meeker
Established
Thanks. The V1 is a keeper - I will get the new 18.5mm as soon as it's back in stock.
rbelyell
Well-known
i really went back and forth before i posted this, because its not my intent to rain on anyones parade, but i bought one, very cheap, with kit zoom, but solely for use as a telephoto (2.7x) alternative to my gxr m mount. i wanted to mount RF and other legacy glass for wildlife, birds etc.
i'm sorry, but i am greatly disappointed in the IQ used this way, or in fact even with the kit zoom outside on a sunny day. ive used it with some great lenses, the cv color heliar 75/2.5, summicron 40/2 and elmar 90/4, the contax T sonnar 135/4, the konica ar 57/1.4&100/2.8 and the kit lens, in good light and got results noticeably not as good as my old and long gone olympus ep2.
now, i unapologetically pixel peep. i look at most of my work at 50-100% crop and expect subject clarity from the in focus areas. this is especially my expectation when shooting wildlife. i dont get that from this nikon, with any glass, in the best of conditions.
now maybe i'm using it wrong or i expect too much, and again, i dont mean any disrespect to those who like it. but for my purposes, if those might be shared by others thinking of this rig, i thoughti should add my opinion.
please feel free to differ if your experiemces with similar equipment for similar usage varied.
tony
i'm sorry, but i am greatly disappointed in the IQ used this way, or in fact even with the kit zoom outside on a sunny day. ive used it with some great lenses, the cv color heliar 75/2.5, summicron 40/2 and elmar 90/4, the contax T sonnar 135/4, the konica ar 57/1.4&100/2.8 and the kit lens, in good light and got results noticeably not as good as my old and long gone olympus ep2.
now, i unapologetically pixel peep. i look at most of my work at 50-100% crop and expect subject clarity from the in focus areas. this is especially my expectation when shooting wildlife. i dont get that from this nikon, with any glass, in the best of conditions.
now maybe i'm using it wrong or i expect too much, and again, i dont mean any disrespect to those who like it. but for my purposes, if those might be shared by others thinking of this rig, i thoughti should add my opinion.
please feel free to differ if your experiemces with similar equipment for similar usage varied.
tony
Bobfrance
Over Exposed
Interesting read. Thanks for taking the trouble tow write it.
I'm kicking around the idea of a V1 myself as it seems like great value for a small digital option. Would anybody be willing to send me what they feel is an average RAW file to check out in Lightroom?
(I can PM you my email address).
Bob.
.
I'm kicking around the idea of a V1 myself as it seems like great value for a small digital option. Would anybody be willing to send me what they feel is an average RAW file to check out in Lightroom?
(I can PM you my email address).
Bob.
.
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Well-known
Looking forward to hearing what you think of the 18½
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Well-known
Average raws are my speciality
PM me with your address and I will send you one (or more if you have room in your email account?)
Bobfrance
Over Exposed
Thanks! PM on it's way.
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Well-known
What is your IQ ?
What is your IQ ?
No worries Tony - rain is good
Having the same setup (EP2 and V1) I have yet to shoot with legacy lenses on the V1. I am not even sure I am going to since there is no IBIS.
This last Saturday I was back home and went out shooting on the streets in the evening with a small Ultra Pod II. Tripod and self timer allowed me to go ISO 100. It was easily the best photo experience this year. Tourists interacted with me in a pleasant manner and the locals (thinking I was a tourist not understanding what they were saying) commented on my eagerness (in a friendly voice). On a few occasions it was difficult to get the AF to work, but turning the camera the AF point focused in the end every time.
The photographers expectations concerning IQ are the key to happiness or not with this camera. Only very rarely do I crop in PP and prefer to discard a picture if not framed "correctly". On a few occasions I shot at ISO 3200 Saturday night and once forgot to go back to ISO 100. The night time ISO 3200 pictures are horrible
I will try to post some images soon.
/Xpanded
What is your IQ ?
No worries Tony - rain is good
Having the same setup (EP2 and V1) I have yet to shoot with legacy lenses on the V1. I am not even sure I am going to since there is no IBIS.
This last Saturday I was back home and went out shooting on the streets in the evening with a small Ultra Pod II. Tripod and self timer allowed me to go ISO 100. It was easily the best photo experience this year. Tourists interacted with me in a pleasant manner and the locals (thinking I was a tourist not understanding what they were saying) commented on my eagerness (in a friendly voice). On a few occasions it was difficult to get the AF to work, but turning the camera the AF point focused in the end every time.
The photographers expectations concerning IQ are the key to happiness or not with this camera. Only very rarely do I crop in PP and prefer to discard a picture if not framed "correctly". On a few occasions I shot at ISO 3200 Saturday night and once forgot to go back to ISO 100. The night time ISO 3200 pictures are horrible
I will try to post some images soon.
/Xpanded
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Well-known
Do you want one raw or several at different ISO?
