Review of the Phottix Cleon Wired / Wireless Hybrid Remote Control N8 for Nikon D300 / D200 / D700 / D3 / D3X
August 8th, 2008 update:
The Phottix Mega Cleon remotes are a newer version of the Phottix Cleon. The main enhancement is a larger transmitter which should provide for a stronger signal strength that works better over larger distances.
Make sure you get the correct version:
- Mega Cleon N8 for D200, D300, D2Xs, D2Hs, D3X, D3, D700 (on eBay)
- Mega Cleon N6 for the D80, D70s (on eBay)
End update.
The Phottix Cleon N8 remote control set consists of a transmitter and a receiver, and works flawlessly with my Nikon D300.
In the photo below, the transmitter is on the left, while the receiver is on the right.
Where to buy the Phottix Cleon N8
The Cleon N8 is available on eBay and is sold by Titanium Powerseller HKSupplies, an eBay seller, the same folks who bring you the Phottix Wireless Set N8 (previously known as N1), which I reviewed here).
The Cleon remote is also available for other digital SLR cameras, with the only difference being the connector on the receiver is adapted to the terminal of the camera:
- Cleon N6 (on eBay) for the Nikon D80 / D70s
- Cleon C6 (on eBay) for the Canon Digital Rebel XSi (450D), XT (350D) / XTi (400D), Pentax K20D / K200D / K10D / K100D
- Cleon C8 (on eBay) for the Canon 50D / 5D Mark II / 40D / 5D / 1D and 1Ds series / 30D / 20D
As of the date of writing, the Phottix Cleon isn't officially available for sale from the merchant, HKSupplies. However, as reported by numerous customers in this forum thread, they initially made a purchase for the older Phottix N1, but were pleasantly surprised when they received the upgraded Cleon instead, at no extra cost. You might want to contact HKSupplies (you'll be asked to create a free eBay account, if you don't already have one) and raise the question of whether you would get the Cleon if you placed an order for the N1 now.
So, search ebay for Phottix N1 and purchase it to receive the Cleon. I'll update this section as soon as the Cleon is officially displayed in the ebay listings.
The Cleon is a significant update to the N1, and is designed to work with any Nikon or Nikon-compatible camera that has a 10-pin remote socket. Some examples include:
- D3, D3X, D700
- Nikon N90s
- F5, F6, F100, F90, F90X
- D1, D1H, D1X
- D2H, D2Hs
- D2X, D2Xs
- D100 with MB-D100
- D200, D300
- Kodak DSC-14N
- Fuji S3 Pro, S5 Pro
Before going into the details, here's a quick list of improvements found in the Phottix Cleon remote over the older Phottix N1:
- Hybrid design allows for wired or wireless operation - I don't know of any other remote out there that has this capability.
- When used as a wired remote, no battery is required. This is especially handy if you're operating the camera in countries which have strict regulations on the use of radio frequencies. Using the Cleon receiver purely as a wired remote allows you to get around this restriction.
- The B position of the slider switch makes the receiver a HDR shooter's dream - I'll explain why in a bit.
- The transmitter unit is now physically much smaller, a boon to photographers who don't like unnecessary bulk in photographic accessories.
Video clip on using the Phottix Cleon
I've created a 3-minute 14s video on using the Cleon, which is embedded below. You can view the larger version here. Hopefully, you'll be able to appreciate how well the remote works and the functionality that comes with it.
The Cleon Receiver
Like its N1 predecessor, the receiver has a 10-pin connector that plugs into any Nikon film or digital SLR camera having a 10-pin remote terminal.
The Cleon 10-pin connector
Impressively for an inexpensive product, the connector has a locking collar that screws on to the remote terminal on the camera body for a tight fit.
10-pin connector side-by-side with the remote socket on my D300
10-pin connector plugged in
Note that the head of the connector is designed to angle away from the lens release button. This ensures that there is no interference with the operation of the button, and you have sufficient space for your fingers to work the button if there's a need to.
The receiver component gets the biggest updates when compared with the previous Phottix N1 unit.
