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Originally Posted by
Stagecoach
Art,
Ok, so I'll concentrate on 'macro' useage.
If you get into macro photography the chances are you will use a flash such as the SB-500 either on camera or bracketed to the side. In addition to this there is a good chance you will make some sort of snoot to get the light up front with a large diffuser area to spread the light on the subject. This will reduce flash power on the subject and I have found at times with my SB-600 (more powerful than the 500) that I'm limited when shooting with smaller apertures to maximise DoF.
This may or may not be a problem, but if I was buying another Nikon flash at this time I would choose one that is more powerful to assist with this specific mode of use.
I have never used a ring light but my concern would whether it had adjustable power for each side so as not to get a flat lit subject.
I have had the R1C1 kit for many years and love it, but it is used far less for macro work than the on or off camera SB-600 with a variety of snoots and diffusers. I like to shoot live bugs up close and they move, necessitating a constant re-arrangement of the SBR-200 positions which also often get in the way of items such as branches and rocks. If the subject is relatively stationary it a dream system to use.
Do I get noticeably better photos with it as opposed to the SB-600 and snoots/diffusers, no.
So my advice would be as you have no flash at present go for something you can use for normal photography and macro (with some homemade snoots/diffusers) but seriously consider getting something more powerful than the SB-500.