The Vivitar 283 electronic flash is used with SLR cameras to provide sufficient light for photographs in low-light shooting conditions. Troubleshooting the flash when it does not operate or when your photographs are too bright or dark will allow you to make adjustments so you can continue to take, and increase the quality of, your photographs.
Power
The Vivitar 283 is powered by four alkaline or NiCad AA batteries, a rechargeable battery pack or an AC adapter. The AC adapter is a continuous power source, but the batteries and battery pack will exhaust in time. Replace the batteries or remove the battery pack by sliding open the battery compartment on the back of the flash and removing the batteries or pack. Install new batteries or recharge and reinstall the battery pack.
Film Speed
Setting the correct film speed on the flash is important or you will overexpose or underexpose your photographs. Check your film packaging for the film speed and turn the dial on the upper-right side of the flash so that it matches the film speed.
Range Selector
Another cause of bright or dark photographs is improper flash range. If your subject is only a few feet away from the camera and you set the range for a long distance shot, the photograph will appear too bright and vice versa. Determine the distance from the camera to the subject and turn the range selector on the front of the flash to the purple marking if the range is 2 to 11 feet; blue if the subject is 2 to 15 feet away; red if the subject is at a distance of 4 to 30 feet; or yellow if the subject is 5 to 43 feet away.
Tags: battery pack, feet away, your photographs, bright dark, film speed, from camera, subject feet
