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Nikon announces advanced WR-1 radio remote control

Feb 21, 2013 at 04:01:00 GMT

ACCESSORY NEWS RADIO-FREQUENCY REMOTE-CONTROL

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Alongside the D7100, Nikon announced the WR-1 Transceiver, a unique wireless remote control. Able to remotely control multiple cameras capturing stills and videos, even time-lapse sequences, the Nikon WR-1 Transceiver mounts on the camera's hot shoe, yet is controlled via a cable attached to the master camera. Communicating with other remotes via its 2.4 GHz radio, the device can control other WR-1 units as well as other elements of Nikon's wireless remote control system, like the WR-10.

Mounted on the hot shoe, the WR-1 can lean forward 90 degrees, or stand upright for easier access to the controls and LCD. The WR-1 can be used as a transmitter or receiver, with a range of 394 feet. Overall range can be doubled by adding at least two additional WR-1 units, with the middle unit acting as a relay controller. The range of possibilities is extensive, including controlling cameras in up to four groups simultaneously, with each group performing different functions, including interval shooting, stills, bulb exposures beyond the usual limitation of 30 seconds, and even video capture.

Other options include staggered release using multiple WR-R10 units as receivers for multi-shot animations as seen in movies like The Matrix. With multiple WR-1 units you can even remotely adjust settings on other WR-1-equipped cameras, including ISO, shooting mode, shutter speed, and aperture.

Expected to retail for £649.99 in the UK, the WR-1 will ship in March 2013 (US pricing has yet to be announced).

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Press Statement
Specifications
Additional Images

Press Statement:

WR-1 Transceiver

In addition to the D7100, Nikon also announced the WR-1 Transceiver for Nikon D-SLR cameras. This device uses 2.4 GHz radio frequency for maximum range when communicating with the camera, extending the range and functionality2 for remote shooting applications. The communication range between WR-1 units is approximately 394 feet3, and 15 channels are available. Users also have the ability to remotely control a camera (with a WR-1 used as a receiver) attached by operation of another WR-1 (used as a transmitter), and also perform simultaneous or synchronized release of shutters on several cameras using the WR-14. Furthermore, there are a wide variety of options for remote shooting, which include dividing remote cameras into groups and controlling each group separately and interval timer photography. Remote shooting by combining the WR-1 with WR-R10/WRT10 wireless remotes is also possible5.

2 Functions limited.
3 Approximate range at height of about 1.2 m/4 ft; varies with weather conditions and presence or absence of obstacles.
4 Only a camera with a ten-pin remote terminal can be employed as a master camera.
5 This requires pairing of the WR-1, WR-R10 and WR-T10 units in use. Maximum number of controllers that can be paired: 20 (WR-1) or 64 (WR-R10)

Additional images


WR-1 mounted via SK-7 Bracket for simultaneous use with flash	WR-1 mounted atop Nikon D7100

WR-1 folded forward	WR-1 unit

Comments

Total comments: 25

You can buy a Canon reflex camera, get Magiclantern frmware and use camera processor itself.
Or tether the camera remotely through usb and a computer. WR-1 looks like huge, large cumbersome and expensive. Camera processor itself could take these duties with close-to-zero load.
When I remote the camera i want to be remote, and the camera coudd be hanged anywhere, on a 6mt pole. It has to be lightweight and compact. Seems Nikon always has a specific kind of photographer in mind,that is not me, and always wants to teah him how to do its job (like the 1 stop limit in bracketing steps!!!)
Canon is saved by 3rd party firmware hack. I wish I siumply could reprogram the cameras on my own needs, and not vice-versa.

1 upvote

£649.99 ????? !!! WTF. Stuck it in your @ss, Nikon.

1 upvote

For that kind of price. You can buy smartphone controller shutter with range across the global. Beat that, 2.4GHz!

2 upvotes

I'm not so sure that the price of licensing RF can be used to justify the high price anything anymore..... 2.4 Ghz RF is dirt cheap anymore and now mfgs can buy pre-approved RF modules for use in their products and go right to market with no RF cerification expense.

