Quick Vivitar 285HV question

[BEphoto]

I ordered two brand new vivitar 285HVs and got them earlier this week. I used one for a few days just perfectly, everything functioning as it should. Today, i received my wireless trigger that was backordered so i put batteries in the other flash and im not getting the same results.

They are turned exactly the same on the dial. I've got them both set to 1/16 power. The first flash i used fires off just fine. The other one that i just took out of the box today will fire, but not nearly as strong. It makes a little bit of a clicky or a "tick" sound when the flash fires, rather than the sound that the good one makes. The bad one sounds a little higher piched of a click, if that makes any since what-so-ever.

Changing the power doesnt make any difference, whereas on the good flash there is a noticeable difference in full power and 1/16.


So... is there something that im missing that could be making it not as powerful? is there something that i can check?

Im at a shoot right now and would like my brand new flash to function as it should. Its giving off a small flash, but not like it should be doing.

Any info (quickly if possibly) would be great. Thanks in advance.

Brad

[Colyn]

Have you tried both without the trigger with the same results?

If the bad one is still not working as it should send it back and ask for an exchange.

[BEphoto]

Yeah, i just hand held them both and did the test fire, as well as set them up on the triggers.

The bad one doesnt even produce enough light to make a difference in a picture.

Also, i meant to mention in my OP that i switched the batteries between the flashes and got the same result with different batteries.

There is something in the manual about "forming the capacitator". I dont exactly know what this is, but i THINK i did it the way it said, and still nothing. If i cant figure it out tonight im going to take it up to arlington camera and see if they can help. If not, its going back and hopefully exchanging for a new one.

Any other tips out there?

[The Loft Studios]

The best way to test their power is to use a Light Meter.
Do you have one or access to one?

[BEphoto]

Originally Posted by The Loft Studios

The best way to test their power is to use a Light Meter.
Do you have one or access to one?

unfortunately i dont. Its not something that even needs a light meter though, im pretty sure. The flash just doesnt fire right. Its literally just a tiny burst. The ready light never even has to catch back up, even set on full power. There is either something I've missed, or its just plain defective. All settings are the same on both flashes. One fires nice and strong, the other just a small blip of light.

[brad]

Its probably a defective unit. Vivitar had some major QC issues near the end (the flash producing unit was sold to another company recently).

You need to return it.

[BEphoto]

Originally Posted by brad

Its probably a defective unit. Vivitar had some major QC issues near the end (the flash producing unit was sold to another company recently).

You need to return it.

Blah. That figures. I've got an OLD (circa 1978) sunpack unit that I just stuck batteries in and test fired. Worked like a charm! That will hold me over until a replacement arrives.

[The Loft Studios]

Originally Posted by BEphoto

.....The flash just doesnt fire right. Its literally just a tiny burst. The ready light never even has to catch back up, even set on full power.

In that case, then yeh..... sounds like you have a defective unit.

[cooltouch]

Send it back.

Repeat after me: Nowadays, the end user is Quality Control. Doesn't matter if it's a "cheap" flash made in China or an "expensive" DSLR made in Japan. There is no such thing as QC anymore.