NikonGear'23
Gear Talk => Camera Talk => Topic started by: Kim Pilegaard on March 11, 2019, 10:21:20
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I have recently bought a Nikon 1 J1 (very cheap on a sale) and a V2 (refurbished). Unfortunately the V2 got stolen a few days after I got it. The reason for my interest in Nikon 1 is the ability to get more pixels on a remote object - in this case an eagle's nest 200 m away. My idea is that by using the sensor with very small pixels I can increase the quality of the picture compared to heavy cropping. I have not tried this in the field yet, but it seems to me that the pixel quality of both the J1 and V2 is quite good, so there is a potential. Compared to the D800, I will gain a factor of 1.4 (J1) or 1.7(V2). The newer Nikon 1 models would give an even higher gain of 1,9 (V3) and 2.0 (J5). The J5, however, cannot be used with the longer tele lenses on the FT-1.
I am trying to get hold of a replacement for my V2 to try it out in the field. However, I wonder whether there are other cameras on the market that could give me the pixel gain and functionality of the N 1 series. One could hope for a Z-series camera with a smaller sensor with a high pixel density.
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Which lenses do you use for the purpose? If you can live with the manual focus, I would look at some m4/3 cameras with 20MP sensor which should offer the similar pixel density as an 1" 10MP sensor does. The m4/3 cameras should work with the lenses attached via an adapter with much less restrictions than with Nikon 1 and FT1 combo.
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Thanks for the suggestion.
I am using my longest lens, the AF-S 500/4 G IF-ED VR with converters. In the short time, I had the V2, I tried the 500 mm with the TC-17 E II. The autofocus still worked with the FT1.
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A very valid excuse to upgrade to a D850 and a TC-20E 8)
If the converter is modified, it's possible to stack a TC-14E onto TC-20E with central AF point working in good light, for a cheap solution.
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Thanks for the suggestion.
I am using my longest lens, the AF-S 500/4 G IF-ED VR with converters. In the short time, I had the V2, I tried the 500 mm with the TC-17 E II. The autofocus still worked with the FT1.
I see. With that lens, and if the choice is among the Nikon 1 bodies, you may want to look at V3.
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A very valid excuse to upgrade to a D850 and a TC-20E 8)
If the converter is modified, it's possible to stack a TC-14E onto TC-20E with central AF point working in good light, for a cheap solution.
I already have the TC-20 E III and a D500 (pixel size 4.22 µm) slightly smaller than the D850 (4.34 µm).
Could be an idea, but I would loose even more light. Putting the V2 on the 500mm equals adding a 1.7x converter to a D800, but without the loss of light, or is there a penalty on the light because of the small sensor?
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I see. With that lens, and if the choice is among the Nikon 1 bodies, you may want to look at V3.
The reason, I am inclined to the V2 is because of the built in viewfinder. I know that the V3 has higher resolution, but it is quite expensive to get one with the viewfinder. I need the viewfinder mainly for the general use of the camera.
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To compare the V2 against the D800 I post two pictures (100% cropped and SOOC) of the same object:
1) DSC_0505.JPG: Nikon 1 V2 VR 500mm f/4G @ 500mm, ISO 160, 1/2s, f/4
2) 800_7648.JPG: Nikon D800 VR 500mm f/4G + TC-17EII @ 850mm, ISO 100, 4s, f/6.7
The most striking difference is the much faster shutter speed of the V2 (due to slightly higher ISO and larger aperture), otherwise apart from the colour, the IQ of the two pictures is quite similar.
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I have used the Nikon 1 system as a light birding system with the 70-300 Nikkor 1 lens.
I thought that the crop factor was 2.7 :o
Only reason the Nikon 1 system sees little use is the slow startup time.
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I have used the Nikon 1 system as a light birding system with the 70-300 Nikkor 1 lens.
I thought that the crop factor was 2.7 :o
Only reason the Nikon 1 system sees little use is the slow startup time.
It is correct, that the crop factor is 2.7 towards FX. However the factors, I calculated are based on the pixel size. For small/distant objects that does not fill the frame anyway, the pixel size is the important factor. The smaller the pixels size is, the more pixels are put on the object, when the true focal length is the same.
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The quality of the pixel is definitely also a factor. They are not equal 'size' values'
Most often I have experienced that by far you get the best result with a fixed lens on a high end camera, then Zoom for the high end zooms then TC's on fixed lens, the TC on high end zoom then stacked TC's
All on solid/stiff tripod and head/gimball dependent on shutter speed.
That 2.7 crop factor is not a free ride compared to a high end DSLR Body
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I have used the TC-20e iii quite successfully on my 70-200mm f/2.8 to obtain the reach of a 400mm lens.
The people in charge of an Orang Utan Preserve in Sabah Province, Borneo charge some $100 per half day for the use of any lens exceeding 200mm but I was not harassed for the higher fee for using the 70-200 plus the TC.
(I didn't have the compact little 300mm PF at that time but I probably could have used it without it being noticed if I had had it.)
That TC-20 is surprisingly good if you stop down even by a single stop and it also acts as useful alternative for close-ups.
