Flashes

I have investigated several options for flashes for my Certo Six.



Vivitar 283- I bought one off of Ebay for $60. Its condition was not as described so I sent it back. Here is the manual.

Plus

• Lock that locks the flash to the camera's shoe so it doesn't wobble around at all.
• Powerful (guide number 120ft. @ ASA100)
• Four depth of field options
• Automatic bounce flash compesation (increases output to compensate for loss of light in reflecting)
• Auto thyristor technology

Minus

• Very top-heavy
• Very bulky

Vivitar 285 HV- still available new from B&H for $90. I returned it for the reasons below. Here is the manual.

Plus

• Lock that locks the flash to the camera's shoe so it doesn't wobble around at all.
• Powerful (guide number 120ft. @ ASA100)
• Four depth of field options
• Automatic bounce flash compesation (increases output to compensate for loss of light in reflecting)
• Auto thyristor technology
• 1/2, 1/4, 1/8 power options
• Zoom function

Minus

• Very top-heavy
• Very bulky
• Cheap, cheap, cheap construction! (looked anf felt like a cheap plastic toy)

Rollei 134 REB- Bought off Ebay for $20. Here is the manual

Plus

• Relatively compact
• Svelte
• Very slick head tilt function
• Nice quality (slightly better than Vivitar 283)
• Auto thyristor technology
• Lower center of mass
• Threaded for tripod mount

Minus

• Only two depth of field settings in auto mode (f4 and f11 for 100 speed film)
• Funky Rollei locking sync. cord (make sure you get a cord with this flash if you buy one)
• Non-locking shoe (I cut two shims out of brass shim material, drilled a small hole in each and placed them right under the thin chromed shim that's alreay in the flash shoe. I used the screw that' s already there to attach all three. This screw prevents the flash from sliding all the way in the shoe. I filed a notch in the flash shoe with a needle file so it would slide all the way in. The flash fits perfectly now- not wobbly at all)

I'm going to stay with the Rollei because it is so nice and compact for its power (guide number of 110 ft. w/100ASA film). I really can't stant the bulk of the Vivitars. The 283 is a close second as it is well built and has a locking shoe. The 285 HV is a piece of junk. The Certo does not need the zoom function of the 285 and the 1/4, 1/2, etc. power function can be accomplished by stopping down the aperture or by adding NDO filters.