Vivitar Zoom Thyristor 2500 Flash

The Vivitar Zoom Thyristor 2500 is a classic external camera flash from the days when adding a little extra light meant clipping something onto your camera and getting creative.

With its angular black body, blue accents and adjustable flash head, it has that unmistakable vintage photography look.

But there's more to it than appearances.

The Zoom Thyristor 2500 was designed to make flash photography a little more manageable, using an automatic exposure system that measures reflected light and helps control the amount of flash needed.

That means you can spend more time thinking about your photograph and less time working out complicated flash settings.

The adjustable zoom head lets you change the flash coverage to suit different focal lengths, while the tilting design gives you the option of directing light towards a suitable ceiling or surface for a softer, more natural look.

It's particularly useful for indoor photography, portraits, evening gatherings and those situations where available light isn't quite enough.

There's also something wonderfully satisfying about using an old-school flash. The sound of it charging, the little ready light and that unmistakable burst of illumination all feel like part of the analogue photography experience.

A practical addition to a compatible film camera setup, or an interesting little piece of photographic history for anyone who appreciates vintage equipment.

Best for

Film photography, indoor portraits, evening photography, vintage camera setups, experimenting with bounced flash, creative lighting and analogue photography enthusiasts.

What to expect

The Vivitar Zoom Thyristor 2500 offers a more flexible lighting option than a basic fixed-head flash.

Its adjustable head allows you to change the direction and coverage of the light, while the automatic thyristor system can help manage exposure when used with the appropriate camera and settings.

You'll still need to check your camera's flash synchronisation speed and select the appropriate aperture and film speed settings.

Compatibility with modern digital cameras should not be assumed, particularly because older flashes can have trigger voltages unsuitable for some electronic cameras.

The flash's operation, including charging, firing and automatic exposure control, should be confirmed before sale.