can I use this flash?

[03civicdx]

A friend gave me a Vivitar 285hv flash. Can i just put this on top of my Canon XSi and it work?. If not what will i need to get it to work?

 

[Big Mike]

It should fire the flash just fine...and it's likely safe for your camera.

It won't work the same way that a new Canon flash will, or even the way the built-in flash does. It doesn't communicate with the camera for automatic metering...but it does have it's own version of automatic metering...you just need to make sure that your aperture matches the setting on the flash (or vice versa).

THIS might be useful.

 

[03civicdx]

Thanks I guess i'll try it out i just didn't want to mess anything up lol