Bower SFDRF Digital MACRO Ring Light Flash for Nikon, Canon, Pentax and Olympus Digital and 35mm SLR Cameras

Maybe I expected too much, but I don't think an instruction book or a on-line PDF is asking too much of a manufacturer and/or seller. How about displaying a guide number somewhere? What is that little light on the front of the unit to the right of the Bower name for? I use this with an Olympus E5 and I have yet to get a decent shot. Most images just come out white... aperture, shutter, manual, or auto exposure, it doesn't matter. I have also tried just about every ISO the camera has to offer. Nothing works. A flash meter might help, but nowhere, when you buy this unit, does Bower say you need one. I have been taking pictures professionally for more than 40 years, seven of those years were spent as a photojournalist for a major metropolitan daily newspaper. Six years were spent in a studio. I still take pictures on a regular basis in my position as a public relations professional. This unit is, without a doubt, the worst investment in photographic equipment I have ever made. As if not being able to turn anywhere for guidance wasn't enough, Bower had to put a led light on the back of this unit that is so bright it hurts your eyes. It's difficult to create a warning strong enough. Maybe it's just best to say, DO NOT BUY!

I didn't expect a lot from a unit at this price, but this flash is too HOT!! The manual setting is useless for close-up, and the auto setting doesn't seem to make a bit of difference. But, like I said, at this proce, I can us some ND filters.

We purchased this product to reduce shadows and glare on items being photographed with close up macro photography for sale at online auctions. It works fairly well, but will need some help from you to be worth it.The flash is too "hot" at its stock settings. You'll need to adjust your camera to compensate for the overexposure or try to fix it in a photo editing program. The settings are not adjustable on the flash.The cable from battery pack to flash is short and has too much tension. If you try to use autofocus, it pulls the lens out of focus causing the camera to constantly attempt to readjust. If you then try manual focus, the tension is enough to pull it out of focus if using a sensitive lens. I've tried stretching the cord out, but it hasn't helped much. The construction is also almost entirely thin plastic, from the foot and battery pack to the flash. I'd be very careful not to knock the battery pack against anything too hard or you'll be out a flash.

I received the product promptly and safely. I tested the product with my Olympus E500. I know the advertising stated it was compatible with the E520, but I mostly use manual mode on my camera, so it meets my requirement. For the price I paid I'm happy with it.

This ring flash is wonderful. First thing, it really is a ring flash, not a ring light. That means vastly more light, albeit in a similarly shorter period. It is much more powerful than I thought it would be. Even at 1/250 and f/16, I get a great close-up exposure.For over a year, I used a Canon S1 IS (Image Stabilization) digital camera. My new Nikon D80 camera is wonderful but Nikon locates their image stabilization not in the camera, but in their VR (Vibration Reduction) lenses. I need extra depth of field so I have to use higher-numbered (smaller-diameter iris) f-stops. That means long exposures. Handheld photos have too much shake with the long exposures. Since I haven't saved enough pennies (and it takes lots and lots of them) to buy a VR lens, my close-up photos are fuzzy unless I put them on a tripod. Tripod is synonymous with heavy, bulky, clunky, cumbersome, and loathed.More light is a solution but my D80's integral flash casts unwanted deep shadows. The Bower SFDRF Digital MACRO Ring Light Flash doesn't cast those shadows and gives me so much light I can take 1/250th of a second exposures at f/16. That means I can handhold my camera in my shaky paws and take spontaneous sharp close-up photos.

We purchased this product to take photos of orthdontics patients pre- and post-treatment. After much experimentation on both a D50 and D5100, we have concluded that the product is junk. No matter what Manual settings we tried (every aperture range from f/20 to f/5.6, shutter speed range from 1/30 to 1/500, and ISO range from 100 to 1600), the pictures were consistently washed out. We could not get a solid shot at ANY setting. We are looking for very high depth of field (f/16 to f/20), and this ring flash was an utter disappointment.

It's clear the other reviewers have had much difficulty with this product, therefore, I'd like to add that although I have had no problem with the function of the flash for the two years I've used it now, be warned that "your mileage may vary". I've used the flash for macro work, primarily insects. I generally shoot at f/16 and have been very pleased with the results. I've posted some of my shots on my Facebook page and if anyone cares to take a look they are welcome:[...] All of the shots in this album were taken with the Bower Ring Flash aboard my 100mm macro non-IS lens either with my Canon 7D or 50D.I am just starting to have difficulty now with the mechanism to tighten the flash down onto the hot shoe. I also agree with other reviewers that the instructions are quite lacking and build quality is only fair-good (but has lasted me 2 years).Do I wish I had the Canon Ring Light? Absolutely! and someday I probably will, but until then the Bower is working for me...so far so good.

nice addition to my existing camera equipment. Provides great lighting on close up photos. eliminates the need for additional lighting