Firing old Vivitar 283 flashgun

I know there are a number of threads on topics around this problem but I can't find my specific issues.
I know I'm not going to mount my flash on the camera.
I am happy to have everything fully manual.

I have a K100D and would like to use the built-in flash to trigger one of the following:
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or
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or
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I know there is a pre-flash, it mentions it in the manual, for the red-eye reduction, but it does not mention any other pre-flash. Am I right in assuming there is a pre-flash at other times? If so can it be switched off? If so, how?

My other alternative is a PT-04 Wireless Trigger
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Does this have any issues? Does this only trigger at the main flash?

Only had the camera a few weeks and generally hate flash pictures, so want to avoid any flash on top of camera. Thanks for any help.

Your built-in flash is P-TTL *only*. This means it will always emit a pre-flash for metering purposes (although it's so brief and so close to the main flash as to be all-but-undetectable to the human eye) and this can't be switched off. Therefore, any of the three slave triggers you've linked to will go off on the pre-flash and miss the main event.

The wireless trigger on the other hand should work just fine and will synchronise the remote flash to the shutter.

I use a wireless trigger PT04 to fire a 283 remotely but I don't use the pop up flash at all - and I'm guessing you won't either.

Have you got the gizmo that allows you adjust the output of the 283? It's really useful and makes the gun more usable.

Mike

Thanks for the quick responses.
I'm glad I found this forum as I would not have known about the pre-flash problem from the manual. I could only see the red-eye one, and this is all the manual mentions.

The pre-flash stuff is a pain. I couldn't get the Pentax AF360FGZ to fire consistently in slave mode and in the end purchased an old small Pentax flash to act as the trigger.

Good luck with it all.

Kris.

I have been looking into the PT-04 further. One review thinks there is the same problem with my flash frying the receiver in the same way as it would the camera.
Any comments?

Not fried mine yet and I must have fired 100+ shots. I measured the voltage and it's 300v so if it could it would. If you're anywhere near me, and I'm in Worcestershire, you can come and see it work.

I did have trouble getting it to fire without using the cable but that was because I didn't use the clamp that locks the shoe into place.

Anyway it's 16 quid for the PT04 so not a huge gamble given my experience.

Mike

These "peanut" style slave flash triggers are great. I use a SLS? version. Handy if you have a number of old flash units, especially high voltage units which should not be mounted on your camera. To trigger these slaved flashes you need another (low voltage) flash mounted on your camera. It must be non PTTL so it has no pre flash and will trigger all your slaved units. No need for any wireless triggers in this setup.
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