Gearhead 4

T-8 days

Nikon 1 V1 Kit, May 2012

I've been writing about how I chose the photography gear for this trip, and have described the two "traditional" choices: DLSR or point and shoot. I put "traditional" in quotes, as some of the greatest - maybe the greatest - landscape photographs of all time were taken with large and bulky view cameras, which dwarf my DLSR kit by an enormous factor. but in today's world, and with my skill set, these are my options. However, the camera manufacturers have recently begun selling an in-between class of camera which offers (compared to P&S) much bigger sensors, much more flexible controls, interchangeable lenses in a (compared to a DLSR) much smaller package. They accomplish this by combining an in-between sensor size with no mirror and the result is a camera that weighs perhaps have of my DLSR, with lenses that are even smaller (relatively speaking).

Nikon came out with its Nikon 1 camera line last year comprised of two cameras (J1 and V1) and four lenses. I got the V1, which is the more advanced of the two and has a pretty good viewfinder, along with three of the lenses. This whole kit weighs a drop less than my Nikon D7000 body alone. And it blows the P&S class of camera away as a tool for landscape photography, although still is limited compared to the DLSR. But for hiking or other times when weight is a concern, I take ~8 lbs out of my pack using this.

The V1 wouldn't be my first choice for landscape. There are still limitations compared to the DLSR, starting with the smaller sensor and therefore less dynaminc range and sensitivity to light. The lens selection is also limited - I have the full set (the fourth lens Nikon offers is designed me for video than stills). But I can attach (again with some feature restrictions) many of my existing Nikon lenses, which makes it particularly useful as a backup camera to the D7000.

So there you have it. I'll be traveling with not just one, but two cameras and kits on this trip. The V1 adds less than two pounds to the carry-on load, and I don't expect I'll be carrying both kits around while we're out and about. The D7000 will get most of the action for recording the wonders in the parks, the V1 will be in the bag for the serious hiking and when we go out for dinner.