RFN-4s Wireless Remote Shutter Release for Nikon DSLR with MC30 Type Connection (Nikon D200, D300, D300s, D500, D700, D800, D800E, D810, D1, D2, D3, D3x, D3s, D4, D5) - Transmitter and Receiver Set

At half the price of Nikon's remote, I tried this product starting about 2 months ago with the new D800. As the cited "best" review with a low rating indicates, this product can be difficult to attach to the port. That's partly the fault of Nikon who put a silly rubber cover on the port that is held in place by an extended bit of rubber from the back. This causes the rubber bit to constantly get in the way when putting the sensor into the port on the D800. With a bit of care and time, it fit like a glove and came off with total ease. Be sure you only attach the remote when your going to use it. The main unit has lost its antenna cover exposing a very weak bit of wire. The remote's battery died after 6 months. It had not been used that much. Now the unit doesn't work at all....8 month life span.UPDATE:The above review was written a year and a half ago. I finally discovered the problem with seating this unit into the ten pin plug on my original Nikon D800: the plug was loose in the camera's body and therefore it was truly hit or miss as to whether the unit would plug in all the way or even at all - finally the plug fell into the body. I needed the 800 for a while so didn't send it back to Nikon 'til early this year. When it came back the plug was not even touched!In January of 2014 I purchased a D800E after spending some time with the D4, a wonderful camera for those who need its best qualities. I didn't, so I exchanged it for the 800E, a great lens and lots of credit. The 800E's build by this time was far better than the earlier 800 model and the 10 pin plug is tightly seated in the camera. Now I take this same remote bought in 2012 and it fits immediately. I use a very small pair of channel lock pliers to tighten the receiver's screw on unit until its impossible for it to come loose; since getting the 800E its not stayed on for weeks at a time. You just have to make sure you don't turn ON the receiver when your not using it. Its easy to hit the button that does that. Also, use care with pliers as the screw on the receiver is plastic.Concerning the lost antenna cover on the receiver it has no effect at all. The unit is working brilliantly and it does the job from at least 240 feet away - I've not tried 300 feet, but I'm sure it works from that range as advertised. If you loose the antenna casing don't worry about the interior metal part when it flexes at the slightest touch. You can bend it in any direction and it still functions brilliantly. I imagine the metal antenna could fall out and it would still work. I often shoot with the trigger unit in my pocket in cold weather. You can't beat that! Infrared units need line of sight and this is far better.Nikon quit making its unit. Fine with me. The Nikon remote was hundreds of dollars and no better. I don't want their remote that is connected via a wire. I like being able to shoot from all sorts of locations around the camera, especially with wild life that would otherwise not come close were I standing there.Now that I've found the cause of the loose fit and put in my own batteries the remote is a gem. The receiver however, requires a jeweler's screw driver to get into it. Once you do that, the button battery comes right out and is quickly replaced. I've been using the unit regularly at night and on dark days with a tripod and the results are great. I've upped it to five stars.By the way, the Nikon repair people here in New York said that 2012 D800s all had the potential for having a loose 10 pin plug. It was one of their standard problems. The 2014 800E is far more solid. I guess Nikon finally paid attention to all the complaints. The original D800 went out to Nikon and will now be replaced (after having to send it back twice) as they never fixed the plug trouble. Let's hope the new 800 is up to date in all respects. If not, they'll get it back yet again until they finally fix it!

Awesome remote release. I need a release that leaves my hot shoe available, and didn't want it dangling--this one works fantastic. Compact and handy. Partial depress activates everything just like the real shutter release, and the range is great.