Bobfrance
Over Exposed
100, 400 & 1600 would be great for me.
rbelyell
Well-known
thanks X. yes i agree, expectations are everything, in photography and probably life as well.
any tips you have for my intended use would be great. after initial tests i determined i would not shoot this camera above iso200. ive picked very sunny days to test it so, in absence of IBIS, i could use highest possible SSs. for ex. at FL 270mm 100mm lens) i never shot below iso400. some shots looked fine, but any magnification yielded results that looked like i shot through cheesecloth, very muddled.
now obviously handheld telephoto without any focus aids aint easy, and maybe thats the issue. but my old ep2 didnt have focus aids and i never got such muddled results.
anyway, i would love this camera to work because the 2.7x crop is awesome and the frames per second speed is awesome, so it has the potential to be an invaluable tool for nature shots. i,m thinking of asking my camera guy if he can remove the AA filter as maybe that would help 'clarify' things.
tony
any tips you have for my intended use would be great. after initial tests i determined i would not shoot this camera above iso200. ive picked very sunny days to test it so, in absence of IBIS, i could use highest possible SSs. for ex. at FL 270mm 100mm lens) i never shot below iso400. some shots looked fine, but any magnification yielded results that looked like i shot through cheesecloth, very muddled.
now obviously handheld telephoto without any focus aids aint easy, and maybe thats the issue. but my old ep2 didnt have focus aids and i never got such muddled results.
anyway, i would love this camera to work because the 2.7x crop is awesome and the frames per second speed is awesome, so it has the potential to be an invaluable tool for nature shots. i,m thinking of asking my camera guy if he can remove the AA filter as maybe that would help 'clarify' things.
tony
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Well-known
will do no later than tonight - you got 4 others to evaluate.
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Well-known
Capture NX2 will do...
Capture NX2 will do...
Since it is early days for me the only thing I can really recommend is downloading a trial version of Capture NX2 and see if the output pleases you more. I really wish all makers would just commit to .dng. So far (to my old eyes) it does make a difference in overall "clarity" for lack of better words.
Somewhere deep down I cannot help comparing the V1 to a Coolpix and I think that is what really makes me impressed. If one had the newest Nex bodies or the E-M5 as reference, maybe it would be different.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the EP2 magnification is much bigger than the V1? That helps me a lot with focusing legacy lenses.
I have shot legacy lenses (Contax G) on a Sony Nex platform and Olympus bodies, and I much, much prefer them on the latter. IQ is obviously better on the former, but the IBIS in the latter is the deal winner for me.
Removing the AA filter sounds interesting. Please post if you do.
/Xpanded
Capture NX2 will do...
Since it is early days for me the only thing I can really recommend is downloading a trial version of Capture NX2 and see if the output pleases you more. I really wish all makers would just commit to .dng. So far (to my old eyes) it does make a difference in overall "clarity" for lack of better words.
Somewhere deep down I cannot help comparing the V1 to a Coolpix and I think that is what really makes me impressed. If one had the newest Nex bodies or the E-M5 as reference, maybe it would be different.
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think the EP2 magnification is much bigger than the V1? That helps me a lot with focusing legacy lenses.
I have shot legacy lenses (Contax G) on a Sony Nex platform and Olympus bodies, and I much, much prefer them on the latter. IQ is obviously better on the former, but the IBIS in the latter is the deal winner for me.
Removing the AA filter sounds interesting. Please post if you do.
/Xpanded
meeker
Established
Tony,
By coincidence a colleague showed me some bird shots he had taken over the weekend - he has a high-end Canon and 'L' glass and was doing comparisons with his V1 and a ~$700 nikon dslr zoom (300mm on the long end) using the nikon adapter. At ~250mm (675 equivalent) the images were very impressive - almost as good as, if not equivalent to, the DSLR photos and this camera is far more portable than a DSLR with an equivalent zoom, not to mention 1/5 the price. The amount of detail in the feathers was amazing for 10mp. There are aspects of the ergonomics I can see are not great for wildlife, but the fast focussing and IQ seem ideal for such a small package.
By coincidence a colleague showed me some bird shots he had taken over the weekend - he has a high-end Canon and 'L' glass and was doing comparisons with his V1 and a ~$700 nikon dslr zoom (300mm on the long end) using the nikon adapter. At ~250mm (675 equivalent) the images were very impressive - almost as good as, if not equivalent to, the DSLR photos and this camera is far more portable than a DSLR with an equivalent zoom, not to mention 1/5 the price. The amount of detail in the feathers was amazing for 10mp. There are aspects of the ergonomics I can see are not great for wildlife, but the fast focussing and IQ seem ideal for such a small package.
rbelyell
Well-known
Meeker thats interesting. From what ive read on the web using nikon legacy glass with official nikon adapter results in mch different and better IQ than other legacy glass/adapters.
X, thanks. Yes the oly has better magnification. W legacy glass nikon has no magnification or metering at all. Yeah i agree ibis is a great function esp with tele work.
X, thanks. Yes the oly has better magnification. W legacy glass nikon has no magnification or metering at all. Yeah i agree ibis is a great function esp with tele work.