The Phottix Cleon receiver in wired mode
This, in my opinion, is the biggest improvement the Cleon has over its N1 predecessor. The receiver unit can now operate as a wired remote. Yes, that means you can use just the receiver unit to activate the camera's autofocus and shutter; you don't need to use the transmitter if you don't want to. You don't even have to purchase an additional wired remote. And, you don't need a battery to operate the Cleon in this mode.
The Cleon receiver, top view
For normal wired operation, simply use the button on the receiver. There are two distinct positions - a half-press and full-press. Half-pressing the button activates autofocus on the camera, while pressing the button all the way down takes the picture - exactly how the camera's shutter button itself works. The feel of the button is better with the Cleon than the one on the older N1 transmitter which didn't provide enough tactile feedback on whether the button is half or fully-pressed.
There is also a slider switch with four positions - Off, On, 2S (two-second delay) and B. In the wired mode, there is no functional difference between Off, On and 2S, meaning that pressing the button when the slider switch is in any of these positions will activate the shutter.
The B position is interesting. Suppose you want to fire off a sequence of high speed shots in Continuous mode, whether bracketed or not. Bracketing this sequence of shots implies you intend to use them for HDR (high dynamic range) photography. If you slide the switch all the way to the B position, the camera continues firing just as if you had pressed and held down the button. This is a convenient feature for photographers who don't relish the thought of putting too much pressure on the thumb while taking multiple bursts of 9-shot bracketed sequences.
After the shots have been fired, you must slide the switch away from the B position in order to either resume normal control of the camera (such as image review), or to take another burst sequence by sliding the switch to B again.
Because the B position simulates a full press of the shutter button, you'll need to know how you've set up your camera for shutter release priority. For instance, if you've set the camera up for release priority, sliding the switch to B will cause the camera to take the shot first, and then autofocus next. Of course, if you've configured your camera for Focus priority, then switching to B means the camera will autofocus first, and then take a photo once focus is acquired.
The Phottix Cleon remote control set in wireless mode
Using the Cleon in wireless mode means two things:
- You need the use of both the transmitter and receiver
- The receiver needs to be powered by a battery
The Cleon transmitter
There are four channel selector switches on the back of each of the transmitter and receiver. Each switch can be set on one of two positions, up or down. You need to set the switches identically on both units in order to pair up the transmitter and receiver. These switches were provided to allow up to sixteen sets of Phottix Cleon remotes in the vicinity to operate independently. My set came with all the switches in the down position.
The lettering on the switches aren't exactly top notch, but shouldn't be cause for too much concern since all they do is provide a numerical identification for each switch.
Communication between both the transmitter and receiver is via radio frequency at 315 MHz , so line of sight is not required. Claimed maximum range is 100 meters (320 ft) if there are no obstacles. The antenna of the transmitter can be extended as required.
The Phottix Cleon transmitter with antenna extended to the maximum length
The Cleon N8 operates at 315 MHz
There is one button, and an On / Off switch on the transmitter. Just like the receiver, the transmitter button has two distinct positions, a half-press and full-press. Again, the feel of the button is much better than on the older N1 - you can pretty much distinguish between both positions by feel on the Cleon; the feel is less distinct on the N1.
Folks who prefer a smaller transmitter (like me) will prefer the Cleon. In comparison, the N1 transmitter was much bulkier. The Cleon transmitter measures 9 cm / 3.5 in with the antenna retracted. The N1 transmitter measures 11 cm / 4.5 in. The Cleon is also less thick and not as wide.
Here are some photos comparing the size of the Cleon vs N1 transmitter.
Thickness of transmitter - Cleon vs N1
Transmitter antenna fully extended - Cleon vs N1
Front view of transmitter - Cleon vs N1
Rear view of transmitter - Cleon vs N1
Claimed battery life for the transmitter is up to 3 years. Unfortunately, like the N1, there is no easily-accessible battery compartment. Unlike the N1 though, the screws on the Cleon are slightly larger and much easier to access.
The Cleon receiver
In wireless mode, the receiver needs to be powered by a CR2 lithium battery. On the packaging, the claimed battery life is "20,000 times", which I take to mean as 20,000 actuations.
