R1C1

kirif1

kirif1

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Chris
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Well i got my christmas pressie early this year...
the nikon lighting system R1C1 I should make it clear that it is not a present i chose nor expected which would make my question a little more understandable :)

Does anyone use it and what is it best used for? as far as i understand, it's great for macro shots and things like water droplets but can it be used effectively for portraiture?
 
You can use it for portraits, it gives a similar effect to a ring flash.
 
Sorry if my ignorance is shining through ten fold, is a ring flash better used if the model is actually holding it to light him or herself or is it better used ON the camera? surely that would be a pretty harsh effect?
 
600 quid, unexpected, specific use present?

Hummmmm.

It looks like a ring light if you string 4 units together on the same mount.
 
600 quid, unexpected, specific use present?

Hummmmm.

It looks like a ring light if you string 4 units together on the same mount.
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I only have two so i can't make the ring yet. I know what you mean, my boyfriend got it for me, he understand the technical side of photography equipment better than i do and where as i would have prob chosen a new lens or even new body - I am freelancing at the moment and going from home to home taking family portraits and the one thing i was battling with was lighting. I am just battling to understand how it works well for portrait photography!!
 
Depending on the background you use 1 of the sb200's could be used as a bg light and the other as a hair light
 
I've got the r1c1 and it's a great piece of kit, very good for macro stuff as it gives a lot better modelling and control than a ring flash. The wireless commander is also very handy for firing my sb800 when it's off camera
 
kirif1 said:
I only have two so i can't make the ring yet. I know what you mean, my boyfriend got it for me, he understand the technical side of photography equipment better than i do and where as i would have prob chosen a new lens or even new body - I am freelancing at the moment and going from home to home taking family portraits and the one thing i was battling with was lighting. I am just battling to understand how it works well for portrait photography!!
Click to expand...

TBH, it's of limited use for portraiture. It's a macro flash, a bit like a ring flash and better in that respect for macro because of the adjustability.

Since it's not a true ring flash it can't really be used for that style of portraiture even if you wanted it (harsh, shadowless, kinda fashion style).

It's top quality stuff, but for macro. Sorry to be brutal, but there are much more useful things to get for your line of work. You could use the controller to operate your SB600 remotely, on a stand with a brolly for example, and if you're not doing that already, that would be a big step foward. Do that, plus use a reflector to fill in the shadows, and you're rockin. But it's not using the full kit to best advantage. There are much better ways to spend that kind of money :(
 
TBH, it's of limited use for portraiture. It's a macro flash, a bit like a ring flash and better in that respect for macro because of the adjustability.

Since it's not a true ring flash it can't really be used for that style of portraiture even if you wanted it (harsh, shadowless, kinda fashion style).

It's top quality stuff, but for macro. Sorry to be brutal, but there are much more useful things to get for your line of work. You could use the controller to operate your SB600 remotely, on a stand with a brolly for example, and if you're not doing that already, that would be a big step foward. Do that, plus use a reflector to fill in the shadows, and you're rockin. But it's not using the full kit to best advantage. There are much better ways to spend that kind of money
Click to expand...

Thanks for your comment and advice. I think i will just have to have a play with the lights for portraiture and mess around with some macro stuff and see what it can do!
 
i use mine for allsorts of shots both on the lens and off, it's super for macro and flowers etc, hold the ring high and it's easy to shoot people at parties or functions, have an assistant hold it near to your subjects for great candids. add more lights to it and it is a good ring flash.
 
It is used for portrait, product and macro photography in the main; and it seems that you haven't peeked inside the box yet or you might have come across this useful little booklet: SU-800/SB-R200 Close-up Speedlight Photography Examples.
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Thanks for the link, i did have a look at the booklet however was wondering if anyone here had used the lights for portraiture and if so, how
 
It might be worth you getting this book:

The Nikon Creative Lighting System: Using the SB-600, SB-800, SB-900, and R1C1 Flashes (Paperback)

Approximately £14 on Amazon.co.uk.

I have been toying with getting the R1C1 myself but ended up getting a second SB900 instead. The book is well worth getting in my opinion and may help you with the whole CLS system and has a chapter on the R1C1.

Regards,

John.
 
I'm sorry if I'm highjacking this thread, but in an essence, I am not :shrug:, I hope.

Taking on from the OP, and the feedback here ...

HoppyUK said:
TBH, it's of limited use for portraiture. It's a macro flash, a bit like a ring flash and better in that respect for macro because of the adjustability.

Since it's not a true ring flash it can't really be used for that style of portraiture even if you wanted it (harsh, shadowless, kinda fashion style).

It's top quality stuff, but for macro. Sorry to be brutal, but there are much more useful things to get for your line of work. You could use the controller to operate your SB600 remotely, on a stand with a brolly for example, and if you're not doing that already, that would be a big step foward. Do that, plus use a reflector to fill in the shadows, and you're rockin. But it's not using the full kit to best advantage. There are much better ways to spend that kind of money :(
Click to expand...

Would the R1C1 be of any use for portraits if it had 4, or 6, SB-R200 attached?

Also, how does it fair for product photography, small tiny items?
 
I guess, it's safe to scrap my previous post ... matter has already been answered in another thread.
 
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