Nikon Just ordered V1 + 10 + 18.5

matus

Rookie
Location
Germany
Hello,

this is just my second post here - and for a good reason - since several years most of my photography was done with medium format cameras (Mamiya 6, Rolleiflex T, Minolta Autocord) and bit of LF and my only digital camera was GRDIII. But times change and with our first baby on the way I realised that I need some sort of compact nice digital camera.

To be honest - I was VERY close preordering (that would have been my first) to E-M1 with 12-40 lens, but being honest with myself the V1 will probably deliver all the quality I will need (in a very small package) for about 25% the price - my wife particularly appreciates the second part :tongue:

I am really curios about the camera - I only had it in hand once about a year ago and remember the very fast screen & EVF reaction and small, solid body. And a fast AF.

I have decided to go the the fixed focal length lenses as I do not really need zoom lens and wanted higher speed and a bit better optical quality. I may later add the 30-110 as it seems to be a very good performer.

I just realised that I will probably need some sort of RAW converter as my CS3 is probably too old for Nikon V1 files. Any advice on the free options?

Also - any tips & tricks & workarounds would be very appreciated.

I am looking forward to hang around here more regularly from now on :)
 
I just realised that I will probably need some sort of RAW converter as my CS3 is probably too old for Nikon V1 files. Any advice on the free options?
I'd download FastStone, for sorting RAWs before importing to Lightroom, and I would definitely buy Lightroom. ;)
Why? Because, with a fast camera such as the V1, chances are you will be making a loooooot of photos. You will need a fast application to sort through those RAWs in the minimum amount of time, and delete the ones you don't like. That's where FastStone comes in. I don't know of a faster way to reduce 100s or even 1000s of RAWs to a manageable number. Why Lightroom? Because, with the great metering and auto WB of the V1 you won't be needing much PP, but you will be needing a program to organize your photos. LR is perfect for

Also - any tips & tricks & workarounds would be very appreciated.

I am looking forward to hang around here more regularly from now on :)
Here are some tips:

- for portraits of kids in good light, you can use AF-C combined with face detect. IT IS AWESOME! Even more so with a fast lens, such as the 18.5mm.
- Use electronic shutter for everything except the fastest sports. In combination with max. aperture the camera/lens makes no sound what so ever. Perfect for taking photos of babies while sleeping, w/o disturbing them.
- Don't use AutoISO! Even after the FW update it still chooses too slow shutter speeds.
- The rear LCD is super precise regarding exposure, WB and color. The EVF not so much, it shows stronger contrast and deeper blacks, than they are. For tricky exposures check the LCD first, then continue with the EVF.
- Deactivate AF assist lamp. It hinders AF more than it helps.
- Use long exposure noise reduction for longer exposures (does not reduce IQ, it removes only hot pixels), but deactivate high ISO NR. Deactivate Active D-Lighting.
- Set the camera to continuous shooting and never look back. ;)
- Set LCD and EVF brightness to max. and auto power off to 10 minutes. The large battery of the V1 can handle it with ease.

That's all from me! Hope that helps. :)
 
You will love it, once you get used to not moving the mode dial (not a big issue)
Raw converter ? I find the included Nikon View NX2 works for me just fine.
 
Thank you for the warm welcome and some great advice.

The Auto ISO is a bit of a bummer, but I can deal with that. Pity one can not choose a factor that would be multiplied with 1/f for the slowest shutter speed. I am glad to hear about the battery life and good quality LCD. I remember the EVF as somewhat too contrasty and not overly too large (EVF was one of the song arguments for the E-M1 for me). But as long as it gets the job fine it is all right.

I also hope the dip my finger in the video waters with the V1 and should that get more serious I would probably get some external mic and possible a zoom lens, but there is time for that.

When it comes to post processing - I can do the things I want with CS3, but since I do not plan to sign up for those crazy monthly fees with Adobe - I am looking into alternatives (not necessarily free ones). I was thinking of Lightroom as well - I guess I need to give it a more thorough check. What tends to scare me away is the different workflow and lack of layers.
 
Auto iso is fine if you are in shutter priority mode though it's best to keep a check on the apertures the camera is choosing, N1 lenses tend to work best from wide open.

For post work you could always grab a free copy of Adobe's DNG converter and convert the files to DNG format and use in CS3. Saves all the grief of getting accustomed to other software.
 
Hello, This is my first post on the forum after lurking for several years.

I love my V1 kit! I recently returned from a trip to Ireland where I brought my Nikon V1 kit: 10mm, 18.5, and 10-30 lenses. In getting used to the camera I found the mode dial moved too easily. Rather than do the dental floss trick, I decided to use the gaffer's tape fix. I found that this worked really well and the mode dial didn't move. I also put a little tape on the front of the camera to add more grip. Last, I found that a new accessory port (hotshoe) cover (purchased from B+H after I nearly lost the original one the floor at a bar) actually clipped in and holds better than the original. I also recommend the screen protectors made by Micro Solutions, I got mine at Amazon.