0 upvotes

I'm no expert, but I imagine a big part of the price is all the licensing they had to go through because its Radio Frequency. (FCC in the US, CE in Europe, etc)

0 upvotes

IO Shutter and your iPhone, anyone?

0 upvotes

Good God!! What is up with that pricing??? Why doesn't Nikon just build in Wi-Fi capability IN the camera?? If GoPro can do it with their Microscopic Hero 3 series, then I'm sure Nikon can do it without a lame looking accessory that takes away the use of the flask shoe.

1 upvote

Thank goodness Nikon finally came out with this I have been waiting for this exact item. Obviously they got all my emails.

0 upvotes

Ho Hum.

0 upvotes

Another ridiculously priced remote from Nikon. Why do they put so much effort into these un-needed gizmos? They need to get off their throne and do a deal with Apple. I'd rather pay for an iPhone than this thing. File this one under GPS-1.

0 upvotes

Id Say pocket wizard too.. 125 Bucks for that and you have prolly the same features.. PLUS you have an extender too.. and you can buy 5 of them..
way to expensive for my taste..

2 upvotes

Be nice if they had radio flash.
Though I can see a some people will want to control multiple cameras via radio, I reckon a lot more want to control flash by radio.

3 upvotes

Now here's an accessory that will look out of date in exactly one generation of cameras. If not already.

Sorry but £650, come off it. You could buy an iPhone and remote (with live view etc) for less.

10 upvotes

So actually you need two of them?!

You can do the remote shutter using a Pocket Wizard.

0 upvotes

The Aputure wireless remote has 80% of the functionality of Nikon's gizmo for 2.6% of the cost (£17).

5 upvotes

Is it something that a built in WiFi connectivity couldn't accomplish? This is a very expensive accessory.

4 upvotes

Good question. Since none of the other Nikon SLRs have built-in WiFi, such a solution would only be good for the WiFi camera on offer. It's more about comprehensive remote triggering and control. You raise a good point, though, that once WiFi is better integrated into future cameras, much of what this controller can do could conceivably be accomplished via WiFi. Though it's announced with the D7100, it's really more a professional accessory, aimed at photographers who need to control a large number of quality, yet affordable, cameras over a distance.

1 upvote

Or 3rd party ones for the matter...

0 upvotes

Even declaring this a professional accessory would not justify the hideously excessive price. Realistically, one should expect such a device to cost maybe 50-150 USD/EUR/GBP.

4 upvotes

Well it has to be a pro accessory. It requires the 10 pin connector to use as a master camera, and as far as I am aware the only Nikon DSLRs that are current with the 10pin connector are the D800, D4 and D300s (if the D300s can really be said to be "current").

0 upvotes

£649 is what? $649? A professional sport photog will have 4+ cameras remotely capturing an event. The cost goes up pretty quickly if that require that many. A shame that they didn't release a "receiver only" in a much smaller form factor and less cost.
BTW,@jtan163, it's only a 10 pin connector at the unit. It looks USB at the camera.

1 upvote

This really makes the WiFi feature of Canon 6D more valuable than I thought. It is basically a price of an entry DSLR. I don't know if the WiFi feature of 6D is as comprehensive as this Nikon accessory, but I expect future Canon DSLRs will have this as standard feature, while Nikon future models will rely on this accessories. To have one less accessory to carry around certainly is better if you ask me. Also, once you have to connect this kind of accessories, what's the point of weather sealing?

Comment edited 19 seconds after posting

0 upvotes

"Remote shooting by combining the WR-1 with WR-R10/WRT10 wireless remotes is also possible" - There's your small reciever solution!

0 upvotes

@mgblack, in the picture it's using the wire remote port on the camera, in this case a pretty stupid connection that can't do more than provide a two-stage trigger.

The USB port is behind the topmost flap.

0 upvotes

D7100 seems v good on papers,
But I want this camera with 16Fps speed minimum.

1 upvote

Total comments: 25


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