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Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL
- Price: $124.95
- GBP 79.78
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Batteries are required but not included with this item. Please be sure to purchase batteries for this item.
The Vivitar DF-383 Shoe Mount Flash is an economical full-TTL enabled flash with support for digital SLR cameras. It features a powerful Guide Number of 148'/45 m at 85mm, and features a power-zoom flash head that covers a focal range from 24mm to 85mm.
The flash includes a built-in slave function which allows it to be positioned off-camera, and triggered by any second flash. You can also manually adjust the power level of the flash output from full-power down to 1/16th. It is the perfect economical all-purpose flash for any digital or 35mm SLR shooter.
- Bounce, Zoom & Swivel Head
- Flash has vertical bounce of 90° and horizontal swivel of 270°, with automatic or manual zoom settings of 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm
- AF Assist
- Autofocus auxiliary lamp helps the camera to focus in low-light situations
- Remote Triggering
- Built-in optical slave function allows for off-camera operation
- Accepts Light Modifiers
- Includes reflecting plate & wide angle diffuser
- Power Saving
- Circuitry incorporates an auto-off power saving element
| Mount | Shoe |
| Guide No. | 148' (45.11 m) ISO100 at 85 mm position |
| Angle of Coverage | 75° - 28° |
| Vari-Power | 1/1 - 1/16 |
| TTL Dedication | Yes |
| Bounce Head | Yes |
| Swivel Head | Yes |
| Coverage | 28 mm - 85 mm (Full frame) |
| Zoom Head | Full frame: 28 mm - 85 mm |
| Off Camera Terminal | None |
| Recycle Time | Approximately 0.5 seconds - 9 |
| Power Source | 4x AA Alkaline, Lithium, NiCad, Rechargeable Ni-MH Batteries |
| Dimensions (WxHxD) | 5.0 x 4.0 x 3.0" / 12.70 x 10.16 x 7.62 cm |
| Weight | 9.5 oz / 269 g |
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviews(based on 76 reviews)
Ratings Distribution
90%
of respondents would recommend this to a friend.
Pros
- Easy to use (58)
- Consistent output (41)
- Good power output (41)
- Lightweight (41)
- Versatile (41)
Cons
- Slow recycling (23)
- Heavy (4)
- Heavy / bulky (3)
- Not interchangeable (3)
- Slow focus (3)
Best Uses
- General purpose (64)
- Fill flash (48)
- Portraits (46)
- Night photography (20)
- Photojournalism (13)
- Reviewer Profile:
- Semi-pro photographer (28), Photo enthusiast (25), Casual photographer (12), Pro photographer (5)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (49), Yes (4)
Most Liked Positive Review
Great Flash/Great Price
I bought two of these flashes to start shooting off-camera flash with. The product is great and it is so much cheaper than a 430ex2 or a 580ex2. The flash is powerful and the ...Read complete review
I bought two of these flashes to start shooting off-camera flash with. The product is great and it is so much cheaper than a 430ex2 or a 580ex2. The flash is powerful and the AF helps so much in low-light situations. Off-camera the wireless optical slave works great indoors but it is usually impractical to use the optical slave in the sun. For this i will order radio triggers in the near future. The only reason I do not give this five stars is because a few days after i got the, one broke and refused to fire under any methods of triggering. This seems to be a totally random problem however because the other flash unit i have still works fine.
VS
Most Liked Negative Review
Lasted for two hours
Maybe it was just defective. I've read others review this and I was deciding between it and a canon flash. It seems like this one is pretty much hit or miss... I figured...Read complete review
Maybe it was just defective. I've read others review this and I was deciding between it and a canon flash. It seems like this one is pretty much hit or miss... I figured it had the basic features and I could use it to be a slave if I get the more expensive canon flash later. I needed a flash for a shoot at a night club so I ordered this one. Came in fast, on time, and seemed okay. So a couple of days later hours before the shoot, it was working perfectly and I was just doing some test shots to get it down and moments before I actually needed it, it seemed like the thing just shorted out or something... it didn't burn out, just kept making a sound like it was charging up and never released the power to the bulb... [...]My shoot didn't go as planned but luckily half way through, the guy that hired me loaned me his canon 580 EXII... worked awesome but had more features than I needed... but I know now I'm gonna just save up and buy that one. [...]
Reviewed by 76 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-20
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Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Manual mode Error
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
The Vivitar DF 383 is a good flash and can works well with my Canon 60D, and I would recommend it. There is one limitation when used with the Canon 60D in that it cannot be used in the manual mode without the camera displaying an "err 20" code. The display will also say to either turn the camera off and then on or to take out the batteris and then replace them to resolve the error. It seems Canon has made their cameras to not work smoothly with third party flashes. I can work with the flash and the 60D in auto mode. Also I can use the flash compensation in the camera menu to adjust the intensity of the flash while still using this flash unit. I plan to buy a Canon flash unit as soon as I can afford one.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Durable can't say yet
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- none
Best Uses
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
This flash puts out a lot of flash power Iam very satisfied,so far no complaint.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
Easy to use. Takes a great picture. Great value. I am really pleased with the purchase and your company.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
Bought on the suggestion of my teacher as the best "bang for your buck" to use with my Canon Rebel T2i. Though I am still learning to use it like the fact that it can be used for quite a large distance and have several different power strengths.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Canon adaptable
- Low cost
- Versatile
Cons
- Slow Recycling
- Weak Output
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I plan to use these as extra light to my 580. At 1/4th the price, I really did not have much choice. Some difference to the 580 is that they do not seem as heavy duty or well made. They are not quite as powerful and they seem to take longer to recharge. At full power about 8-9 seconds. The buttons are a little small so what I did was take a spot of bright gold marker on them so I could see them better in the dark. Also, if you have them off camera using the slave, they will shut down after too short of a time and you have to go around to start them all up again. On camera wouldn't be such a problem. I have yet to see how well they do in the field. For a pro photographer doing weddings I think the slow recycle and less power than the 580 would be frustrating. However, for a less expensive alternative and for extra lights or back up I think they will work fine.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Slow Focus
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I use this flash mostly for Portiat shooting and I love the swivel head feature. You can really experiment with the lighting with this flash and for the price, it performs very well. I would recommend.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Battery door isn't sturdy
- Plastic foot
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I haven't had a chance to use this flash too much yet but so far so good. It seems to have all the power I was looking for. I am alittle hesitant about the foot being plastic and the battery door seems like it could break easily
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Durable
- Easy To Use
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Heavy
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I have use this flash twice once at a wedding and once at an eagle Scout ceremony. It is powerful and TTL works wonderfully. Recharge time was a tad slow for wedding but that is my only complaint.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Product photography
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
Great price for my budget and that it is my first flash. I use it for a fill flash when using shutter priority to eliminate any movement. Slow Recycle time makes this unusable for continuous shooting.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
Cons
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
My first choice was the Canon 430X, but I decided to try this one, was closer to my budget.
