I love my old Vivitar 283 flash. Can I use it with my new DSLR?
It depends on when your 283 was made. If its one of the originals made in Japan from 1972 to 1987, its not safe. Their trigger voltages vary up to a reported 600 voltsenough to fry your DSLRs circuitry. More recent models (marked Made in China or Made in Korea) generally use a 9-volt trigger charge, so theyre safer on new cameras. Still, wed attach a Wein Safe-Sync adapter ($50, street) to its footor just buy a current TTL flash. It costs much less than replacing your DSLR, and you can still use the 283 as an off-camera background or fill light.
