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05-19-2008, 06:31 AM   #1
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Vivitar DF400MZ

hi.... i've seen this pttl flash on ebay.....
does anyone have any personal reviews
of this flash..... formal reviews...
thanks, dcmsox

12-04-2008, 02:35 PM   #2
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I came across this old thread when searching for info on the DF400MZ. Has anyone tried this flash out yet on a Pentax body? I see it only comes in Canon & Nikon TTL flavors, and that's fine with me since I just want to use it in manual mode with a Cactus wireless trigger.

For $100 it looks tough to beat:

Vivitar | DF400MZ Digital TTL Shoe Mount Flash | DF400MZN | B&H

I borrowed a friends Vivitar 285 to test, and I liked it, but I would like to have something a touch more modern.

Edit: Scratch that, it does come in P-TTL. B&H just doesn't carry it. Gadget Infinity has it though.

Last edited by Art Vandelay II; 12-04-2008 at 03:06 PM.
12-04-2008, 04:31 PM   #3
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I haven't seen it personally, but it looks like another copy of the Sakar / Digital Concepts 952AF/PEN. The specs aren't exactly the same, but the pictures sure are. And so is the lack of documentation or of support — which isn't likely to get any better, since Sakar bought the Vivitar name.

I'd be interested in any personal reviews too, particularly of the Pentax-specific version. There's a pretty funny one of the Canon-compatible model:

Vivitar's New DF400MZ a Credible Rival to Canon?

(The answer to the question turns out to be "no".)
06-10-2009, 01:38 PM   #4
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Now that that review of the canon is out, we might not be able to see any Pentax ones.
And I thought it was promising because of the price and the specs.
The reviewer was mostly complaining about the build or robustness of the unit.
I still do hope that someone would give a review here of the Pentax compatible model.

06-12-2009, 10:57 PM   #5
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QuoteOriginally posted by dcmsox2004 Quote
hi.... i've seen this pttl flash on ebay.....
does anyone have any personal reviews
of this flash..... formal reviews...
thanks, dcmsox
Did not see this flash for Pentax, saw this one instead.

Check it:

Vivitar | DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount | DF-383-PEN
06-13-2009, 12:10 AM   #6
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QuoteOriginally posted by res3567 Quote
Did not see this flash for Pentax, saw this one instead.

Check it:

Vivitar | DF 383 Series 1 Digital TTL Shoe Mount | DF-383-PEN
That's almost certainly this:

TUMAX

Whereas the other one is:

TUMAX
06-13-2009, 09:09 PM   #7
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QuoteOriginally posted by mattdm Quote
That's almost certainly this:

TUMAX

Whereas the other one is:

TUMAX
Is they worth a flip? Just got my fourth Vivitar 285 today. I want an inexpensive TTL flash to have on camera with a swivel head as the Vivitars are to be used for Srobist photography and on flash brackets. That 383 is supposed to have a higher guide number than both the 285 and the 400MZ.

06-14-2009, 06:43 AM   #8
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QuoteOriginally posted by res3567 Quote
Is they worth a flip? Just got my fourth Vivitar 285 today. I want an inexpensive TTL flash to have on camera with a swivel head as the Vivitars are to be used for Srobist photography and on flash brackets. That 383 is supposed to have a higher guide number than both the 285 and the 400MZ.
It's a tough call. No other inexpensive flash gives manual control over power levels. If you want more options than full or 1/16th, your cheapest P-TTL options with tilt and swivel are over $200: the Metz 48 AF-1 at $225, Sigma EF-530 DG Super at $240, or the Promaster 7500EDF at $250.
06-14-2009, 07:03 AM   #9
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Flash you'v mentioned is available with pentax mount Gadget Infinity*::*Digital Camera*::*Flash*::*Vivitar DF400MZ P-TTL Flash for Pentax Cameras it doesn't has a manual mode so its absoulutely unusable for wireless flash.... i would suggest 48 Metz as well....
06-16-2009, 09:50 PM   #10
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QuoteOriginally posted by dcmsox2004 Quote
hi.... i've seen this pttl flash on ebay.....
does anyone have any personal reviews
of this flash..... formal reviews...
thanks, dcmsox
OK! EVERYONE! Hope ya'll can hear me!

I just ordered the Vivitar DF 383.

I had a coupon from EBAY that was about to expire and I want (and need) an inexpensive TTL flash to mount on the camera with a swivel and bounce head that will fit my tight budget.

Price would have been $137 with shipping from Cameta camera, with my coupon it will be about $124.

Stay tuned for a FULL review!

This flash got 2 good reviews from Canon users on Amazon.
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