CR2 lithium battery for the Cleon receiver
The Cleon receiver can optionally mount on to the flash hotshoe of your camera. You lose the ability to use the internal popup flash or external flash when the receiver is mounted this way.
The Phottix Cleon receiver has an adapter for mounting on to a flash hotshoe
Cleon receiver on the flash hotshoe - top view
Cleon receiver mounted on flash hotshoe - side view
The cable on the Cleon receiver is much longer than the N1 unit, and is coiled. I find the Cleon cable a bit more convenient as I can stretch and wrap the cable around, say, the base of the lens to prevent it from flopping around when I don't mount the receiver on the hotshoe.
The adapter is non-directional, meaning you can mount the receiver with the battery compartment facing you (status LEDs face the subject) or with the status LEDs facing the back of the camera.
Cleon receiver on the hotshoe - status LEDs facing front
Cleon receiver on hotshoe - status LEDs facing rear
Receiver size comparisons
Here are two photos comparing the relative sizes of the Cleon N8 vs the N1 side-by-side. When viewed from the top, the Cleon N8 receiver looks slightly longer and slimmer. The addition of the flash hot shoe adapter on the N8 means that the receiver is about a quarter of an inch taller than the N1 receiver, when viewed from the rear.
BULB Exposures
Long exposures are a cinch with the Cleon. You can take BULB exposures in either wired or wireless mode.
First, put the camera into BULB mode. On the D300, this means setting the camera in M mode and choosing a shutter speed of BULB.
Then, if using the Cleon in wired mode, simply slide the switch to the B position. This opens the shutter and the exposure is initiated. To terminate the exposure, simply slide the switch away from the B position. I normally just slide it back all the way to Off. Remember that the receiver does not require battery power for this operation.
If you wish to go the wireless route, first slide the receiver switch to On (the battery is required). Then press and hold the transmitter button for 3 seconds or more - the shutter opens and the exposure is initiated. During the first 3 seconds, the LED on the transmitter glows red.
After 3 seconds the transmitter LED will turn off - this is a signal to you that you can let go of the button. The camera's shutter continues to remain open, and there is no need to hold the button down for the entire duration of the exposure (I'm stating the obvious just to make things clear).
To terminate the exposure, simply half-press the transmitter button and let go - you'll see the transmitter LED flash green briefly, and the shutter closes.
Sample photos and applications
One of the greatest convenience afforded by the Cleon is I can now include myself in group shots - click the thumbnail below for more information and larger images.
Because the Cleon trips the shutter directly (and wirelessly), I no longer need to set and re-set the self-timer. Multiple shots can be taken easily from wherever I stand.
Anytime you feel like not gluing your right finger to the shutter button to trip the shutter, use the Cleon remote. One example is when you're activating the mirror-lockup function on your camera in order to minimize camera shake.
Another example is if you're trying to grab a self-portrait. You know how difficult it is to hold your DSLR in one hand and trying to trip the shutter. In the photo below, my left hand is resting on the table behind me and holding the transmitter. My right hand held the D300 plus Tamron 28-75mm and framed the picture. It was super easy to trigger the shutter using the remote without having to contort my hands and fingers.
Where to buy
The Phottix Cleon N8 is sold on eBay.
February 5th, 2008 at 10:12 am
I don't see where HK supplies has the Cleon available. Is there another source?
February 5th, 2008 at 10:20 am
@Martin - In the review, I linked to a forum thread where customers got a free upgrade to the Cleon when they ordered the N1. To be certain though, perhaps you could try emailing HK Supplies and ask them.
Good luck!
February 8th, 2008 at 6:35 am
today I received the Phottix remote that we ordered. After I had read the included letter and the information on the box. I proceeded to try it out.
Everything worked wonderfully, as advertised in a Review at http://www.dpnotes.com/phottix-cleon/). And yes I did read the news shortly after I ordered the Phottix N1 and was very pleased indeed to find that I've received the upgraded Phottix-Cleon. It is a great product besides there is nothing out there that can touch it...
Thank you for the nice reviews...
February 18th, 2008 at 2:46 am
I got two of them. one had a bad battery CR2. I replaced it and it work great!!
