What Compact Digi?

[Brian Moore]

Thinking that SWMBO could use a new camera this Xmas, I was interested by the recent post and subsequent responses about the Nikon 1 V1.

It has a viewfinder, for one thing. I like that. I believe SWMBO must have a viewfinder in any camera Santa brings her.

Some of the reviews look pretty good too. Although, Hamish's argument for the RX100 is compelling--but it don't got no viewfinder!

SWMBO also needs a camera with a dial or two on top. In other words, with VF and dial(s) it will appear like a real camera if ever HWMO is told to use it for photographical purposes.

It must shoot RAW, too, since HWMO will be told to manipulate images and it would be to HWMO's advantage if said manipulation meets with praise.

I could get a V1 from KEH in EX condition for under $300 (as of yesterday, anyway). That's about my budget.

Any thoughts?

 

[Ahmad Bhai]

B only reservation about V1 for me is zooming during video, i was as smooth as i could be still the 10-30 & 30-110 i had on my J1 was rather jerky.
If video is not required the speed V1 (& J1) focuses at, tracks and fps is a quite wooow.

Really since the 1" sensor was put into cameras i haven't been tempted by any compact that has smaller (even though Fuji X10 is lush).

 

[Brian Moore]

"Woow" is a good thing Ahmad?

Anyway, sounds like the V1 gets an Ahmad thumbs up except for the video. (Do I interpret your meaning accurately? )

Thanks, Ahmad!

 

[Larry Bolch]

On the other hand, the V1 is on sale at the nearby drugstore for $400—new in box with full warranty. Not sure if this is a local sale or a Nikon discount. A friend called me yesterday with the same question about a camera for her daughter and the V1 seemed the perfect choice. Her first real camera.

And that is what it is designed for—enthusiasts were outraged. It is designed in every way to be an automatic camera for the family—the 2012 Kodak. Learn the features and go shoot. Outstanding fast focus for soccer moms, high-frame rate both for stills and movies. Watch your golf-swing in ultra slow motion. And it does RAW.

It seems the ideal camera for those who want to capture memories, but have no interest in photography as such. A family camera. That is a good thing.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks for the feedback, Larry! Much appreciated.

 

[Ahmad Bhai]

"Woow" is a good thing Ahmad?

The speed at which V1 fires (upto 60fps [stalkeyes] i think .. depending on speed of memory card) focuses, and tracks with its phase detect, for me makes it a super street shooter, reportage.

A few years ago i had a project in mind ... multiculturalism in the UK. I wanted to photograph different cultures interacting happily and harmoniously. At the time there wasn't a smallish digital camera which would allow me to do this. V1 (&J1) with 10-100mm (27-270mm) would be ideal for me, yet these days im too selfconscious to undertake this project. Perhaps someone else.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, Ahmad. V1 seems a decent choice for the money I want to spend. I like the look of the Oly EP 1, 2 or 3 also. You can put a proper viewfinder on those.

 

[David Jones]

The speed at which V1 fires (upto 60fps [stalkeyes] i think .. depending on speed of memory card) focuses, and tracks with its phase detect, for me makes it a super street shooter, reportage.

I went to see a band on Friday to get to know them better, and to take a few photos. I took the V1 because they had said they didn't like being photographed. They took no notice of the V1 at all. The lighting was dreadful but the V1 on matrix metering did a decent job. The focusing occasionally hunted around a bit (observation rather than a criticism) when I set it to single area but generally was quick and reliable. No flash and the kit lens results in ISO 3200 for just about all the shots. To me the noise doesn't look too bad and even quite acceptable in B+W. I haven't done much with the images yet so these are quick uploads through Sanpseed. The second image is cropped to roughly 80% area. The EVF image was a bit darker than the captured shots but I could have corrected this through the menu if it had been a problem.

Lead guitarist.


Keith Randall - Borderline by berriff, on Flickr

The other guitarist, and the bass player taking a break.