The main problem with using the TC on the slower telephoto lenses is that the effective aperture is reduced which adversely affects fast AF and degrades creamy backgrounds.
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An aspect not mentioned so far is the requirement for even more precise focusing should smaller sensors (and pixels) be used. This condition has been with us ever since photography took smaller formats into use.
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An aspect not mentioned so far is the requirement for even more precise focusing should smaller sensors (and pixels) be used. This condition has been with us ever since photography took smaller formats into use.
Add to that if the lens has any color fringing, it will be greatly enlarged on the smaller sensor and much more notable.
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The newer Nikon 1 models would give an even higher gain of 1,9 (V3) and 2.0 (J5). The J5, however, cannot be used with the longer tele lenses on the FT-1.
Thank you for the timely info! I'm looking at moving from DX to FX, and I was looking for a way to get a little more reach out of my 300 for a similar reason... I was considering a TC vs Nikon 1 and had no idea the J5 had this issue! Narrows down the options for sure...
Mike
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Thank you for the timely info! I'm looking at moving from DX to FX, and I was looking for a way to get a little more reach out of my 300 for a similar reason... I was considering a TC vs Nikon 1 and had no idea the J5 had this issue! Narrows down the options for sure...
Mike
Why not look into the Fujis.
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Thank you for the timely info! I'm looking at moving from DX to FX, and I was looking for a way to get a little more reach out of my 300 for a similar reason... I was considering a TC vs Nikon 1 and had no idea the J5 had this issue! Narrows down the options for sure...
If your 300 is not an f/2.8 it will most likely work with the J5. See the compatibility list here: https://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/acil/lenses/mount_adapter_ft1/compatibility.htm (https://imaging.nikon.com/lineup/acil/lenses/mount_adapter_ft1/compatibility.htm)
The exceptions for the J5 are at the bottom.
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These incompatibility lists tend to be a mixture of unproved assumptions and real issues.
For example, among the Nikkors listed as incompatible with the FT-1, the 19/4 PC-E ED works well directly on the adapter, and so does the 20/2.8 and 24/2.8 if their protruding max.aperture indicator flange on the rear is trimmed. The 24/3.5 PC-E is truly incompatible due to its form factor, though.
Thus one always has to try in practice with a given combination of adapter and lens before declaring the use is "impossible".
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I have a lot of Nikon 1 equipment, but only use it occasionally.
Does it have any reasonable sales value?
I may want to keep some of it for time lapse. But the V2 doesn’t do time lapse, so the V2 and a 70-300 could be candidates for a sell. It is a nice compact “safari kit”.
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Get a camera IR-converted (with filter inside). That should provide lots of fun to play around with.
Personally I'm particular to the little V1 as a walk-around camera when I don't feel having loads of gear with me. Actually I use the various CX-format cameras more now than when I initially purchased them.
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Bent and Kim, may I suggest we or the two of you meet up for coffee and chat about and test the Nikon1 V2
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Birna and Erik, good suggestions.
I am actually using both V1 as time lapse, so maybe the V2 could be converted ???
Maybe we can have a talk about this in Scotland, as there will be time for "nearding"
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Bent and Kim, may I suggest we or the two of you meet up for coffee and chat about and test the Nikon1 V2
Great idea Erik! Unfortunately, I am not joining the Scotland trip, but we could meet at my place in Charlottenlund. Right now, I am less mobile because of a broken Achilles tendon.
I bought a V3 to replace the stolen V2. I made a test with it on the 500 mm + TC-20 E-III. It looks quite promising!
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Great idea Erik! Unfortunately, I am not joining the Scotland trip, but we could meet at my place in Charlottenlund. Right now, I am less mobile because of a broken Achilles tendon.
I bought a V3 to replace the stolen V2. I made a test with it on the 500 mm + TC-20 E-III. It looks quite promising!
Sorry to hear about your achilles, but I could take the small trip from Hvidovre, we just need to find a date, I will PM you.
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We now have a scheduled date for a 'Long lens Nikon1' evening the three of us ;D we will report back after that ;)
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Super -- a Danish micro-NG meetup :D looking forward already to the report.
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So, meeting was yesterday evening, very nicely hosted by Kim who also treated us with delicious Goat in Oil well as other delicious fine food and vine. Wonderful evening and a few surprises, conclusions and even more questions to be answered in the furture,,, for sure we will meet up again and also look into further larger NikonGear events.
Here some images:
The chimney test,,, stainless steel pipe with spot welds in the focus zone,,, here the D850 at ISO 800 Nikkor 500mm f/4 AFS VR and TC20E mark III i guess,,,
On tripod with gimbal, so not optimal support but fairly realistic for what might be handy to haul around ;)
The same but 100% crop
The rest of images are just to show off the good mood and atmosphere ;)
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Shooting conditions look perfect :D
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Certainly a pleasant get-together, where I learnt quite a few things about sensor technology.
Here is the Nikon 1 V3 on the 500/4 AFS VR + TC-20E III. @ ISO 720, 100 % crop. Manual focus.
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The Nikon 1 V3 on 500/4 AFS (no converter) @ISO 400. 100% crop.