MaxElmar
Well-known
Nice post, Xpanded - really excellent. Of course, when I saw a V1 kit for $349 (refurbished) I simply could not not resist. So I have joined the club. Last year I had a serious fling with m43, but it didn't take. This seems much more promising so far. Not a perfect camera, by any stretch, but really excellent in some areas and the quirks seem less troubling than what I experienced with m43. What's a big deal for me is that menus and workflow are similar enough to my DSLR workflow to make many things easier.
Thanks again for posting!
__
Chris L.
Thanks again for posting!
__
Chris L.
MaxElmar
Well-known
You are using the V1 AF assist light, yes? It's easy to forget to re-activate it and the camera is lost without it in low light. But with it, it seems to focus as well as a low-end DSLR in any light...provided there's a subject to lock onto and that is close enough for the light to have an effect. And the light isn't blocked by a lens hood or your hand - and both of those are painfully easy to do!
Also - about the sleep issue - since the V1 has such a beefy battery - I simply set the sleep timer to 10min. I always seem to have a few extra EN-EL15 batteries.
That "image review" is pain - at least it cancels on a half-press of the shutter....
Also - about the sleep issue - since the V1 has such a beefy battery - I simply set the sleep timer to 10min. I always seem to have a few extra EN-EL15 batteries.
That "image review" is pain - at least it cancels on a half-press of the shutter....
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Well-known
Thom Hogan seemed quite impressed with it too while shooting birds (Galapagos?). I have seen a New Zealander on youtube using it with the FT1. I am quite impressed with focusing speed.
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Well-known
1) Yes, unfortunately. The light is on. It just is not that powerful - but of course I live in Europe, where the "lights are out"
2) I think I am still not used the massive battery. You are right of course.
3) Yeah, that is very "Nikon" - fortunately.
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Well-known
Short termish conclusion
Short termish conclusion
Just a short follow up note after longer use (and with the price of the V1 falling even more).
Wakey, wakey! I overcame my oh no the battery is draining fast phobia [based on using Sigma DP cameras…] and have as suggested adjusted the sleeping mode time so it stays awake for longer. It works well. The camera is now ready all the time. I walked three hours on a 7 degree Celsius day with it awake almost all the period and the battery fell from 97% to 31%; not bad. Two batteries will last you a full shooting day.
Get a grip… Am considering buying the Fotodiox grip. Have just realised the Nikon grip is stupid since it does not allow the user to change card/battery without removing it. Usually I am a big fan of Franiec’ grips, but I think on the V1 the more substantial Fotodiox grip will be better.
Vision (literally) My glasses are now permanently on (my nose) when using the camera and it works very well.
Robin Lens Hood I have added some cheap third party lens hoods (Nikon should have supplied them and thus I felt not compelled to support them) and they work well.
V2 grip A few days ago I hold the V2 in my hands for the first time, and I do not like the grip. It is way too short. The camera seems great otherwise (except for the price).
Pricing. It is now even lower than when I bought them. It is almost at a level where you may consider buying one extra just for the battery. Perhaps Nikon had been better advised giving one away for free (perhaps without lens) when you bought a D4/D800/D800e. Then they would gain a sale of a FT1 adapter or a lens. Mind you, I am not complaining.
Short termish conclusion is much the same: A joy to use.
Short termish conclusion
Just a short follow up note after longer use (and with the price of the V1 falling even more).
Wakey, wakey! I overcame my oh no the battery is draining fast phobia [based on using Sigma DP cameras…] and have as suggested adjusted the sleeping mode time so it stays awake for longer. It works well. The camera is now ready all the time. I walked three hours on a 7 degree Celsius day with it awake almost all the period and the battery fell from 97% to 31%; not bad. Two batteries will last you a full shooting day.
Get a grip… Am considering buying the Fotodiox grip. Have just realised the Nikon grip is stupid since it does not allow the user to change card/battery without removing it. Usually I am a big fan of Franiec’ grips, but I think on the V1 the more substantial Fotodiox grip will be better.
Vision (literally) My glasses are now permanently on (my nose) when using the camera and it works very well.
Robin Lens Hood I have added some cheap third party lens hoods (Nikon should have supplied them and thus I felt not compelled to support them) and they work well.
V2 grip A few days ago I hold the V2 in my hands for the first time, and I do not like the grip. It is way too short. The camera seems great otherwise (except for the price).
Pricing. It is now even lower than when I bought them. It is almost at a level where you may consider buying one extra just for the battery. Perhaps Nikon had been better advised giving one away for free (perhaps without lens) when you bought a D4/D800/D800e. Then they would gain a sale of a FT1 adapter or a lens. Mind you, I am not complaining.
Short termish conclusion is much the same: A joy to use
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meeker
Established
A couple more recent ones using the V1:
Click for bigger versions. The last one taken at 1/30s ƒ/5 ISO 1250. The mode dial was driving me nuts - far too easy to switch into motion snapshot or whatever - so I've taped over it. I have ordered a Gordy strap for the V1, since the camera is usually either in hand or in my bag.
Click for bigger versions. The last one taken at 1/30s ƒ/5 ISO 1250. The mode dial was driving me nuts - far too easy to switch into motion snapshot or whatever - so I've taped over it. I have ordered a Gordy strap for the V1, since the camera is usually either in hand or in my bag.