Borderline - The Pavilion, Port St Mary by berriff, on Flickr

For a beginner keen to learn it really is a surprisingly useful camera, although the lack of built-in flash could be a problem for some. For reportage there is a lot of potential. There is also an f/1.8 50mm equivalent lens now available which would have helped for this low-light scenario.

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, David. I'm tempted to buy this camera. B&H in New York has a deal right now: V1 with the 10-30mm lens for $299 US. No tax and free shipping, too. Deal goes through 12/31.

 

[David Jones]

Another crop with the lens fully zoomed in on the subject. Settings: 1/10s, f/5.6, ISO 3200, 30mm (81mm equivalent).

Note the shutter speed of 1/10s which suggests the lens stabilisation is helping me out here! I have seen some really good concert shots taken in good lighting using the telephoto kit lens. This was meant to be a low-cost second camera and already I am contemplating buying another lens or two for it.

Again, no fancy post processing; just Aperture to Snapseed to JPEGs.


Borderline - Keith Randall by berriff, on Flickr

Borderline - Keith Randall by berriff, on Flickr

 

[Brian Moore]

Are you shooting in RAW David?

 

[David Jones]

$299 ??? This is getting silly! Don't forget this is a well-made camera with a metal body and the lenses have metal flanges. I don't honestly see how you can go wrong unless the camera ergonomics simply don't work for you. As I said at the beginning, it is a sophisticated point-and-shoot at heart and you have to work with that rather than fight it.

Edit: yes, all shots taken in RAW. Aperture does a surprisingly good job with the noise in the Nikon files, better than it manages with my Sony. For the above images I have done no extra processing in Aperture at all. Straight out to Snapseed, some very minor tweaks to the brightness and/or contrast plus a bit of cropping as it was a very 'busy' background. That's it for these, as the aim was to show what the camera can do in a low-light, maxed out ISO situation.

Having invested in Aperture, Photoshop Elements and Optics Pro I use RAW to keep my options open.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I don't know if this is a factor or not, just giving you the facts Brian ...
the Nikon cx format is a 2.7x crop factor meaning your 50mm legacy lens if mounted would have an equiv fov of a 135mm lens ...
i have no idea if that functionality is even of interest... Just making you aware (if you weren't already)

 

[Brian Moore]

I don't know if this is a factor or not, just giving you the facts Brian ...
the Nikon cx format is a 2.7x crop factor meaning your 50mm legacy lens if mounted would have an equiv fov of a 135mm lens ...
i have no idea if that functionality is even of interest... Just making you aware (if you weren't already)

I'm glad you took a moment to post that comment Hamish; I wasn't precisely aware of the transmogrificational aspect of the 50going as far as 135 due to the crop. Good to know. (I thought it would be more like 100mm.)

 

[David Jones]

The problem with the FT-1 adapter is the cost, currently £195 in the UK.

 

[Hamish Gill]

No prob
for ref,

Pentax q is a 1/2.3" sensor (5.5x crop - 50mm = 275mm - 28mm = 154mm etc)
Nikon cx is a 1" sensor (2.7x crop - 50mm = 135 - 28mm = 75mm etc)
Pansonic/Olympus m43rds are 4/3" sensors (2x crop - 50mm = 100 mm - 28 = 56mm etc)
Sony nex are aps-c sensors (1.5x crop sensors - 50mm = 75mm - 28 = 44 etc)

(The sizes in inches aren't really acurate btw ... Its "vidicon" sizes or summat like that, somthing to do with cathode ray tubes ... The quoted measurements are actualy about 1.5 times the actual diagonal measurement... In case that leads to more head scratching )

- - - Updated - - -

The problem with the FT-1 adapter is the cost, currently £195 in the UK.

There are plenty of other adapters out there that allow non-AF operation though ...

 

[Brian Moore]

Thanks, Hamish! (What about your NEX5? What sensor size/crop factor?)

 

[Hamish Gill]

All Sony nex are 1.5x ... Although one day I hope they are going to make a full frame one