The Most Powerful Affordable Digital & 35mm Flim SLR Flash Solution Available!

Although highly economical compared to other flash units on the market. How is this flash unit differnet from the other camera manufacturers?

For over 30 years the Vivitar 285HV has been considered by photographers to be a trusted "workhorse" with easy to use controls for operation in manual or auto mode. The New 285HV is a highly versatile and durable high output flash providing powerful, consistent light output and can be utilized with any digital camera with a flash shoe. Wheather for general use, portraits, fill flash, night photography, sports and photojournalism applications you'll be shocked and amazed at how much more professional looking your photos are coming out.

My Digital SLR camera has a built-in flash so why do I need another?

The built-in flash of a Digital SLR camera is on average effective to maybe 15 feet, and that's only when your lens is at its widest-angle setting, where it is also the "fastest" (usually f/3.5), letting in the most light it possibly can. When you want to zoom in on the action towards the telephoto end of your zoom range, you'll find that your built in flash does exactly opposite of what you want. Its range can be reduced to under 10 feet because your lens becomes slower (f/4 or f/5.6)! So, when you want to use your lenses telephoto capability that you paid for, but also require the built in flash, your pictures come out dark, grainy or even worse, not at all!, but this high power flash can be effective to over 50ft!

Your flash pictures might be lower quality because your camera's light sensitivity (ISO) is being raised by the camera to compensate for the lack of power of the built-in flash.

285HV Calculator Dial
There are four "ranges" for automatic flash exposure. The automatic modes are color-coded and setting them is straightforward. ISO setting located on the calculator dial let you choose an aperture setting to use in any auto range you're interested in. For example, at ISO 100 you can choose f/2.8 and have an automatic range of 65 feet to 5 feet (yellow range); choose f/4 and you get 30 feet to 4 feet (red range); f/8 gets you 15 feet to 1 foot (blue range), and f/11 works automatically from 10 feet to 1 foot (purple range).

Color range can be chosen on the "Vari-Power" module/dial. Set your camera to Manual mode with the shutter speed set to the camera's sync speed (or slower) and the aperture set to the one chosen for your auto range on the flash, and start shooting. Unlike dedicated "smart" flash units, your camera's flash exposure compensation function will have no effect on the exposure in such cases, but "manual" compensation is easy enough. When shooting something against a white background, just open the aperture up 1/2 to 1 stop and you'll get good results.

Vari-Power Module and Power Setting
Setting manual mode is made easy and straightforward, directly set 1/2, 1/4 and 1/16 power. In manual mode, you can use the calculator dial to determine an aperture setting based on the distance of your subject. The control dial has click-stops that let you set which manual power level you're using, so you can still use the distance guide on the control dial to guide exposure settings. You can also use the guide number to do the distance math in your head, but the calculator dial is quite handy. Manual mode works quite well and will never be fooled by bright or dark subjects.

Why can’t I just use any electronic flash or the one from my 35mm camera?

Not only might it not have the power or the Zoom and Bounce capabilities of the Vivitar 285HV , your flash probably is NOT SAFE for use with the circuitry of Digital SLR cameras.
The sync trigger voltage of your flash is probably much greater than the 6 volts your digital camera can safely handle. Older flashes with trigger voltages of 250 volts or more are not uncommon. The risk is camera failure and costly repair bills that are not covered under warranty. The sync trigger circuitry of the Vivitar 285HV has been redesigned to operate at 6 volts…safe for any digital camera.

Shoot at Longer Distances
Pictures taken approximately 30ft away
Using the built in flash alone results in a poorly lit picture with muddy colors and little detail.	With the High Power Flash detail and color is dramatically improved.

For professional looking flash pictures!
This height advantage of this powerful flash increases the distance between the flash head and the lens. This along with zoom head's bounce and swivel capability can eliminate or minimizes redeye, reduce shadows and add more dimension to your flash photography.

	Reduce or totally eliminate "Red-Eye" Even using the red-eye reduction feature of your camera (because the built-in flash is too close to the lens) the flash reflects off of your subjects retinas directly back into the lens and often results in pictures with "red-eye." The height advantage alone greatly reduces or eliminates this "red-eye" effect from the flash bounce back off of the retina in the eye. This can be totally eliminated by utilizing the bounce feature of the flash head to "bounce" the light off of a ceiling, wall or bounce flash reflector for professional looking results.
		"Red-Eye"
		Little or No "Red-Eye"
		"Red-Eye" Eliminated

Direct Built-In Flash

Professional looking bounce flash results Direct on-camera flash is not the best lighting for portraits, because it casts an unattractive shadow behind the subject, provides little modeling of the face, is harsh and produces red-eye. Utilizing the bounce feature, you can soften the light by bouncing it off a nearby ceiling, wall or from another white surface, such as a bounce card, sheet of poster board or an umbrella reflector. This type of lighting is more attractive as it eliminates harsh shadows and the flat look of direct on-camera flash.

Bounce Flash

Direct Flash… Head Straight On	Bounce… Head Swiveled Left	Bounce… Head Tilted Up

Can I use it for close-up shooting? YES!
Unlike your camera's built in flash, the flash head is mounted high up and with its -5° tilt down feature, it is less likely that your lens will block the light and throw a shadow on subjects that are close to the front of your lens.

Are special batteries required? NO!
Four standard AA size alkaline or rechargeable NiMH batteries can power the flash for over one hundred shots.

Is it easy to use? YES!
Automatic exposure control circuitry adjusts the light output for proper exposure.

Can I use it off on a bracket or off of the camera? YES!
An optional bracket and off camera connection cord kit are available.

0.7 - 10 seconds / fresh batteries

• This item is ALL BRAND NEW and in the original factory box and packing.
• Cameta Camera is an authorized Vivitar USA dealer.
• Vivitar supplies a full 1 Year USA warranty on this flash.