Pre-order the Nikon V3 here!
The Nikon V3 and two new Nikon 1 Series lenses have hit pre-order-town. What’s new and is this good?
For starters, you may already know that I adore my Nikon V1. How much? I have two! One in black and one in white! I like most things about it, lean on the V1 for video, and absolutely love that it takes the exact same battery as my D800. They are fantastic companions while the V1 is also very strong when flying solo. When my use of the V1 seemed to be winding down a bit, the 6.7 – 13mm ultra-wide zoom rejuvenated my feelings for the 1 series.
I have flirted with the J1 – J3 and the newer AW1 and even the V2 but have not found another 1 series camera that hits all of the high notes that I’ve found with the V1.
Let’s talk about the high points of the V3.
It’s a combination of the J series, the S1, and the V1/V2, as it can be without viewfinder, or the viewfinder accessory can be added. Scared of an electronic viewfinder? Don’t knock it until you’ve tried the 1 Series viewfinders. Optical is great… but this viewfinder literally lets you see in the dark and when you’re doing something fun, like shooting in black and white, you’re seeing through the viewfinder in black and white. It’s quick… forget about the lag that you’re still remembering from 5 years ago. This viewfinder gives you a clear and bright image.
The frames per second is unreal, and combined with the hybrid contrast detect and phase detect autofocus, the tracking for sports, wildlife, and other action is actually quite amazing. Yes, 60 frames per second in raw, 20 frames per second with continuous autofocus. That’s usually too many shots, but when you need it, or just want to see what happens, it’s there for you. This introduces techniques that normally can’t be done with that flagship D4s, which shoots a measly 11 frames per second.
We’ve got the same sensor size as the rest of the 1 series with more pixels (18 mp). For nature photography in daylight with telephoto lenses, like the also-announced 70-300 CX lens, this will be absolutely incredible. Combine that with one of the fastest camera bodies in the world and you have shots that would be extremely difficult to get with gear costing many times more.
Oh, and the video. They’ve added a 720p 120 frames per second mode. Do you like slow motion video? This is higher quality slo-mo than the 1 Series has offered to date. You still have the lower resolution 400fps and 1200 fps mode. Use it wisely, and produce a level of video that not too many cameras of any type have. The 1 Series is a well kept secret for video. With F-mount compatibility using the FT-1 adapter, you have a wealth of options. Also, there are 3rd party adapters on eBay for other mount types as well. For wider angles, stick with dedicated 1 series lenses for the most part, due to the sensor size, but the options and flexibility are incredible. Perhaps with the minor, but persistent broadening of the video capabilities, we’ll see an increased amount of 3rd party video accessories available for the V3.
There’s a lot to like about this camera. It’s modular, has amazing compatibility with the Nikon system, and brings and incredible feature set. Some of you are still laughing about the CX sensor size. I understand the criticism, but also understand my perspective and actual real-life experience – I have been very happily shooting CX alongside FX and DX for a couple of years, so you won’t find too many harsh words from me. I have a decent size collection of 1 Series bodies and lenses, and it all fits in a very small amount of space when I’m out in the wild. For me, it fills the role that I used to fill with a small DSLR, while the 1 Series is mirrorless and smaller than the smallest DSLRs and lenses on the market. With the electronic shutter mode, you can literally have completely silent operation. Is the 1 Series a commitment? Sure it is. It’s a different sensor and lens standard and the V3 with kit lens is more expensive than a D3300 and lens. We’re talking more than a few hundred dollars here… more than a used D300s will cost.
One thing I don’t like is the changing battery standard of the 1 Series. I am extremely happy that my V1 uses the exact same battery as my D800. That is a gigantic plus for me, and makes the V1 fit like a glove into my whole process. They changed that up with the V2, and the J-series, S-series, and AW1. I get it – these are small cameras and the majority of buyers are probably using it as the one camera that they have with them. For someone that carries more than one body at a time… having the same battery between the two might seem subtle, but makes things much smoother in the long run.
Oh, there’s an available grip, which seems to be included in the U.S., along with the detachable viewfinder, giving you more to hold on to, another shutter button, and a third function button. You can use this camera much like the J3 or S1, or you can add the viewfinder and grip, and it’s more like a V2.
Conclusion – fantastic, fantastic, fantastic camera, and with the new lenses, the entire system keeps getting better and better. If you haven’t tried the 1 Series, feel free to knock it, but try one out first… you might not go straight to CX, but you may gain quite a bit of respect for this mighty little system. Mine is a few generations old, and I still bring it everywhere… from studio to landscapes to street, with a lot of video thrown in for good measure.
Will I buy one? I don’t know yet. That nagging battery incompatibility between my D800 and the V3… I know it may seem trivial, but since I have the V1/D800 combo working so well for me now… I’ll have to think long and hard about this one!
