The Photographer’s Guide to the 1 V1/J1

A practical approach to using Nikon’s advanced compact cameras

Luminescence of Nature™ Press www.luminescentphoto.com Jason P. Odell, Ph.D. The Photographer’s Guide to the /J1 First Edition 2012 Published in the United States by Luminescence of Nature Press Colorado Springs, CO 80923 www.luminescentphoto.com

ISBN 978-1-4675-1987-8

©2012 Jason P. Odell

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission by the publisher, with the exception that owners of this eBook are permitted have a single copy printed for personal use. I authorize single copies of this eBook to be printed by commercial printing services, including but not limited to: FedEx Office®, Office Depot®, and OfficeMax®.

All photos by and © Jason P. Odell unless otherwise indicated.

Trademarks All terms in this book that are known to be trademarks or service marks have been appropriately capitalized.

Nikon and are registered trademarks of Nikon Corporation, Japan. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft, Corp. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.

Disclaimer This book is not sponsored by Nikon Corporation. It is intended to provide information about the Nikon 1 System cameras. Every effort has been made to make the information contained in this book as reliable as possible, but no warranty of fitness is implied. The author and publisher shall not be responsible in any way for any damages or loss of data arising from the information contained in this book. Preface

To my family, without whom I’d never have picked up a Nikon 1 camera.

iii The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

About This Book

Why an eBook? The electronic book format has some significant advantages over its printed counterparts. Electronic books allow me to deliver my content around the world nearly instantly, thanks to the Internet. My books have features you can’t get in print, like bookmarks, cross-references, and Internet links. Clicking a Table of Contents or Index entry will take you directly to that page. Clicking hyperlinks in this book, which are visible in bold blue text, will take you either to a cross- referenced page, or to a website on the Internet. This added level of interaction is something I hope makes this book easy to use.

Printing This Book In the copyright notice of this book (page ii), I’ve indicated that you, as an owner of this book, are entitled to make a printed copy for personal use. I’ve deliberately made the pages a size that will fit on either US Letter or A4 paper for printing. I suggest printing two pages per sheet in landscape orientation starting at page 2 (omit the cover page); this will keep related topics together. You may wish to print the appendix (pages 312-318) and cover page separately as they are iv Preface formatted for single-sheets. If you wish to print double- sided, format your printer for short-edge binding, two sheets per page.

If you take this book to a commercial printer, chances are that their software will try to extract the pages from the PDF file, which is a protected function. For best results, have your printer print the book using Adobe Acrobat’s built-in options for booklet or multiple page printing. Should a commercial print service deny you a printed copy due to copyright issues, refer them to the copyright page in this book.

What if You Lose the Book? Honestly, I’m not responsible for how you choose to back up your files. If you purchased this book as an electronic download, I strongly recommend making a back-up copy onto a CD or DVD. Treat this book just as you would any other book in your library. The authors are not liable for hard drive failures!

System Requirements This eBook is in Adobe PDF format, and requires Adobe Reader for the best viewing experience. Adobe Digital Editons is not supported.

v The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

eReader Compatibility This book should be viewable on an Apple iPad and other eBook readers that support PDF viewing. However, I cannot guarantee the proper functionality of bookmarks and hyperlinks, as it will depend on your reader software. For maximum compatibility with Apple devices, I recommend using either iBooks or GoodReader. You can transfer the book to your iPhone/ iPad via iTunes.

If you purchased this book as a digital download, I recommend extracting the files from the parent ZIP archive and immediately backing them up to CD-ROM or DVD.

Technical Support If you are having difficulty viewing the PDF content, please first check that you are using the latest version of Adobe Reader and that you have unzipped the contents of the download folder. If that doesn’t solve your issue, please email [email protected]

vi Preface

Other PDF eBooks by Jason P. Odell

• The Photographer’s Guide to Capture NX2

• The Photographer’s Guide to Digital Landscapes

• The Photographer’s Guide to Silver Efex Pro 2

• The Photographer’s Guide to HDR Efex Pro (with Tony Sweet)

• Field Notes: A Photographic Journey

All of Jason’s eBooks are available for direct download from Luminescence of Nature™ Press.