February 20th, 2008 at 4:36 am
hey is there anywhere else to get phottix remotes than in Honk Kong?
February 23rd, 2008 at 5:13 am
Just got mine. Fast shipping from Hong Kong, Was a bit confusing about the "B" option, but your review made it clearer than the box.
Great product.
Well done review
February 25th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Is HK Supplies the only vendor for this product? If not, who else? Thanks.
March 6th, 2008 at 6:07 am
I just got my new Phottix Cleon for use with my D200. It is of much better build than the old RPS Studio (DotLine) Transmitter & Receiver I had been using. The locking screw to hold it in place solves the problem I was having with the RPS where it would work loose and some of the contacts would be lost. Then it would not focus before releasing the shutter. This Cleon will not have that problem.
I haven't had time to test range, but it appears to function flawlessly on my D200. Great addition to my camera bag.
Just one question. It came with a small wrist strap for the transmitter, which is nice, but it also came with a small metal chain with a metal clip at both ends. What is that for?
And what do you guys do with the little screw-on cap for the 9-pin connector on the camera when not using it? I keep losing them!
March 29th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Thanks for your nice review David, you helped me find and make a informed decision on a good remote control for the D300 which I just purchased. I just ordered the phottix cleon n8 a few minutes ago from ebay.
Also enjoy your posts on dpreview.com, thank you its very informative and will help me enjoy my d300 more. I have the d70s too btw...
April 26th, 2008 at 5:45 am
I just got mine today, and I'm really impressed - the quality of the components is much higher than I expected.
By the way, the tab order of fields on this site is broken - tabbing through name, email and website then goes to "search" at the top instead of the comment box.
May 11th, 2008 at 12:24 am
I received my remote a week or so ago. Unfortunately, it does not operate anything like the review. Holding down the button half way does initiate autofocus, but it will absolutely not take a photo when depressed all the way.
I've tried putting in new batteries and even tried it on another D300. No success. I have left messages to the seller, but the e-mails have had no response. I'd like to this this works as advertised, but right now it's a wasted investment.
Does anybody have any troubleshooting hints or tips?
May 25th, 2008 at 10:09 am
I just received mine today for my D300 and it is DOA. It powers up but will not focus or take a picture. I have heard of quite a few others on DPReview who have had the same issue. Now I have to send this back to HK for a replacement. I sure hope they will pay for shipping it back.
May 31st, 2008 at 7:05 am
Terrific little gadget! No complaints from me.
June 3rd, 2008 at 1:25 am
To DM- I would imagine changing the auto focusing options in the D300 menu will solve this. I had a similar problem using a remote with mine, and just messed with the Auto focus release methods/modes. Sometimes the camera wont fire if the release+focus is activated so if i remember correctly, you change it to just release. Also become familiar with the AF Lock that way you can compose, lock the autofocus, and remote shutter release.
June 25th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
I use the AF-On button all the time with my D200. Does anyone know if the remote will still function as it's supposed to with this set, or do I have to set the camera back to 1/2 press to focus?
October 28th, 2008 at 10:12 am
[...] a jack on the adapter allows you to continue using a remote trigger (say, if you had the Cleon wireless remote) even with the GPS receiver plugged into the camera's remote [...]
October 30th, 2008 at 9:53 am
It would be nice to add a photo of the Cleon vs N1 RECEIVERS side-by-side too. Trying to figure out the total bulkiness of the 2 models. Thanks for the review!
October 30th, 2008 at 10:30 am
@Monteverde Costa Rica - To fulfill your request, I've added two photos and a short note just before the BULB Exposures section - hope this helps.
October 30th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
Thanks but to really see the bulk it would be more helpful with the cables in the frame or a side-by-side of the kits like the first photo in the review.
I'm wondering if it would be difficult to shorten the cable of the Cleon.
November 8th, 2008 at 6:12 am
Hello David,
I followed you on the D70 days in dpreview. Interesting to find you over here
A very good review. FYI. there now seem to be 2 models of the Cleon. The Cleon and the Mega Cleon. I am still yet to understand the difference. On the mega it says: "Big Sized Transmitter" but the range still seems to be the same 100m... just to let you know.
