O.K. to use a Vivitar 283 or any of the other older models of these type flashes on an EOS digital? (I have a XSi)

Thanks!

Randy

recrisp wrote in post #5925094
is it O.K. to use a Vivitar 283 or any of the other older models of these type flashes on an EOS digital?

Short answer: I don't think so.

Long answer: As far as I know, the 283 and some of the 285 had too high a voltage for modern digital cameras - putting it on the hotshoe will damage your camera. You need to check that the model you want is a low-voltage model for modern digitals.