I feel the kit is perfect for snapping away on vacation but provides the user enough control to be creative. Even thought the kit itself is already small, I love the fact that all lenses use a 40.5mm filter. I only needed one CPL for the trip; something neither the SLR or M43 kits I've owned have permitted me.

Echoing what has been said above, I was not careful enough with Auto ISO on my trip and ended up with some blurry shots because the shutter was too slow. I wish that 18.5 had VR. Until then I just need to be more vigilant. Overall, I'm still learning the camera but really enjoy it and am pleased with the results it gives.
 
The 18.5/1.8 just arrived - very nice finish I must say. It is so small and light - is there really glass in there? And that cute little front lens :tongue:
 
The 18.5/1.8 just arrived - very nice finish I must say. It is so small and light - is there really glass in there? And that cute little front lens :tongue:
Yep, makes you wonder whether a f/1.4 version would need a larger lens tube at all.
 
Yep, makes you wonder whether a f/1.4 version would need a larger lens tube at all.

Or even better - make it a tiny Noctilux :)


-Ripleysbaby-
Nice photo. Just out of curiosity - as this photograph was taken well inside the 'diffraction limited territory' - how does the full size file look like?
 
Or even better - make it a tiny Noctilux :)


-Ripleysbaby-
Nice photo. Just out of curiosity - as this photograph was taken well inside the 'diffraction limited territory' - how does the full size file look like?
You mean this lens?

Some folks on dpreview have calculated the size and it would be no bigger than the 32/1.2 :)
 
So - the camera arrived just few days ago - need to take some time over weekend to play with. First impression - the body feels solid, the LCD is great, the EVF is OK, the AF is blazingly fast. The body is a bit too shape-less - I already ordered the Franiec grip for it.

I really like the colors that come out - the auto WB is amazingly good.

I guess the 18.5 will stay on for most of the time, but the 10 will come handy too.

With the first few shots (evening, low light) - the camera did not go under 1/60 shutter speed with the 18.5 lens - so that is fine with me.

I would like to get some sort of pouch for the camera since I would like to have it as everyday carry in my largish shoulder bag - to protect it form the elements inside the bag (keys, umbrella, you name it). Any good ideas? The pouch should fit the V1 with the 18.5 lens on.

More will come when I get more time with the camera. But it looks all good so far :)
 
Coming back after longer time. I used the V1 a lot it the mean time (mostly family shots). I really like the AF speed and colour the camera produces (I use the camera in mostly 'natural' mode). Turning NR off leaves a lot of detail even in high ISO department.

I shoot in 'P' mode most of the time (mostly low light) as the camera gives reasonable shutter speeds. Turning to 'A' mode the camera will try to shoot at 1/15s - useless of course. What bugs me too is that the EVF is not a WYSIWYG - the image (in particular under strange light conditions) may look quite differently in EVF than the actual image taken. I have hard time to understand the distortion of the 18.5 lens and why it is not corrected in-camera at least for JPGs - in particular close-up shots are very distorted. the 10 lens has nearly no distortion.

The video quality is very good, but I do not have any lens with IS yet, so I am not taking a whole may of videos.

I will see about the longer future of the camera (I still long after E-M1 :) ), but for what I need now it is simply perfect.

I need to find some time to go out and do some more 'serious' shooting :)
 
im a spoiled brat, so take this with a grain of pink himalayan salt... ;)

id get lightroom or aperture(if yer a mac man) and justify it by saying you got a DRASTICALLY cheaper camera setup, and this software will DRASTICALLY aid in getting the most out of the raw files it provides

then id also do the exact same justification to get the google(nik) software

lightroom just emailed saying its like $115 or somehting(aperture is $80), nik is $150, so for another $265 you can do a LOT more with those files
just browse around on flickr or here or mu43 or wherever for silver efex threads, or do a search for color efex
 
I hear you and probably read your thoughts - just hours ago I have ordered Lightroom in a package with a Wacom Intuos Pen S Tablet (it was a good deal). I have CS3 already, but not able to upgrade and so I could not work on RAW files much (I do not like the NX VIew much - it can do pretty much nothing). I have to admit though that I keep reading that the Nikon NX software is the best RAW converter for V1 files (what ever that should mean). I should see soon how does it compare to Adobe RAW converter.

I had Silver Effex (the test version) in the past and jot was great for both BW and colour.

I definitely want to do more than just point&shot&share with the V1 photos.

EDIT: below are few examples what I was able to get out of the V1 (rather quick PP in CS3). The camera has much bigger potential than I have been able to make us of so far.

11180443835_f0496b2068_z.jpg


10931198005_8838c20383_z.jpg


10931310105_c682208904_z.jpg
 
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