DF-383 DSLR AF Flash for Nikon
- Focus beam to assist in lowlight conditions
- Built-in Reflecting Plate and Diffuser
- Uses 4 AA batteries (not included)
- Red eye reduction
- Power Saving
Vivitar DF-383 DSLR AF Flash for Nikon Features
The Vivitar DF-383 DSLR AF Flash is an economical full-TTL enabled flash with support for digital SLR cameras. It features a powerful Guide Number of 148ft./45m at 85mm, and features a power-zoom flash head that covers a focal range from 24mm to 85mm.
The flash includes a built-in slave function which allows it to be positioned off-camera, and triggered by any second flash. You can also manually adjust the power level of the flash output from full-power down to 1/16th. It is the perfect economical all-purpose flash for any digital or 35mm SLR shooter.
Bounce, Zoom & Swivel Head
Flash has vertical bounce of 90° and horizontal swivel of 270°, with automatic or manual zoom settings of 24mm, 28mm, 35mm, 50mm, and 85mm
AF Assist
Autofocus auxiliary lamp helps the camera to focus in low-light situations
Remote Triggering
Built-in optical slave function allows for off-camera operation
Accepts Light Modifiers
Includes reflecting plate & wide angle diffuser
Power Saving
Circuitry incorporates an auto-off power saving element
Rating: 
(out of 9 reviews)
Price: Too low to display
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Review by Dennis W. Smith for DF-383 DSLR AF Flash for Nikon
Rating:
I am quite pleased with this flash. Integrates well with my Nikon D90. It does not function with Nikon’s Creative Lighting System, but then it costs 1/4 the price of a NIKON SB-900. Plenty of power to bounce off walls and ceilings or use with a additional diffuser. The quality of your photos will improve significantly with almost any flash other than the small direct flash built into your camera. The manual and/or slave capabilities will allow off camera flash shots that will further improve your photography. That said, the slave funtion does not work well in outdoor situations where the ambient lighting is high. This is were the much more expensive NIKON SB series flash units will out perform this flash unit – remote wireless TTL flash control – I just can’t understand why a flash unit SB-900) should cost more than half the cost of my D90 body. The D90 has significantly more electronic and mechanical technology than the SB900 and I’m sure the mfg’ing cost of the D90 is many times that of the SB900.
Review by RJG for DF-383 DSLR AF Flash for Nikon
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I purchased the DF-383-NIK for the Nikon system. I was hesitant as others had comments regarding built quality and out of the box performance mostly DOA units. I can’t comment on that as the unit we received has performed perfectly. The TTL and fill flash work as a Vivitar should. I’ve used Vivitar Flash units for 20 years and they are robust.
Power zoom is abit louder than expected and the internal light is of little value in most cases as its lit only from one side of the LCD screen, unit goes to sleep by itself requiring reset. But other than that it works as advertise. TTL metering. Works as a slave (S-switch on the rear) and can be triggered. Its a big unit and after using it for 2 separate jobs I can rate it a solid 4 Stars. Minus (-1) one as it not built as well as the old Vivitar’s or anywhere near as solid as Nikon SL SB’s units (which I have 600/800). Battery access door is cheaply made, Oh yea order some rechargeable AA batteries,I use Energizers 2,450′s and Sanyo’s.
Excellent value for photographers using there 1st ext flash and pro’s alike.
Used on a D90/300 and D700 bodies for reference.
Review by Andy Davis for DF-383 DSLR AF Flash for Nikon
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It’s not a bad flash unit, I don’t think it is as solidly built as the Nikon SB-600, but it is half the cost. I am an amateur, so I can afford the compromises.
It worked well in slave mode, iTTL, and in manual with my Cactus V4 wireless triggers.
Other reviews have mentioned the way the unit turns off after a few minutes to save batteries. Yes it does, and yes it is a huge pain. I was shooting product shots for a friend’s chocolate shop with this unit up on a stand pointing down. At one point I had to have her stand on a chair and make sure the flash was on before each series of shots. A pain for an amateur, a deal breaker for a professional.
Review by J. Sayson for DF-383 DSLR AF Flash for Nikon
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Ordered TWO of these flash units ~ both failed straight away out of the box. Construction is sub-par compared to units directly from Nikon or Canon. While the flash unit is as powerful and has the same features, both units had failure in the zoom unit (head unit). In one, the head fell off the internal track after a couple of shots, and got stuck in the wide angle position. In the other unit, the flash would not communicate properly with the camera after the first shot. THANK GOODNESS for Amazon ~ and Adorama Cameras ~ as I was able to exchange these units for name branded units. I ended up getting two Nikon SB-600 flash units in exchange. Money was more, but, definitely worth it, as one flash resides on my camera, and the second unit is the slave for backlighting.
Save yourself a lot of grief, and get the OEM units instead.
Review by John Hallinan for DF-383 DSLR AF Flash for Nikon
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Bought this after doing a lot of reviews and searching other flashes. This one seemed to be a pretty decent work horse (just for a slave) And is loaded with manual settings. Havent used it TOO much yet. but when i have its been prefect. It also works pretty flawlessly with my remote trigger i bought with it.
Im very happy with my purchase.