November 8th, 2008 at 11:06 am
At Ignacio: Yeah, I'm into websites now
I haven't tried the Mega Cleon yet. The bigger transmitter should help, in theory, with sending a stronger signal.
I might be imagining it, but the Cleon N8 sometimes don't work as reliably when outdoors as the older N1 which has a bigger transmitter.
December 15th, 2008 at 9:07 am
I have the newer Phottix Cleon N8, just like the one in the photo at the top of this article. Worked great for the first 6-8 weeks, but now the wired part that plugs into my D300 disables any use of the screen. Images don't display, menu buttons don't work. As soon as I unplug the remote from my camera, all functionality comes back to those buttons. Using a Nikon brand wired remote results in total functionality of the screen while plugged in. Any suggestions? For $35 US, I am concerned about sending it back.
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:50 am
I just got mine in the mail, and it's defective. It seems to be an issue with the button mechanism on the receiver. Essentially, the receiver is stuck in the "half-press" state - fully pressing the button will trigger the camera, but after releasing the button it still thinks it's being pressed halfway. I thought it might be a physical issue - like the button was being forced down by the plastic casing - so I took it apart. No dice - even with the case open and the button removed, the camera still thinks the receiver is half-pressed.
I'm going to try to get in touch with the seller via email, but I don't hold out much hope. May have to bite the bullet and buy Pocketwizards after all.
@Jim, it sounds like you're having the same issue - if the shutter button is pressed halfway, you won't be able to review images or use menu buttons. Try setting your camera to Continuous Focus mode and see if it tries to AF even without touching the receiver.
Side note - interestingly, the receiver continues to function even with the battery removed.
January 1st, 2009 at 4:31 pm
Jim,
I've just received my Phottix Cleon N8 and encountered the same problem as you did on my Nikon D200. When I removed the Phottix Cleon receiver from the D200, the monitor works okay. With the Phottix Cleon receiver connected to the D200, the monitor goes dead. The Phottix Cleon receiver does click the shutter on the D200 to take the picture, but no image appears on the moniter after the shot.
Like you said, I can't even activate the menu on the monitor with the Phottix Cleon receiver connected. Could it be a loose pin connection?
I've sent an email to sales@phottix.com and also to the Hong Kong ebay seller (sales@hksupplies.com) about this and am awaiting for their response.
Once I hear from them I'll let you know of the outcome.
January 1st, 2009 at 5:59 pm
I'v just received a response from HK Supplies. They responded to my e-mail very quickly. The problem is with faulty wiring in the Phottix Cleon N8 receiver. To correct the problem have an electronic technician re-solder the white and black wires of the receiver by switching the position of the two wires (e.g. where the black wire is now, solder the white wire. Where the white wire is, solder the black wire).
Here is a partial text of the e-mail they sent me...
===================================================================
Dear Henry
Sorry to hear about this.
We found the problem with receiver.
We have one lot receivers wrongly assembled.
if you are in urgent need of a working receiver, please ask
expert to change the position of White and Black cables
as per attached photo.
Apologize for any inconvenience caused.
We will send a new receiver to you.
Kind regards
HKSUPPLIES
=============================================================
So if you wish to have the problem resolved, just send them an e-mail (sales@HKSupplies.com) and as you can see they will respond to your question. I am very pleased with how quickly they were able to resolve my problem.
January 12th, 2009 at 2:55 pm
[...] or Mega Cleon S6 (same functions, but features a more powerful transmitter). Read my reviews of the Nikon and Canon versions of the Cleon to get an idea on how the remote [...]
January 12th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Hi,
Just tried my new N8 out in the field. The wireless release didn't work beyond 3 or 4 metres. This was on a D1X, line of sight, no obstructions, around -3 degrees celcius and foggy.
Retried 2 receivers side by side in the house (without cameras attached) and the red light wouldn't come on beyond the 3 to 4 metres mark. Ariel fully extended in all cases.
About to email HK supplies to see what they say. Just occurred to me it could be be battery strength in the battery in the transmitter?
