How to Use a Vivitar 285HV
The Vivitar 285HV is a camera flash unit featuring various modes and flash strengths. It can be attached to your camera's hot shoe, or be used separately to add fill light on a subject. While being useful, it can also take some concentration and time to set up and pick the correct modes before you start shooting.
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Things You'll Need
- HVP-1 High Voltage Battery Pack, Vivitar PPG-1 Power Pistol Grip, or The Vivitar SB-4 AC Adapter
- 4 nickel-cadmium batteries
Instructions
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Attaching the Flash
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1
Determine which power source you will use for your Vivitar 285HV. There are four options: 1) Nickel-Cadmium Batteries, 2) HVP-1 High Voltage Battery Pack, 3) A PPG-1 Power Pistol Grip, and 4) a SB-4 AC adapter, which lets you plug the flash into standard outlets with an extension cord.
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2
Insert the batteries into the battery compartment (if not using the AC adapter), which is located on the left side of the Vivitar flash when the head is pointed toward you.
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3
Recharge the Capacitor by changing the mode selector dial (located directly above the battery department) to "M." Then switch the On/Off switch (located on the lower back of the flash) to "On." Watch the flash's ready light (located right next to the on/off switch), and when it turns green, fire off a flash using the Open Flash Button located on the direct bottom of the flash.
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4
Move the Mounting Foot Lock Lever on the flash all the way to the left to unlock it. Place the mounting foot into the camera's accessory shoe. Once there, slide the Lock Lever to the right to lock the flash onto the camera.
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5
Check if your camera has a Hot Shoe contact on the Accessory shoe. If it does, your flash can now be used. If the camera doesn't have a hot shoe contact, you must connect the supplied shutter cord to the flash cord socket in the flash, and then to the camera's X-sync terminal (consult your camera's manual to locate it).
Setting the Mode of the Flash
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6
Set your camera to the correct shutter speed for the electronic flash of the Vivitar. Your camera manual will tell you the speed to set it.
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7
Set the zoom/bounce head to the forward position at a 90 degree angle from the body of the flash.
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8
Set the ISO or DIN number of the film that is being used (or of the speed of the settings on a digital camera) onto the Mode dial on the side of the camera. There will be a colored wedge next to the dial.
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9
Set the aperture of the camera lens to the f-stop indicated above the colored wedge on the mode/calculator dial. This will most likely be the correct lighting for the exposure of the film, and result in a well-lit frame.
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10
Once the Ready Light glows green on the Vivitar, press the Open Flash Button again, and check the exposure. Adjust accordingly. Your camera flash is now set up to emit the proper light.
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Tips & Warnings
There are many options for your Vivitar 285HV. Read your instruction manual and experiment. The color wedges, for example, will take some practice before you are familiar with their function.
