Jack,
if you took the same image with your V3 - 70-300mm do you think your crop would hold up for an 8 1/2 x 11 print? If it would, my A77-Minolta 400mm would probably be on its way to a new home on Monday.
D Williams,
Now that is a tough question.
My first reaction is:
1. From a MP point of view it would be close. Danny's 24MP file at equiv 750mm with the APS-C sensor was a 5.9 MP image after cropping (or a little over 1500mm equiv). A V3 18MP file with the CX sensor shot at 810mm would be around 5.2 MP to get to the 1500mm equiv. My guess is both files would print very well at 8x10.
2. But only in very good light! Danny's shot was at ISO100 and the best the V3 could do would be ISO 160. And the APS-C sensor has far less noise than the CX. On a cloudy day, the ISO difference would show up and the Nex 7 file would print better for sure.
3. The other factor is the focus issue. Danny's MF technique is unique and extraordinary. Trying to match that with an AF system is a challenge. The Nikon 1, from what we have seen in our recent tests with the V2/V3, would outperform the A77 AF system (we had one for a couple weeks prior to the A77m2 release). We then had a A77m2 for a brief time and my sense is that it may very well be a better AF for BIF than the N1. If you couple your slightly faster Minolta 400mm (f4.5) with the A77m2, you may well have a better birding setup for AF than the V3/70-300CX (f5.6). We were going that route until the size/weight issue "pulled us back to earth".
Looking at your gear list, I would seriously think about renting a N1 system for a week or two before selling anything!
Interesting question, for sure!
Good luck . . .
Jack