SMDV RFN-4s Wireless Remote ControlUPDATE: Original review Dec. 31, 2017.It's now Nov. 24, 2021. My SMDV still works GREAT! I Love this Remote Control. Buy it!Original 2017 Review below:I use mine on a Nikon D500: It works Great! I love this remote.I've made several thousand exposures with this remote system.I do a lot of "on tripod" landscape, nature, long telephoto, and long exposure night work.Mine stopped working, suddenly one day. I changed the "AAA cell" in the Transmitter, and all was great again.Note: AAs, AAAs, Cs, & Ds are "cells" not batteries. (Look it up!)The greatest range at which I've used this system is about 40 feet (12 meters). (More below.)I would recommend this to anyone with a Nikon with the Nikon DC0" port on their camera body. (That's DC0 (zero) port.) (More below.)The professional & high end "pro-sumer" Nikon bodies, don't have built-in receivers for IR Remotes. (IR = Infrared)You must use a remote cable, or for more distance (separation), you must use an accessory Remote Shutter Release. (More below.)Nikon's Remotes are great, but very expensive.(Comparison: The Nikon ML-3 Compact Modulite Remote)(Nikon quality, yes!)(Nikon price, yes!: $258.00, Street: $179.00) (Other Nikon Wireless Remotes are even more expensive!)(Only IR or Infrared. Not RF or Radio Frequency.)(Only Line of Sight." Won't work around corners, unless you have a big mirror.)(Only 2 Channels)(Range: Only 26 feet, or 8 meters)(Fills the Nikon camera body's "Flash Shoe")In other words: the SMDV (SMDV-USA) RFN-4s is better in all ways!RFN-4s Receiver:*Uses power from the camera body. Very Little Power!*This feature makes the Receiver very small. It doesn't get in the way.*16 channels, 2.4GHz. ("Receiver's" and "Transmitter's" settings must be the same.)*Nikon DC0 (DC zero) (also called MC30) port connection. Nikon now calls this port the "Ten Pin Remote Terminal."*The RFN-4s only works on the professional & high end "pro-sumer" Nikon bodies with the DC0 (MC30) port.*Very compact, very small.*Doesn't get in the way of any camera controls, in my experience.RFN-4s Transmitter:*Uses a single AAA cell. (Just a standard Duracell or Energizer etc.)*16 channels, 2.4GHz. ("Transmitter's" and "Receiver's" settings must be the same.)*Wrist Lanyard.___This is a great feature.___Between shots I just let go, then a "flip of the wrist" and the Transmitter is back in my hand and ready to shoot the next shot.*Sliding Button Cover, prevents accidental operation, and unintended drain of the Transmitter's AAA cell.RFN-4s Range:I've used mine up to (about) 40 feet away with the Transmitter in my hand, in my pocket, with 0 (zero) failures.If it's cold, this is a great feature!You can even stand inside while operating a camera that's outside, or vice-versa.Or position a camera to take event or wedding photos, while you are far away in the audience.Great range allows the camera to take pictures of animals (remotely & un-disturbed), or with the camera mounted high above to get an unusual perspective.This makes "Paint Pole" camera mounting work very well. Use your imagination.See ProPole in Amazon: ProPole - Painter's Pole Adapter - Camera MonopodYou can also position the camera somewhere dangerous, or where people aren't allowed to stand. (Airplane takeoff, car race, ship launching.)The range is supposed to be 320 feet (100 meters), but I haven't tested that or needed to go beyond about 40 feet yet.Dear SMDV (SMDV-USA)Now that the "New RFN-4s Model's" Receiver has a flexible antenna, there's only 1 request I'd make of the SMDV (SMDV-USA) company: I'd love for you to make "DC0 Extension Cables."One end "Male," the other end "Female."But if you do, please include connecting wires for all pins, not just the wires necessary for your SMDV RFN-4s remote.Maybe in several lengths ranging from 3 inches (80mm) to 10 feet (120 inches or 3 meters)I thank SMDV (SMDV-USA) for providing great products for us.

I use on my Nikon D800 most of the time for remote camera trigger because it's too conveniebt and works pretty darn good for the price. However there is 1 caveat. The transmitter(s) I have2, always need fresh batteries before a trip. Today before leaving for a 23 week shoot where I will need to work fast with no time to trouble shoot, i thoroughly checked all of my equipment. Again the TXs needed batteries. So I put a meter on them and sure enough there is a slight draw even when not in use. My fix was to take a small piece of tape folded in 1/2 so no stickies and placed it between the + end of the battery and the contact with it sticking out so I can see it. When It's time to use it I just puul the tape and put under the battery and place it back in position before I store the TX intil the next shoot. Otherwise a great product. Also remember to tutn of the receiver on the camera body or it will draw on the casmera battery as well.