Cactus Flashguns... Worth it??

C

Clickawaymedia

Suspended / Banned
Messages
242
Edit My Images
Yes
I have heard good things about the Vivitar 285HV's, and was looking to buy 2 and some cactus triggers. While looking on the GI site, found they make their own versions of these flashes as Vivitar dont make them any more.

Well are the cactus versions just the same, and are they worth buying for the "strobist" method of shooting?

If not, can anyone suggest a better (or cheaper) alternative?
 
The problem with the later incarnation of the 285HV, the ones that GI sold, was that the quality control was, how can I put this...ah, yes....crap.

Vivitar went bust and were bought over and in the meantime it looks as if GI have contracted the same Chinese manufacturing plant to produce these 285 clones for them.

Are they worth buying? Factoring in the ever-collapsing value of the pound and the fact that there is a fair chance you'll be sending them back for replacement (return p+p will cost you upwards of a tenner, as it did me when I had to return mine) I'd say no.
 
mm_photographic said:
Cheers flash, how about a better or cheaper alternative?
Click to expand...

Depends on your budget - you'd probably have been looking at £100 each for the Cactus guns by the time HMRC took their pound of flesh and at that price you'd be better off with a couple of old Nikon SB24/25/26/28 guns and use the change for a set of the new Cactus V4 triggers or towards a set of Skyports.
 
You could allways look at the LP120 from MPEX in the states. They will ship to the UK for quite a reasonable rate, and they have been built with Strobist's in mind. They are conmpletely manual, have loads of adjustment and are well built.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top