Can I use a Vivatar 283 on auto

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I recently bought a Canon EOS Elan 7E and own a Vivatar 283 flash. My question is, can I use the Vivatar on auto w/ my new camera even though it is not a dedicated flash. I am going to buy the dedicated flash for my camera some day but right now I need to use the flash I have. I will be shooting weddings and Portraits if this info. will be of any signifigance.

Thank you, V

-- Veronica H (peligrosa6@yahoo.com), July 27, 2001

Answers

Depends on how old the 283 is. The older ones have a sync trigger voltage that is too high for Canon EOS cameras. Canon specifies not more than 6 volts at the shoe, but under 10 volts is usually considered safe. Newer 283's are within usable range but the older ones are often 20 volts or higher, some way higher. The sync voltage is easy to check with a decent volt meter, with one lead on the center pin and the other on the side connector. Repeated use of over 10 volts will often destroy your flash circuit, so just because it worked okay a few times doen't mean you're safe.

If you determine that the flash won't fry your camera, it will work fine, but you have to make sure you keep your shutter speed at or below 1/125 sec. Setting the camera on manual is the easiest way to do this and still control the aperture to the auto flash determined f/stop.

-- Jim Strutz (j.strutz@gci.net), July 27, 2001.


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