Ray Flash RAN-160 Ring Flash Adapter for Nikon SB800 Portable Flash Units with Nikon D5000/D700/D300/D200/D90/D80/D70/D60/D50/D40 Digital SLR Cameras

by Ray Flash

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B0018NKH5Q
• Item model number: EXPORAN160
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 17, 2003

Product Description

The RAY FLASH Ring Flash Adapter is an extraordinary piece of equipment that produces the effect of studio-quality ringflash lighting without the cost, bulk or power requirements. With this portable ring flash adapter, a beautiful "3D shadow-wrapped look" can be achieved simply by attaching it to the standard flash unit mounted on your camera. No cables or batteries needed!

The Ray Flash was developed to be as lightweight and portable as possible, eliminating the cords, power supplies and cumbersome nature of typical ringflash units. There are no electronics involved -- the light from your flash is dispersed around the Ray Flash by a series of acrylic light channels and reflectors, producing even, soft light around the lens that illuminates your subject perfectly. With the Ray Flash as a main light source, the effect produces virtually no shadows on the front of the subject, while a soft, even shadow appears around the edges. Of course, the Ray Flash can also be used as a fill source, eliminating shadows while a main flash unit provides direct light.

The Ray Flash can be used for a wide variety of creative applications, but it is ideally suited for portraits, fashion photography, weddings and macro photography. The particular model is designed for use with the Nikon SB800 flash unit combined with Nikon D5000/D700/D300/D200/D90/D80/D70/D60/D50/D40 Digital SLR Cameras.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great product for the price., October 4, 2009

By 

Sam (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ray Flash RAN-160 Ring Flash Adapter for Nikon SB800 Portable Flash Units with Nikon D5000/D700/D300/D200/D90/D80/D70/D60/D50/D40 Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I don't understand some of the negative reviews.

I bought this for my Nikon D300 and SB800. The adapter attaches firmly to the flash and doesn't fall off.

Yes, you lose 1 fstop so I just up the flash output by +1 EV.

Of course it's plastic. What were you expecting it to be made out of, titanium and astronomy grade mirrors? Flash units and consumer grade cameras are mostly plastic.

The product does give a good even shadowless illumination. There are a lot of situations where this item is indispensable, particularly macro photography or for portraiture where you want to minimize shadows.

I used this to take a picture of the interior of a big power tool. This would have been near impossible without a ring flash.

I looked at the other ring flash with their own flash units. But I didn't want to buy an inferior flash unit compared to my SB800.

One can buy a Chinese knock-off for a fraction of the price with a miserable Velcro strap. Now that *does* fall off the flash unit. I was lucky and got my money back and then I bought the ExpoImaging Ring Flash Adapter which is identical to the cheap Chinese knock-off except for the locking mechanism. In short, I bought this knowing full well in advance exactly what I was getting.

On the SB800, it might be necessary to prop up the flash head with a plastic wedge (two are included) so that the adapter is perfectly parallel to the camera body. If you lose the plastic wedges, I guess a piece of cardboard would suffice.

This won't fit onto my SB900 since the SB900 flash head is so much bigger which is why there's a separate flash adapter model for the SB900. I haven't tried the unit on the SB600 yet. Since the SB600 flash head is smaller, that's where the plastic wedges are necessary.

The item is big so unless you have a big duffel bag, it's going to be a bit difficult to carry with you. But then again, my big telephoto lenses aren't easy to pack either.

For the price and functionality, I give this product 5 stars.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This thing actually works!, December 27, 2008

By 

R. Morris (Atlanta GA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Ray Flash RAN-160 Ring Flash Adapter for Nikon SB800 Portable Flash Units with Nikon D5000/D700/D300/D200/D90/D80/D70/D60/D50/D40 Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

This ring flash adapter looks like something you'd see being hawked on late night tv along with slicers and dicers. The only difference is that this thing works. It gives you a great almost 360 degree ring flash at a comparatively low price. The only problem I have is that it could fit a little tighter onto the Nikon flash unit - so I slipped a little rubber pad into the locking device and the problem was solved.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Good luck..., August 24, 2010

By 

Micah - See all my reviews

This review is from: Ray Flash RAN-160 Ring Flash Adapter for Nikon SB800 Portable Flash Units with Nikon D5000/D700/D300/D200/D90/D80/D70/D60/D50/D40 Digital SLR Cameras (Electronics)

I purchased one of these from a local shop, and instantly loved it. Loved having the ring light look with TTL. I feared it would break my SB800, but instead, IT broke first. One of the internal elements just detached and was constantly rattling around inside. It still worked properly and gave perfectly even illumination (I tested it extensively to make sure), so I delayed exchanging it. In the end, I just worried that it would fall apart completely. I talked to somebody at Expo Imaging and we agreed it would just be faster to take it back to the store and exchange it for a new, intact unit.

Wellll...exchanged for a brand new unit in newer packaging and...HOT SPOT. Damn thing was hot on the side closest to the hotshoe. I tried shifting it around, covering the arm the light travels through...nothing. It consistently created a shadow on to the right of the subject when held portrait orientation. I didn't have the time to test several units so I said forget it and returned it. For $200 the bleeding thing should work and not fall apart after a couple weeks.

If you get a working on one, it's a neat effect. One trick pony, but it's a NEAT trick! No moving parts--dunno how they screwed it up.

I may give the Coco knock off a try. For $50, it might be worth trying.