I use it with a Canon Rebel T1i, it works great!
I use it mainly for indoor shots, so most of the time I need to tilt the head, the communication with the camera works great.
The battery lasts over 100 takes if you don't shoot them all together in the same day.
I absolutely would recommend this flash if you are on a budget and won't be using it on a studio or to work with multiple speedlites.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Heavy
Best Uses
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I've owned this for a few weeks now and use it regularly for my indoor pictures. I haven't tried it for outdoor situations yet but the flash is extremely bright and lots of settings to choose from. It is like a new camera when using the flash.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- General Use
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
In just using the flash everynow and then it seems like a very good alternative to the more expensive flashes, based on other reviews though I did purchase an extended warranty.
- Was this a gift?:
- Yes
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I am not a professional photographer. I am just an average photographer.
I loved this flash when it worked. It died 8 months after I bought it. I've owned several other Vivitar products which also failed within a year.
The Vivitar tech support guy I spoke with was playing video games while speaking with me. I was trying to find out how to fix my flash but he recommended I send it back to them to get it fixed. I gave up and trashed the flash. I expected it to last longer for the money I paid for it.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Bulky
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I'm sure part of the reason I'm not fully satisfied with the product is my lack of experience with the controls and other aspects of the unit. But when I hit the right combination and snap the picture the result is excellent. So, although the product may deserve 5 stars, I really can't give that rating until I know that the bad results are surely my fault.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I have had several flashes in the past, this is my first Vivitar. I love it. All I have to do is mount it and shoot away.
I purchased this same flash about 6 months ago and loved it so much I made a second purchase for my back up camera.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
Cons
- Not Interchangeable
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Photojournalism
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
First off: if you have a Canon 60D DO NOT BUY THIS FLASH! IT WILL NOT WORK WITH YOUR CAMERA!
I have two cameras. One is an old Rebel XT and the other is a Canon 60D.
The flash worked well with my Rebel, but only works in TTL with the 60D.
For any serious photographer, shooting in TTL is completely unacceptable.
The power output is good, the recycle speed is... acceptable, the unit itself is visually appealing, but there is another major flaw in this flash unit which gives it a rating of 2 stars:
Sleep mode.
Many times during a photoshoot, you are going have to spend a few minutes to rearrange the shot. After a minute or two, this flash unit turns off.
To my knowledge, there is no way to turn off this "feature."
Its incredibly frustrating.
On the plus side, this unit is pretty affordable and not a bad training unit SO LONG AS YOU DON'T HAVE A 60D.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I returned the first because the zoom would catch if you took pictures too fast and you had to turn it off. The second unit occasionally did the same & now after 6 months it suddenly won't come to full power and no TTL, It can't be triggered by the camera...
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
- Slow Recycling
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
The DF-383 is a very affordable and highly reliable alternative to expensive Speedlite flashes. I have found the E-TTL and manual functions work consistently well. I just purchased a second (slave) unit for studio, off-camera use with a tripod and umbrella. Also use with my Honl reflector snoot and LumiQuest diffuser.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Lightweight
- Powerful Output
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Night Photography
- Photojournalism
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
This is a great little flash, and a lot cheaper than the Canon models. It performs well as a fill, zoom and bounce flash unit, and is lightweight & easy to store in my gear bag. It's not as rugged a feel as other flash units, but I think that has more to do with the lightweight plastics used in the housing more than enything else.
The TTL metering seems to work well and the bounce/swivel add to it's versatility.
If you're into major brand names stick with Canon, but if you're looking at a great little economical flash unit, this is it.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Consistent Output
- Easy To Use
- Fast Recycling
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Fill Flash
- General Use
- Portraits
Comments about Vivitar DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount Autofocus Flash for Canon TTL:
I have not had this very long but it work well for me. O have used it succesfully ttl manual and as a slave with no problems. I will probably be picking up a few more and a wireless trigger system. I am very happy with what I got for the price.
- Was this a gift?:
- No
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Batteries & Power
Required item:
- Price: $1.23
- GBP 0.79
-
- Original: $13.99
- Save: $1.40
- Price: $12.59
- GBP 8.04
Flash Diffusers
-
- Original: $9.95
- Save: $2.30
- Price: $7.65
- GBP 4.88
Reflectors
- Price: $39.95
- GBP 25.51
Sync Cords & Flash Remotes
- Price: $14.99
- GBP 9.57
-
- Original: $14.95
- Save: $1.49
- Price: $13.46
- GBP 8.59
What's in the Box
- Soft Case
- 1-Year Warranty
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