Anyone have any ideas?
Thanks.
Derek
January 20th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
[...] on page 369, there's a list of accessories that can be plugged into the remote terminal. The Phottix Cleon N8, a hybrid RF (radio frequency) wireless shutter release (trigger), is an example of such an [...]
January 21st, 2009 at 4:22 pm
[...] frequency) wired / wireless remote shutter / trigger is highly-recommended for your D3X. Read my Phottix Cleon N8 review for more [...]
January 22nd, 2009 at 4:49 pm
Hi David. Appreciated your review on this equipment when considering what to buy for my Nikon D80. Have just received my Cleon N6 and found I have the same problem as mentioned previously by Jim and Henry with the monitor not working if the Cleon receiver is connected. Have also sent an email to hksupplies. I appreciate the time saved through the postings on this site by other readers. Regards, Craig.
January 23rd, 2009 at 3:29 pm
[...] on page 389, there's a list of accessories that can be plugged into the remote terminal. The Phottix Cleon N8, a hybrid RF (radio frequency) wireless shutter release (trigger), is an example of such an [...]
January 23rd, 2009 at 3:44 pm
[...] on page 392, there's a list of accessories that can be plugged into the remote terminal. The Phottix Cleon N8, a hybrid RF (radio frequency) wireless shutter release (trigger), is an example of such an [...]
January 28th, 2009 at 10:48 am
In my case the half press focus worked but not the shutter release. So I opened the unit and noticed 3 wires (P2 to Red, Middle to Black and P1 to Green), the Red was disconnected. Will attempt to re solder but the wires are very small and difficult to strip.
February 4th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
[...] my reviews on the Phottix Cleon for Nikon, Cleon for Canon and N1 for Nikon to get a better idea of how these RF devices work. Be careful [...]
February 18th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
[...] There are other benefits to using RF remotes - check out my reviews for the Phottix N1 and Phottix Cleon N8. [...]
February 24th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
[...] +5 EV. You can also specify whether to take between 2 to 9 (inclusive) bracketed exposures. Use a Phottix Cleon N8 remote, and you can easily shoot 9 bracketed exposures at 8 fps all day (the following video of the Nikon [...]
February 25th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
[...] don't want to repeat what I've wrote elsewhere so please refer to the section on shooting with the Cleon N8 in BULB mode. It was written for the Nikon D300, but the principles apply regardless of the camera [...]
March 27th, 2009 at 11:24 am
[...] my reviews on the Phottix Wireless Remote Set N8, Cleon N8 and Cleon C8 to get a better idea of how RF remotes [...]
June 5th, 2009 at 11:19 pm
Phottix Cleon N8. - Poor Quality Control
I ordered my N8 in Jan 09 it arrived and worked for about one month. The receiver failed. It caused the camera to lose its menu control. It would not auto focus upon half button press and would not trigger the shutter. After struggling to get HK via email they eventually sent me a replacement receiver. The new one was bad out of the box. It fired twice in single mode, did not work in 2S mode at all, and in Bulb mode it fired the shutter continuously - even with the transmitter turned off. From what I am seeing in the blogs and my own experience, while the product is a nice idea the quality control is terribly lacking. I suggest looking for other alternatives and not waste the money or time. Failed equipment in the field can mean missing a shot that cannot be gotten again.
June 6th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
Worked quite well in the beginning, but lately is acting up. E.g. not showing the preview anymore. There appears to be some models shipped with faulty wiring, which is easily fixable. I tried opening mine, gently, but I guess need more force.
Link to description is here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/nikon_d300_users/discuss/72157612213008842/
The other minor complaint I have is the the logic on where on/off is on the receiver and transmitter are reversed. This means if you
want to turn it off, the receiver needs to be shifted "up", but the transmitter "down". This has cost me a battery on two occasions now.
June 16th, 2009 at 12:09 am
I just received mine. Works fine out the box, I did notice that once it shot a whole set of BKT shots but other then that works perfectly. As for range I could fire off shots from one end of a bar from the bathroom area, ~ 150 feet+. I will post again if I begin to have issues or anything of the sort.
Rick