Off Camera Flash Experiments With An Old Vivitar 283 And My S5700

When I purchased my Minolta SRT 101 Film SLR from the Car Boot Sale a couple of weeks ago, the seller chucked in a Vivitar 283 Flash.

I wasn't keen on trying to use the flash with my film SLR, plus I would have needed an extra cable to make it work, so I thought I'd see if it would work with my Fujifilm S5700...

On The Shelf Taken With Fujifilm S5700, Manual, F6.3, 4 secs, ISO 64, Focal Length 22mm, Tripod

I scratched my head a bit as how to use the flash. I had no way of synchronising it with my digital camera, and the only way I had of triggering it was by pressing the discharge button on the back of the flash.

I decided the only way forward was to put my camera on its tripod, turn off all the lights and use the longest shutter time my Fuji could take - 4 seconds. This way I just had to press the shutter button, and I'd have plenty of time to fire the flash manually.

Not My Shadow Taken With Fujifilm S5700, Manual, F6.3, 4 secs, ISO 64, Focal Length 10mm, Tripod

I had to play around with the strength settings on the flash to control its brightness, and try different angles and distances to get an acceptable effect.

I converted to B&W in Photoshop Elements with first a levels adjustment layer, then a Hue / Saturation to strip the colour, and another levels layer to push the blacks and whites even further. I played around with the blend-modes (between normal / overlay / soft-light) and opacity to get a strong black and white finish.


Timid Taken With Fujifilm S5700, Manual, F6.3, 4 secs, ISO 64, Focal Length 16mm, Tripod

Most of the shots were taken with the subjects on top of a Radiator Cover, a couple of inches from the wall. I tended to put the flash to the right and up a bit, compared to the subject.

Posh Pebbles Taken With Fujifilm S5700, Manual, F13.6, 4 secs, ISO 64, Focal Length 7mm, Ironing Board

These last two were actually the first I took, the night before. I was using a tighter aperture, F13.6. I didn't have much hope that the pics would come out well at all, but the finished articles spurred me on to take some more.

Passing The Time Taken With Fujifilm S5700, Manual, F13.6, 4 secs, ISO 64, Focal Length 6mm, Ironing Board

Support method: Ironing Board!

At least I got some use out of this old Vivitar 283 Flash, now I just need to get a real dSLR with a proper wireless flash system... or do I?

Thanks, Rob.

Comments

[C0mdrData]

If you want to invest a little money, this device will allow the flash to synch wirelessly with the S5700...or any other camera for that manner.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Hama-Slave-Unit-Shoe-Contact/dp/B00005LLPK

It requires you to make sure the built-in flash fires (use forced flash mode if necessary) Also, you can't use the red-eye reduction mode, since the Vivitar would fire too early.

[Rob_Nunn]

What a great little device. Added to my Amazon wish-list for xmas! Thanks for the tip.

[VictorW69]

Be careful with what flash slave you choose. Most flash slaves are simple devices that trigger the auxillary flash when it see's another flash - unfortunately the 5700 flashes at least twice even in forced flash mode, once for it's exposure/colour measurement, then the main 'capture' flash. A simple slave will trigger the auxillary flash on your fuji's first flash and will be all over before the main flash and capture - ie: you won't photograph the auxillary flash!
Better devices count the 'pre-flashes' (and ignores them), then synchronises with the cameras main flash. - Check out my DIY section on flickr, this device works with any flash, any camera, any mode, (including red-eye), and any shutter speed.

Just trying to help - you could waste money on a slave that then doesn't work!

[Rob_Nunn]

Great point, I didn't realise that - and it explains a few posts I've read where people have bought slave units and can't figure out why they don't work.

Here's a link to Victors' FLickr DIY stuff: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26887294@N05/sets/72157605616769517/

Thanks again, Rob.