Dilemma

Felice62 said:

Hi all,

I have a small N1 system (V2 + J5 +10-30+30-110) that I use seldom, although it fulfills quite well my expectations, mainly because of its compactness associated to a fairly acceptable IQ.

Now I have a question I would like to ask you as likely ‘serious’ N1 users

I am planning to leave for a 10 days safari with my family (including 2 young children) to Botswana.

My need is to pack the lightest acceptable set of gear and hopefully get some decent wildlife shots.

My options:

Take my m43 gear and that demands very little investment (need to purchase a 1.4 teleconverter for my 40-150 pro zoom to allow for the extra reach).

Or do it with the N1 systtem with the addition of a 70-300cx?

This is fairly more expensive than buying Olympus MC-14 but, on the other hand, the three lenses (10-30 + 30-110 + 70-300) would likely cover all my needs).

Is it worth investing 800€ in a ‘dead’ system?

Also none of the N1 bodies or lenses are rugged enough to withstand the harsh environment they’d be used in..

So what is your honest opinion in this respect?

Thanks to all of you taking the time to reply.

Felice

Click to expand...

André BARELIER said:

Felice62 said:

Hi all,

I have a small N1 system (V2 + J5 +10-30+30-110) that I use seldom, although it fulfills quite well my expectations, mainly because of its compactness associated to a fairly acceptable IQ.

Now I have a question I would like to ask you as likely ‘serious’ N1 users

I am planning to leave for a 10 days safari with my family (including 2 young children) to Botswana.

My need is to pack the lightest acceptable set of gear and hopefully get some decent wildlife shots.

My options:

Take my m43 gear and that demands very little investment (need to purchase a 1.4 teleconverter for my 40-150 pro zoom to allow for the extra reach).

Or do it with the N1 systtem with the addition of a 70-300cx?

This is fairly more expensive than buying Olympus MC-14 but, on the other hand, the three lenses (10-30 + 30-110 + 70-300) would likely cover all my needs).

Is it worth investing 800€ in a ‘dead’ system?

Also none of the N1 bodies or lenses are rugged enough to withstand the harsh environment they’d be used in..

So what is your honest opinion in this respect?

Thanks to all of you taking the time to reply.

Felice

Click to expand...

Click to expand...

JerrySussman said:

If I were in your situation, I wouldn't put any more money into the Nikon 1 system right now, especially since you have money in the very viable m43 world.

I'm in a similar situation. I have Nikon 1 equipment and Panasonic micro four thirds plus Panasonic four thirds equipment. I'm not buying anything new until I see what Nikon's mirrorless equipment turns out to be. Nobody knows if they'll only release FX, or if they'll release DX and/or CX as well. I'm taking a wait and see approach.

Click to expand...

Felice62 said:

Also none of the N1 bodies or lenses are rugged enough to withstand the harsh environment they’d be used in.

Click to expand...

Adrian Green said:

That’s not such a bad dilemma to have - whichever you choose you should have a great trip.

I took 2 V2’s, a V1 and a V3 on a 3 and a half week trip through Botswana and Namibia last year, with the 70-300mm, 10-100mm, 30-110mm (for macros, with an extension tube), 6.7-13mm, 32mm. Despite dust, rough tracks, camping, and using my gear in everything from windblown sand to neck high water, I had no kit fail. Some of that is luck, but I think not having to change lenses really helped. I would definitely recommend taking at least 2 bodies that share the same lens mount.

Maybe 75% of my safari pics were with the 70-300mm. Almost all my other pics were with the 10-100mm, and to be honest if I’d only taken those 2 lenses I’d have missed almost nothing. Having some spare lenses is useful insurance in case of a failure though, plus there’s nothing like great wildlife to make othe family members want to pic up you backup body and lens and start shooting

Even with the teleconverter I think you may well wish you had a longer lens if you go down the M43 route, especially for birds.

Adding or removing a TC in a safari vehicle as it repositions to get a clear shot of something spectacular involves juggling 3 parts (lens, body, TC) whilst trying to balance on a bumpy vehicle, whilst simultaneously trying to keep an eye out for the wildlife, your kids etc. You will miss some shots doing that if you go down the M43 route. You will also introduce more dust into your camera, increasing the chance of failure.

My experience was that I never felt held back by the quality of the 1 inch sensor in the conditions I met in Botswana.

If you are interested check out my Botswana pics at www.flickr.com/wildernessphotography

Click to expand...

Adrian Green said:

Whatever you eventually decide, have a great trip and take a lot of batteries and memory cards.

Click to expand...

Justin9999 said:

Felice62 said:

Also none of the N1 bodies or lenses are rugged enough to withstand the harsh environment they’d be used in.

Click to expand...

If your N1 system has an unacceptable risk of failure, don’t take it.

Size, weight, speed, IQ... none of that matters when your camera is broken.

