Vivitar 283 Flash

It's big, it's bulky, but it puts out some light. Nowadays, the Vivitar 283 seems like a relic from days gone by (for all intrinsic purposes, it probably is)...everyone wants auto-this and auto-that, to have each piece of equipment do their work for them. Maybe I'm a relic, too, but I sometimes prefer the old ways. All this new-fangled stuff has gotten me lazy.

Look at the plastic hotshoe foot (the only real issue I have with it) on the 283...one contact point. Dedicated to nothing, but will work with all. Illuminated dial, with a scale showing what aperture to use at what distance with what ASA/DIN (that alone should tell you what era this thing comes from). No LCD panel. Proprietary PC socket. Bounce, but no swivel head. Adjustable sensor (which I've replaced with the VP-1 Vari-power adapter for greater range of output) which control the amount of light it puts out. Another (minor) issue is the battery insert...the 283 has to have it to hold four AA batteries. You can't just drop 'em in.

One note about the 283: older models made in Japan will fry (literally) some digital cameras unless a WeinSafe voltage regulator is used. Hotshoe voltage can reach 400 volts on some. The New Korean and Chinese models are safe, but the voltage should still be checked (especially if you're planning to use one on a Canon).

I bought this thing to use as fill flash for my D1x. I tried it on my D80 this morning, syncing at 1/200, with great results. I may get two more 283s, and stick 'em up on stands and do the strobist thing. They are not shy about putting out light. Put on-camera flash to shame.