Vivitar 285 HV in Stroboframe camera flip

[alexander_gisoldi]

I'm just about to purchase a Stroboframe camera flip to use with a Bronica ETRS

and Nikon F2, however I can't figure out how I will be able to connect either

camera to the mounted flash which will be about 12 inches above the camera in

the bracket. I found a cable that came with the 285 and it appears to go into

the PC socket of the F2, but I can't figure out where it will go in the 285HV.

It's only 12 inches long so I can't imagine it's going to reach from the PC

socket of the F2 or the ETRS for that matter to the 285 in the Stroboframe

bracket about 10-12 inches above the camera. Am I missing a connection point on

the flash? Is it possible to stretch this one foot cable all the way to

wherever the mystery socket is on the mounted 285? Do I need another longer

cable? The only other one I saw was a 3 foot coiled one at BH. I guess that

would be the only answer for the cable. However, the socket to be found on the

285 escapes me. Do I need some other kind of adapter or plug to put into the

285 to be able to connect it to a camera via a pc connection? I'd really

appreciate any help as I'm at a total loss here. Thanks.

[michael_madio]

The socket is the hole on the side of the shoe.

[Gary Naka]

If it is a Vivitar cord, the plug is a tapered plug and goes into a hole on the side of the foot. Since it is too short, you can get a PC/PC extention cord, like this one http://www.adorama.com/FAPCPC5.html

 

The 285HV uses a proprietary plug (not good). You have 3 options.

 

#1 use a hot shoe adapter with a PC cord that will plug into the F2 or Bronica that looks like this one. http://www.adorama.com/FAPCHSA.html?searchinfo=hot%20shoe%20adapter&item_no=6

You can't use this one because the cord is too short. But you can use a PC/PC extention cord to make it longer.

 

#2 get a sync cord with a Vivitar plug, like this one:

http://www.adorama.com/PNV4C.html

If you go to the Paramount site, you can order a custom cable for the flash/camera combo.

 

#3 Get a hot shoe adapter that has a sync cord jack so you can plug in a standard sync cord.

Example, this one will let you plug in a HouseHold plug

http://www.adorama.com/WNHSH.html?searchinfo=hot%20shoe%20adapter&item_no=1

This one has a PC jack but it is a SafeSync which you don't need. I have one for use with flashes with HV triggers.

http://www.adorama.com/SZ23508.html?searchinfo=hot%20shoe%20adapter&item_no=14

 

Gary

[michael_madio]

The proprietary Vivitar cords can be hard to come by. My solution was to replace the shoe on the Vivitar with an after-market one that has a standard sync socket (they're dirt cheap on eBay). You do need very basic soldering skills to do this though.