Click to expand...

cyuill2007 said:

Seedeich's suggestions are good. Definitely click on the "Thom Hogan" link. Thom Hogan has written several posts on photo safaris he has run in Botswana in recent years. He has a number of interesting tips. One thing that you may want to heed is to try to avoid changing lenses as much as possible. Keep a long tele lens "permanently" mounted on one camera, and a wide-to-tele or wide lens "permanently" mounted on a second camera. This has to do with preventing dust and dirt ingress into the cameras, which happens easily on safaris. Also follow Hogan's advice on travelling with your gear. (Don't keep lenses attached to camera bodies while in transit to avoid lens mount breakage.)

As to reliability, my faith in Nikon 1 has been shaken by two of my 1 Nikkor lenses (30-110mm and 10-30mm) failing, within a few months of each other. My sense is that the Olympus cameras and lenses are more robust, and probably more reliable than most of the Nikon 1 gear. Especially that 40-150 pro lens. Do you have two m43 bodies? If so, put the 40-150 + converter on one and leave the lens on. Put a wider lens on the other, and leave that lens on.

Good luck with making a decision.

Click to expand...

Felice62 said:

Hi all,

I have a small N1 system (V2 + J5 +10-30+30-110) that I use seldom, although it fulfills quite well my expectations, mainly because of its compactness associated to a fairly acceptable IQ.

Now I have a question I would like to ask you as likely ‘serious’ N1 users

I am planning to leave for a 10 days safari with my family (including 2 young children) to Botswana.

My need is to pack the lightest acceptable set of gear and hopefully get some decent wildlife shots.

My options:

Take my m43 gear and that demands very little investment (need to purchase a 1.4 teleconverter for my 40-150 pro zoom to allow for the extra reach).

Or do it with the N1 systtem with the addition of a 70-300cx?

This is fairly more expensive than buying Olympus MC-14 but, on the other hand, the three lenses (10-30 + 30-110 + 70-300) would likely cover all my needs).

Is it worth investing 800€ in a ‘dead’ system?

Also none of the N1 bodies or lenses are rugged enough to withstand the harsh environment they’d be used in..

So what is your honest opinion in this respect?

Thanks to all of you taking the time to reply.

Felice

Click to expand...

Felice62 said:

--
----------------------------------
People who think they know everything are a great annoyance to those of us who do.

Click to expand...

chas d said:

Felice62 said:

Hi all,

I have a small N1 system (V2 + J5 +10-30+30-110) that I use seldom, although it fulfills quite well my expectations, mainly because of its compactness associated to a fairly acceptable IQ.

Now I have a question I would like to ask you as likely ‘serious’ N1 users

I am planning to leave for a 10 days safari with my family (including 2 young children) to Botswana.

My need is to pack the lightest acceptable set of gear and hopefully get some decent wildlife shots.

My options:

Take my m43 gear and that demands very little investment (need to purchase a 1.4 teleconverter for my 40-150 pro zoom to allow for the extra reach).

Or do it with the N1 systtem with the addition of a 70-300cx?

This is fairly more expensive than buying Olympus MC-14 but, on the other hand, the three lenses (10-30 + 30-110 + 70-300) would likely cover all my needs).

Is it worth investing 800€ in a ‘dead’ system?

Also none of the N1 bodies or lenses are rugged enough to withstand the harsh environment they’d be used in..

So what is your honest opinion in this respect?

Thanks to all of you taking the time to reply.

Felice

Click to expand...

I have the CX 70-300 and it is a great lens but there are issues with the reliability and repairability of N1 stuff now ( see one of the current threads ). I have had two kit lenses fail on me though, fortunately, the 70-300 and the 6.7-13 are still going.

I would only buy another CX 70-300 if I could get it under 300 GBP and from what you have said, you already have a good m43 kit with that superb 40-150 PRO glass. I've had and still have many m43 bodies and (cheaper ) lenses and have not had an issue with any of that kit.

In your position, as other people have posted I would take two + m43 bodies and leave the 40-150 +TC on one. I also don't like changing lenses in the field.

Is the pan 100-400 outside your budget ? not as bright as the CX 70-300 but you have at least 1 stop from 1 inch to m43 or nearly 2 if you have the em1 Mk2.

I use my N1 stuff for travel ( i.e. casual use on holidays ) but if I were going to somewhere with serious photo potential, I would want more confidence than I have in N1 on whether or not the gear's not going to break down. I would just take one change of clothes and somehow get my Nikon DSLRs + gear in by hook or by crook - or the m43 stuff again with two bodies as second choice.

Click to expand...

Member said:

1. chas d wrote:

Hello Felice

think I will be following my own advice and sell the 70-300 and get a 100-400. Replies to your post about this on the m43 forum just helped the decision for me.

Click to expand...