vii The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

Contents About This Book iv Introduction 14 Nikon 1 System Camera Comparison 20 Objective of This Book 23 1: Getting Started 26 Parts of the Camera 27 External Controls 34 Initial Setup 36 Battery 36 Lenses 39 Installing a Memory Card 40 Software Menus: Basic Navigation Tools 44 Completing Setup 46 Powering up Your Camera 46 Setting Camera Date and Time 48 Firmware Version and Updates 51 Adjusting the LCD and Electronic Viewfinder 52 On-Screen Display Information 55 Other Items in the Setup Menu 58 Image Format and Appearance Options 60 Selecting a File Format 60 Controlling Image Appearance 67 Picture Controls 67 Adjusting Picture Controls 71 2: Still Images 84 Still Image Mode 85 Choosing a Type (V1) 87 Frame Advance Modes 91 Focusing the Camera 94

viii Preface

Focusing Scenarios: Combining AF Area Selection with Focus Modes 103 The AF Assist Lamp 106 Controlling 107 and Image Sharpness 110 Aperture and Depth of Field 112 Camera Sensitivity: ISO Settings 116 Noise Reduction 120 Metering Modes 124 Matrix Metering 124 Center-weighted Metering 125 Spot Metering 125 Exposure Modes 126 Program Auto Exposure Mode (P) 127 Aperture-priority Auto Exposure Mode (A) 128 Shutter-priority Auto Exposure Mode (S) 131 Exposure Compensation and Auto Exposure 134 Locking Exposure: The AE/AF-L Button 135 Manual Exposure Mode 137 Active D-Lighting 145 White Balance 147 Changing Camera Settings Between Camera Modes 154 Scene Auto Selector Mode: The Ultimate Point and Shoot Option? 155 Scene Modes 155 Limitations of Scene Auto Selector Mode 158 Timer and Remote Options 159 Setting the Self-Timer 159 Using the ML-L3 Infrared Remote 160 Advanced: Interval Timer Shooting 163 Reviewing Still Images 166 Handling the Nikon 1 Cameras 166 Recommended Settings for Still Images 169

ix The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

3: Imaging Workflow 170 Reviewing Images 171 Deleting Images 175 Rating Images 179 In-Camera Image Editing Options 183 Resizing Images 183 Cropping Images 184 D-Lighting 186 Presenting Your Images 186 Slide Shows 186 Using a Television Monitor for Playback 188 Printing Images From Your Camera 190 Direct Printing 190 DPOF Print Orders 191 Transferring and Viewing Images on Your Computer 192 4: Smart Photo Selector 196 Using Smart Photo Selector Mode 199 Recommended Settings for Smart Photo Selector Mode 204 5: Movies 206 Movie Mode 207 Capturing Movies 208 Shooting (Movie) Menu 210 Exposure and Metering Options when Capturing Video 214 Focusing in Movie Mode 216 Recording Sounds 217 Slow Motion Video Capture 219 Capturing Stills While in Movie Mode 221 Picture Controls and Movies 221 Fade In/Out Options 222 In-Camera Movie Editing Options 222 Clip Editing 223

x Preface

Movie Playback 225 Using a Television Monitor for Movie Playback 226 Recommended Settings for Movie Mode 227 6: Motion Snapshots 228 Capturing Motion Snapshots 229 Limitations of Motion Snapshots 231 Playing Motion Snapshots 231 Recommended Settings for Motion Snapshots 233 7: Photography 234 Deploying the Built-in Flash (J1) 235 Connecting the SB-N5 (V1) 236 Controls & Software Menus 237 Fill Flash Modes 237 Slow Sync Flash 239 Flash Control Menu (V1) 242 Flash Photography and the Dual Exposure Concept 243 Flash Compensation 245 Common Flash Scenarios 246 Scenario #1: Outdoor Fill Flash 246 Scenario #2: Dragging the Shutter 249 Scenario #3: Creating Subject Isolation With Flash 250 Other Flash Settings 251 Choosing ISO Settings With Flash 251 Bounce Flash With the SB-N5 253 Advanced: Triggering Off-Camera Speedlights With the SB-N5 254 Motion Snapshots and Best Image Selector 255 Troubleshooting the SB-N5 Speedlight 256

xi The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

8: Accessories 258 1-Nikkor Lenses 259 SB-N5 Speedlight Flash Unit 263 GP-N100 GPS Unit 264 ME-1 External Microphone 271 FT1 F-Mount Adapter 271 TA-N100 Tripod Adapter 275 Optional Screw-in Grips 275 Remote Release ML-L3 276 AS-N100 Accessory Shoe Adapter (V1) 277 EH-5B AC Adapter 277 BS-N1000 Replacement Shoe Cover (V1) 278 Other Accessories 279 9: Troubleshooting 280 Troubleshooting Common Symptoms 282 Problems with the Camera Display 282 Problems During Image Capture 282 Exposure Warnings 284 Resetting the Menus 284 Resetting the Camera 284 Warning Dialogs 285 Mapping Hot 290 Troubleshooting Lenses 290 Battery/Charger Issues 291 Memory Card Errors 292 Cleaning the Image Sensor 293 Sending Your Camera to Nikon For Service 295

xii Preface

Index 298

Appendix 312 Recommended Settings for Still Images 313 SB-N5 Maximum Range 314 J1 Built-in Flash Range 314 Hyperfocal Distances for the Nikon 1 System (meters) 315 Hyperfocal Distances for the Nikon 1 System (feet) 316 Nikon 1 Exposure Characteristics with Auto ISO 317

xiii Introduction

Welcome to the Nikon 1 System.

