vivitar 285 and G number

[jingphotography]

Just got this from eBay at a bargain price. Seller threw in not only the 285 itself, but manual, AC power, two photo cells, 6 sync cores, gel set, two 28mm wide angle attachments, softlight bounce holder etc

Way too

It seemed that AC charger is very slow: around 25sec for M/full
2900mAh Ni-mh cut the recycle time to around 3 sec. But it drain the battery like mad. I think it gives less than 50 pops. It is right?

About the G number
I ran a rough comparison:
setup: meter at 1.6m away. ISO 100, 1/125. all at full manual output

Canon 580 EXII: f22
Canon 430 EXII: f13
A Strobe (Similar to Eli Ranger, G52) f19
Vivtar 285: f16

I thought 285 is G-120. I expect the f stop is much higher.
Am I miss the obvious?

 

[Dave in Wales]

http://oregoncoastphotoclub.tripod.com/calcs/flash.htm


D in W

 

[Flash In The Pan]

Just a word of warning, if you're planning to use it either on camera or on a set of triggers, make sure your 285 (I assume it's an HV) is one of the "made in China" ones, as the older, Japanese, versions have a trigger voltage of something like 300 volts....

 

[jingphotography]

Just a word of warning, if you're planning to use it either on camera or on a set of triggers, make sure your 285 (I assume it's an HV) is one of the "made in China" ones, as the older, Japanese, versions have a trigger voltage of something like 300 volts....

Thanks for warning. It is the old granddad of 285 without the HV.
I plan to use it as off camera fill/background light.