Customer Reviews for Nikon Inc. R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System
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Nikon Inc. R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System
A portable wireless close-up lighting system designed for Nikon digital SLRs with a built-in flash unit with wireless commander control.
Average Customer Rating:
(3 Reviews) 3
Rating Snapshot 3 reviews
5 stars
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2 out of 3(67%)customers recommend this product.
Customer Reviews for R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System
Review 1 for R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System
Overall rating
Versatile Lighting System
PostedJune 6, 2012
NikonD
Location Sedona, AZ, USA
Age 45-54
Favorite Subject Portrait
Nikon Family 11-20 years
Experience More than a year
Role Semi-professional photographer
I have owned this setup for 5 years now, I have used the SU800 and the SB200r flashes for everything .
Macro, studio,remote indoor and outdoor situations. I purchased the entire setup including the SU800, as I use it with my D2X and my SB800. I have found this to be the very handy versatile lighting in many situations.
I highly recommend this for macro and many other situations.
I must agree with the above review as to the battery type used with this system, the CR123 batteries are very expensive and hard to find.
The locking system for the flash to ring is a little stiff and sometimes hard to lock in place without a little finesse and double checking, but for the versatility and power I can live with these minor refinement issues.
Macro, studio,remote indoor and outdoor situations. I purchased the entire setup including the SU800, as I use it with my D2X and my SB800. I have found this to be the very handy versatile lighting in many situations.
I highly recommend this for macro and many other situations.
I must agree with the above review as to the battery type used with this system, the CR123 batteries are very expensive and hard to find.
The locking system for the flash to ring is a little stiff and sometimes hard to lock in place without a little finesse and double checking, but for the versatility and power I can live with these minor refinement issues.
My product recommendations
SU-800 Wireless Speedlight Commander
(3)
SB-800 AF Speedlight
(12)
D2Xs
(3)Share:
+5points
Review 2 for R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System
Overall rating
very good setup
PostedSeptember 15, 2010
jt
Location new york,ny
Age 18-24
Favorite Subject Sports
Nikon Family 2-5 years
Experience 3-6 months
Role Professional photographer
this setup is awesome it has everything you need for lighting it has a flash and a wireless commander control
Share:
-23points
Review 3 for R1 Wireless Close-Up Speedlight System
Overall rating
Great idea that needs some refinement
PostedMay 17, 2012
Macro man
Location South Africa
Age 45-54
Favorite Subject Nature
Nikon Family 21+ years
Experience More than a year
Role Semi-professional photographer
I have these flashes since they were first introduced by Nikon some 5 or 6 years ago. They can make awesome light under ideal conditions. However there are some serious design flaws that make them less ideal under normal shooting conditions.
1. The batteries are expensive and hard to get in remote areas. Even in our capital city it is not a given that you will walk into a camera store and expect them to have stock of these batteries. I prefer AA type so I can share batteries with other flashes and accessories. When batteries fail, (and mine failed a couple of times when I least expected) I can get AA type batteries even in small towns.
2. The hooks to attach the diffuser panels for extreme macro or to attach the transparent holder for filters are just too small - these attachments regularly fall off, and frustrate the nuts out of me. Also the hooks to attach the flash holder to the lens rings sometimes do not catch properly. I have on two or three occasions tried to fit them in a hurry, not noticing the ring did not clip properly and ended up with the flashes falling off the lens onto the ground. A redesign is needed.
3. I use the R1 kit ( using the camera flash as controller ). The wireless signal is just too easily obstructed by my hand, or by a diffuser, or at some angles to strong sunlight. Then one or both flashes do not fire. This limits the positions where I can place the flashes. A cabled solution like the Canon MT24 or the Olympus STF22 makes more sense for macro in my opinion. Although SC-30 cables do exist for these flashes, these are clearly indicated only for non-iTTL cameras.
4. When I use diffuser panels and extension tubes, I sometimes feel the flashes a little underpowered. Recharge times are also a bit long.
2. The hooks to attach the diffuser panels for extreme macro or to attach the transparent holder for filters are just too small - these attachments regularly fall off, and frustrate the nuts out of me. Also the hooks to attach the flash holder to the lens rings sometimes do not catch properly. I have on two or three occasions tried to fit them in a hurry, not noticing the ring did not clip properly and ended up with the flashes falling off the lens onto the ground. A redesign is needed.
3. I use the R1 kit ( using the camera flash as controller ). The wireless signal is just too easily obstructed by my hand, or by a diffuser, or at some angles to strong sunlight. Then one or both flashes do not fire. This limits the positions where I can place the flashes. A cabled solution like the Canon MT24 or the Olympus STF22 makes more sense for macro in my opinion. Although SC-30 cables do exist for these flashes, these are clearly indicated only for non-iTTL cameras.
4. When I use diffuser panels and extension tubes, I sometimes feel the flashes a little underpowered. Recharge times are also a bit long.
These flashes are highly overrated. I usually get frustrated with them, pack them away and continue the macro shoot with one or two SB-800 flashes. I am now selling these as they do not contribute to my macro photography. They are OK in studio provided you do not block their signals with diffusers. Outdoors I envy the competition's products.
Share:
+10points