Home · Register · Join Upload & Sell

Moderated by: Fred Miranda
Username  

  New fredmiranda.com Mobile Site
  New Feature: SMS Notification alert
  New Feature: Buy & Sell Watchlist
  

FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

  

Archive 2016 · Nikon1 J5

  
 
Norm Shapiro
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Nikon1 J5


I use Nikon1 V1 cameras for some of my professional work. Has anyone used the new J5 camera and can tell me how it is in low light situations? So far Nikon only sells it in this country with a kit lens and I'm reluctant to buy a body only from Japan or elsewhere until I know what to expect. Thanks


Feb 06, 2016 at 02:07 PM
mmurph
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Nikon1 J5


The J5 uses a Sony sensor. It looks like it is the best sensor in a Nikon 1 so far. But is still about equivalent to previous Sony RX100 models. DxO compares it to Version 1 from 2012.:

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Nikon/1-J5


As far as low light..... it will really depend on your expectations, and your tolerance for noise. I have owned the V2, J3, and J4. The J4 had lower noise than the previous models. But I found the noise bothersome even at ISO 800 (without noise reduction in post.)


The J5 is rated at 479 ISO, the J4 at 426, and the V1 at 346. ISO numbers are alittle hard to evaluate directly, it would be better to convert to EV values. But going from 346 to 479 isn't a huge jump.

http://www.dxomark.com/Cameras/Compare/Side-by-side/Nikon-1-J5-versus-Nikon-1-J4-versus-Nikon-1-V1___1025_950_745


ETA: The 1/3 stop marks are: 320, 400, 500

So 426 to 479 is way less than 1/3 of a stop. 346 to 479 is more than 1/3, less than 2/3.

http://www.scantips.com/lights/exposurecalc.html

+++

What larger sensor camera do you have now? DxO rates the J5 at 479 ISO- that is the point where:

An SNR value of 30dB means excellent image quality. Thus low-light ISO is the highest ISO setting for a camera that allows it to achieve an SNR of 30dB while keeping a good dynamic range of 9 EVs and a color depth of 18bit



A general rule of thumb is that from 1" to M 4/3 to APS-C to full frame, each step is about equivalent to a 1 stop improvement in noise (with some room for quibbling, depending on the specific model year, etc.)

I find ISO 3200 acceptable for event photos in low light on APS-C- my Nikon D5300 for example.

That would be equivalent to 6400 ISO on the D750, 1600 ISO on my M 4/3 (Panasonic G7), and 800 ISO on a J4 or J5.

On the other hand, when shooting a musical event/ portraits in daylight, the images from my D750 at 800 ISO looked great. I was not as happy with the 800 ISO images from my Panasonic G7 (M 4/3) when looking at them side-by-side. Maybe if I didn't have the D750 images ...

Here is a table of cameras sorted by the Sports Score at DxO. These nenmbers obviously aren't gospel, but they are a good guide:

http://www.dxomark.com/best-cameras-for-sports


You can dowmload samples of different cameras at different ISO's at DPReview to compare for yourself:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/studio-compare


+++

I have to say, I was a studio photographer for a number of years. I also used to shoot 6x7 film, because I couldn't stand 35 mm grain. My bias from that time is that ISO 400 is pretty fast and grainy, so you will have to calibrate to your own expectations.

The J4 on sale here was a pretty good value about 9 months ago. You might look at that if ISIO is your only criterion? Or wait for a J6, and the J5 to go on sale?

Good luck!








Feb 06, 2016 at 05:43 PM
Norm Shapiro
Offline
• • •
Upload & Sell: Off
p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Nikon1 J5


Thanks for the input. Most of my work these days is with D300s bodies in Jacobson Sound Blimps. And even at high ISO my editors tell me everything looks good. Sometimes for Behind The Scenes work to V1 is much better due to its much smaller footprint. But I don't like to use them much over ISO 800. The other night I was working at night on a street scene and had to use the blimped bodies where maybe a J5 might have worked. I've talked to NPS but they do not have J5 loaners.

I'm a little annoyed that in the US Nikon is only selling J5's with a lens, since I already have plenty of lenses at this time.



Feb 06, 2016 at 06:32 PM
mmurph
Offline
• • • •
Upload & Sell: On
p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Nikon1 J5


It looks like BuyDig has the refurbished Nikon 1 J4 on eBay for $200 shipped:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nikon-1-J4-Mirrorless-Digital-Camera-with-10-30mm-Lens-Silver-/331769840513?hash=item4d3f060381:g:LNYAAOSwa-dWsqRZ


The J5 starts around $370 on eBay. Or buy the kit for $500 at Adorama, then sell the lens for $75? It looks like you also get a $25 credit, so about $400 net.

I liked my J4, but I decided not to shoot any more cameras without an EVF.

I sold mine with the underwater kit for about $210, a little less than I paid for it on clearance. Just too many cameras! (I am back up to 9 cameras again. )

There was a J4 for sale here about 2 weeks ago for about$170, but that was withdrawn.

Good luck! Let us know how you make out. Off to bed.

Cheers!



Feb 07, 2016 at 12:54 AM





FM Forums | Nikon Forum | Join Upload & Sell

    
 

You are not logged in. Login or Register

Username       Or Reset password



This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.