V1 for close up and Macro photography

BillN_33

BillN_33

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Bill
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Has anyone tried the Nikon V1 + FT1 for close up photography?

I have a V1/FT1 but have never really rated it ……….. I only seem to get good shots in really good light

I'll have a go tomorrow with my Nikon 300mm f4 …….. a little bit dark now and windy

also wonder what it is like with the Nikon or Sigma 105mm
 
Only hear say but you may have communication problems with the sigma,hope not as its part of my future plans.
 
twist said:
Communication problems shouldnt be an issue as youd be MFing anyway?
Click to expand...

I rely on AF most of the time - even if I try to use MF - but I wear eye glasses and even if I take them off and set the diopter I'm never too sure that I get the close focus spot on if I use MF

I'm going to give the 300mm f4 a go with the V1 this morning, but we had a night of rain and it's still quite dull

Mike - generally I am finding that I need a 300mm to enjoy my close up photography - I have tried 105mm - it is OK for stuff that stays sill for minutes ……. but not for Dragonflies or Butterflies …. the same really with a 150mm ……… I have started to look at the Sigma 180mm f2.8 as you can use that with the Sigma TC x 1.4 or even 2 - but the lens is over £1k and the TC £300 …… so could be £1,500 "all up" and I don't want to make a mistake ……… I really want a 300mm Micro from Nikon ……… but it does not exist and I think never will …. so my best plan is to try to improve the 300mm f4 that I have.
 
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Bill, on the V1, the 105mm will have an EFL close to 300mm.

Biggest problem (or smallest!) is the microscopically shallow DoF at maximum aperture and closest focus distance. Knock it back to f/8 and it's better but still shallowness rather than depth of field!
 
Nod said:
Bill, on the V1, the 105mm will have an EFL close to 300mm.

Biggest problem (or smallest!) is the microscopically shallow DoF at maximum aperture and closest focus distance. Knock it back to f/8 and it's better but still shallowness rather than depth of field!
Click to expand...

Nod

taken today with the V1 + D300 f4 - and it was windy, (get my excuse in early)

taken as a "fine" jpegs

Immature Male Broad-bodied Chaser - I still think that it is a Immature male although others think it's a female
Libellula depressa

f8
Imm_BBC.jpg



and a very very very small Butterfly…… big as your thumb nail the Idas Blue

f5
idas_blue.jpg


crop from above
micro.jpg
 
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The only shot I have comparable to that was one I took of my XF-1 Fuji compact from about 30' using a 600mm f/4 and 1.4x telecom on the AW1 with the FT-1. Filled the frame!
 
Nod said:
The only shot I have comparable to that was one I took of my XF-1 Fuji compact from about 30' using a 600mm f/4 and 1.4x telecom on the AW1 with the FT-1. Filled the frame!
Click to expand...

Thanks Nod

I was one to two meters away - V1 +FT1 + 300mm f4, which is quite a light weight set up - I used a CF travel tripod

presumably yours was AW1 +FT-1 + 600m f4 + TC14 …………… not sure what a XF-1 Fuji compact is …….. but from 30' that would be good

That's why I cannot see my improving on the above with a macro lens as I cannot really get closer than 1 or 2 meters
 
Yup, that was the rig. I managed a shot balanced on my knee but the light levels were extremely low (subject lit by a single LED torch from about 50cm) so I whacked it on a tripod for a decent test. Even then I needed ISO 1600!
This was the result-
DSC_0235 by gpn63, on Flickr
and this was the rig (taken just before the light vanished!)
DSCF3760 by gpn63, on Flickr
 
I've tried the V1 with my 300mm f2.8 ……… but as I normally stop down to f8, especially with the V1, the quality of the 300mm f4 lens is (almost) as good as the f2.8 - in my eyes anyway

I misunderstand you re the Fuji - i.e. you took an image of it …… did not use it as part of you equipment
 
Indeed, it was the subject when I took the long lens shot and the camera when I took the shot of the rig.
 
I have the FT-1 and Sigma 105 2.8 (push/pull) combo. My wife's J1 batteries went flat the other week so she used my V1 and the Sigma. She struggled a bit with the 105 due to not really ever using Manual focus. I quite like the combination myself.
 
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