I own 6 Nikon SB-R200s and put them to use where just nothing else will do. For environmental portraiture indoors they can be placed under a lamp shade to light up a table or floor lamp. These little flashes can be tucked into the smallest spots. They work well to illuminate muslin backgrounds. A tip there is to use a black backdrop and light it with gelled flashes. It is counterintuitive to use black, but the result is subtle and pleasing. Cardboard, foil, or grip tape shields can be made to direct the light. And of course these are wonderful for macro work with the Nikon R1 or R1C1 systems, what they were designed to do. A number of caveats apply. The SB-R200 typically can only be triggered by a Nikon SU-800, or a Nikon flash or camera with Nikon's Creative Lighting System Commander (CLS) mode. That means the pre-flash signals must reach the sensor. Indoors the signals bounce around quite a bit so line of sight is not an absolute. There is a cable connection available between the SU-800 and a pair of SB-R200s, but the cables are short, expensive, and for use with pre iTTL cameras. In general all flashes in use must be triggered through CLS. The commander flash can be corded to the camera with a SC-29 or similar TTL cable. Some reviewers complain about the CR123 battery. That battery was chosen by design due to voltage, size, and weight. The unit would have to be larger and heavier if twin AAs were used. I use 3.0V rechargeables and chargers available online. I have not been willing to experiment with 3.7V batteries and it is unknown if the circuitry can handle the additional voltage. Queries to Nikon have resulted in the stock answer to use only the batteries indicated in the manual. In any case the 3.0V rechargeables last well, recycle the flash quickly, and cost little more than single use batteries. Just pay attention to the voltage when looking for rechargeables. The SB-R200 is not designed to be used as a general use flash. It cannot mount on the camera without the R1 adapter kit, in which case it mounts to the lens, and not all lenses can handle the extra weight on the filter ring. However the SB-R200 is supplied with a stand/adapter that allows it to be mounted to a light stand or anything with a 1/4-20 threaded stud. It also comes with a case and a gel holder and a basic set of gels. It is most economical to buy 8-1/2" x 11" gel sheets and cut out what is desired, as with any flash. The SB-R200 is that little flash when lighting little things or in little places is what one needs.Read full review
I admit it, I'm an off-camera flashaholic. My family members would roll their eyes when I'd set up flash units in corners of the room to document holidays and occasions--but funny, they always seem to want me to send copies of my pictures. That's why I like the little SB-R200's. I can drop a couple into my camera bag, or even a jacket pocket, and they take up very little room and add almost no weight. I like the price, too--a gently-used example can be had for a third the cost of one of my SB-800's. These little guys were developed for close-up photography, and I do use them for that purpose, but they're way more flexible than that. A couple of these flashes strategically aimed where I expect the gifts to be opened or the candles to be blown out are about all I need. I use the on-camera flash in Commander Mode on my D700 or D80 to control these droids, and I dial my camera's flash way back, just enough to add a catchlight to the eyes. Everything is wireless, no cords to get in the way. How easy is that? I don't know why Nikon chose the oddball batteries they did to power these things, but I do know that I have to think about keeping spares handy, and where to get them. Not everyplace carries them, and prices can vary widely. Shop in advance, and keep extras in your bag. If you're thinking about trying off-camera flash, the R200's are an easy, budget-friendly way to go. They're worth a try.Read full review
Yo compre este flash por que tengo el R1C1 y necesitaba un tercer flash para mis composiciones fotograficas. Como ya conocia el funcionamiento y lo practico de este flash decidi comprar este otro. A mi me gusta comprar en ebay por la absoluta variedad de productos para cada comprador, es decir cada persona puede encontrar lo que busca dentro de una inmensa variedad. Lo que no me gusta es que a veces los vendeddores se comprometen a enviar los productos dentro de un termino de tiempo y en ocasiones se extiende demasiado este tiempo. Yo compre 3 articulos hace un mes y no me han llegado aun. Siento muy buen respaldo de ebay y paypal cuando un vendedor no cumple y eso es muy importante para mi.
Works brilliantly for the macro and portrait shots. It is meant for such shoots since it is not effective over 4m. Everything is great except for the battery which is CR123a instead of a AAA since it is far easier to get AAA rechargeable than rechargeable lithium cells. On th eflip side, the battery life is excellent!
Originally I purchased R1C1 set, however needed to expand it a little for creative photography, then I got a great deal on one on EBAY. What I like about it is that it can be mounted on a ring on front of the lens, remotely on a stand, or hand held. Awesome little flash. Only dislike that I have is the battery. Would be nice to have a "AA", as all of my other batteries are "AA"'s. Chuch
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Best Selling in Flashes
Current slide {CURRENT_SLIDE} of {TOTAL_SLIDES}- Save on Flashes