Nikon Close-Up Speedlight Commander Kit R1C1
This is Nikon s premium kit for close up photography, for ultimate control and flexibility, coming as it does complete with a host of accessories to help users get maximum control over their close-up flash shooting, such as the Extreme Close-Up positioning adapter SW-11, Colour Filter Set SJ-R200, Diffuser SW-12 and Flexible Arm Clip SW-C1. It is even possible to add more SB-R200s into the supplied adapter ring (available seperately up to a maximum of 8 units) and to control SB-600 and SB-800 units.
Nikon presents this unique Wireless Speedlight system kit for fully automatic Close-up photographic exposures. The kit comprises of two SB-R200 Remote units attached to the lens and a SU-800 Commander unit attached to the cameras i-TTL metering system. All exposure and triggering communication is carried out using infrared wireless communication. The kit includes adaptors for frontal lighting, filters, and adaptor rings for the most popular Nikkor lens filter screw threads. Additional SB-R200 units or SB-800 and SB-600 units can also be controlled by the SU-800 to offer the ultimate Creative Lighting System flexibility either indoors or in the field.
Excellence and innovation from Nikon
This kit provides a comprehensive set of equipment ideal for close up and some portrait photography. It takes the place of conventional ring flash gear and is both more flexible and more useful than a ring flash.
The kit contains the Su 800 commander unit. This works as the controller for however many SBR-200 flash units you are working with. I use up to 6 such units for delicate close-up work. The flash units can be mounted on a ring that screws onto the lens [the kit contains a variety of different ring sizes] or mounted remotely on small stands [also supplied] to provide fill-in flash or to illuminate backgrounds etc.
It is worth noting if you own one of SB-600, SB-800 or SB-900 flash guns, then these can be used in place of the SU 800 commander unit as they have the commander facility built in. Similarly, more recent Nikon cameras with pop-up flash [D300, D700, D90 etc] have the capability of acting as commanders. This system works well and you might want to consider going down that route, and various kits are available from Nikon that don’t include the SU-800 commander unit.
In practice, the system works extremely well, providing a highly flexible set of lighting options. The learning curve is quite steep initially [stuff about sets and groups etc] and you might find a book on the subject [I suggest Mike Hagen's Nikon Creative Lighting System] to be helpful in fleshing out the instruction manual.
I’m a professional photographer and have no room in my outfit for things that don’t help me be more creative and productive. On that basis, this kit has more than earned its place in my camera bag.
