jess_haydahl Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I currently own a Nikon D200 and I got an old Vivitar Auto Thyristor 2800 from a freind. Before I use it i know I need to check the voltage rates. I dont want to fry my camera, but I cant seem to find the exact specks on it. And im not sure what the D200 can take. Does anyone know? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bruce_margolis Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 I wouldn't have a clue about the voltage rate but maybe these people do. I used them before and their support was pretty good..... http://www.vivitar.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bwcombs Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 http://www.botzilla.com/photo/strobeVolts.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michael R Freeman Posted March 31, 2007 Share Posted March 31, 2007 <i>"And I'm not sure what the D200 can take."</i><P> +250 Volts DC. It's unlikely the Vivitar 2800 will exceed that, but the only way to be <b>absolutely</B> sure is to measure the voltage across the ground and sync contacts of a fully charged 2800 with a voltmeter.<div></div> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frank_skomial Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 As usual Nikon advice is incomplete and leaves room for interpretation. The best advice quoted here is: "contact a Nikon-authorized service representative", or what Michael says measure it yourself. But measure not only the voltage level but perhaps more importantly measure the DC voltage polarity of your flash produced voltage. From the quoted Nikon manual one could possibly derive that "any negative voltage" could blow D200 camera circuitry ?, and perhaps it does not have to be higher than 250 ? When measuring, pay attention to polarity, since some digital Volt/Amp/Ohm meters automatically may switch polarity of the signal applied to make correct measurement, but the "+" or "-" should be visible associated with the measured value at the central pin of the sync cable or hot shoe. Using a very old needle type meter instead of digital would not try to fool you... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ptkeam Posted April 1, 2007 Share Posted April 1, 2007 I have used Vivitar 283's on my two D-70's. No problem. I've even used the D-70's with my Speedotron brownline studio lights also no problem. BTW -- just got a nikon SB400 speedlight -- the little bitty one. LOVE IT. GREAT results with a lumiquest mini-soft box Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
d.olson Posted April 5, 2007 Share Posted April 5, 2007 I too have a Viv 283 but it measures 355 volts consistently. I wouldn't put that on an old 35. More modern flashes can be had for very little money. Use the old ones for off camera triggered with a slave, they work fine in that mode. I also use a Speedotron 2400 but trigger that with a wireless remote triggering at 6 volts. I would not trust the readings from any other source but what the actual readings were from that flash. The question comes to mind. Would you put a $10.00 saddle on a $10,000.00 horse? Don Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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