Lone shell, Canaveral National Seashore, FL. Nikon 1 V1 with 10 mm f/2.8 1-Nikkor lens. Introduction

As a photographer with a family, my camera is either a source of pleasure or a source of conflict. Any time I go on a family trip, I’m forced to make a decision. Do I bring the DSLR and one or two zoom lenses, or do I bring my compact camera? While compact cameras have certainly improved over the years, they almost always compromise image quality and performance for simplicity. With a family trip coming up, I thought about the trade-offs I’d have to make between my DSLR and a traditional compact camera: • Form factor: Big and Heavy vs. Small and Light

• Sensor size: Large (36 x 24 mm) vs. Small 1/1.7” (7.6 x 5.7 mm)

• File Format: RAW or JPEG vs. JPEG only

• Performance: Fast vs. Slow

• Shutter Lag: Imperceptible vs. Noticeable

• Lenses: Interchangeable vs. Fixed

• Low-light Performance: Excellent vs. Average to Poor

• Ease of use: Complex vs. Simple I realize that some of these trade-offs are subjective, and I’m not here to present the data for what I perceive to be differences in image quality between a $2500 DSLR and a $400 compact camera. When it was all said

15 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

and done, I realized that with my traditional compact, what frustrated me most was that I’d frequently miss capturing “the moment.” When I’m with my family on vacation, I want to capture my son’s fleeting smile as he experiences Disneyland for the first time.

I knew that for a family vacation I wanted good image quality, but that I’d be willing to trade-off some of the performance features of my for a camera that wouldn’t break my neck and back traversing Fantasyland. Taking pictures is more fun when your wife isn’t rolling her eyes at you while you fiddle with camera settings. It’s also nice to be able to hand my camera to a friend or relative and just say “push this button” without having to explain the nuances of back- button AF. Last, while I certainly enjoy printing large images, most of the shots I get on a vacation are ones that I’m going to share digitally, on Facebook, via Flickr, or on Google+.

Traditionally, the trade-off for simplicity in compact cameras was missed shots. The slow focus systems of most compact digital cameras coupled with their significant shutter lag and slow frame advance rates (less than one frame per second) makes it hard to capture

16 Introduction those special moments. And while I was willing to accept lower image quality with a compact camera, there was always that nagging voice in the back of my head asking if I should have just packed the DSLR after all.

When Nikon announced its 1 System, a new line of compact cameras with interchangeable lenses, I was frankly less than impressed. I was originally hoping that the rumors of Nikon developing a mirrorless, interchangeable lens camera would materialize into a compact camera with a relatively large sensor and features friendly to DLSR users like myself. Instead, Nikon announced that their mirrorless compact would have a new sensor format smaller than micro four-thirds, and I concluded that the 1 System cameras were not for me. And then a funny thing happened. I tried one.

Nikon describes the 1 System as an “Advanced Camera with Interchangeable Lens.” It has no mirror box or pentaprism viewfinder, so it is much smaller than any DSLR. The Nikon 1 sensor is “CX” format, with dimensions of 13.2 x 8.8 mm. This is significantly smaller than what other manufacturers use in their mirrorless compacts, but seems huge when compared to

17 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

the 1/1.7” and smaller sensors in most compact digital cameras (and smartphones). It uses interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount), but can accept Nikon F-mount lenses with an adapter unit.

What really sold me on the Nikon 1 System, though, was its sheer responsiveness. The AF system is shockingly swift in all but the worst light, and the shutter lag is essentially nil. Combine the fast focusing with a standard continuous advance of five frames per second, and you’ve got a small, light camera that won’t miss shots. Of course, Nikon added in lots of other features designed to make the 1-series cameras (J1 and V1) appeal to the casual shooter, and many of these features will seem frivolous to experienced photographers. However, for someone like myself who often frustrated by the trade-offs between a compact camera and a DSLR, the differences suddenly got a lot smaller, as illustrated in the following table:

18 Introduction

Comparison of Nikon Cameras

Nikon D700 Nikon 1 V1 Coolpix P7100

Dimensions 147 x 123 x 77 113 x 76 x 43.5 116.3 x 76.9 x (W x H x D) mm mm 48.0 mm

Weight 995 g 383 g 395 g (body only with battery)

Lens Nikon F mount Nikon 1 mount Fixed (interchangeable) (interchangeable) or Nikon F mount (with adapter)

Sensor Size Nikon FX format Nikon CX format 1/1.7” format (24 x 36 mm) (13.2 x 8.8 mm) (7.6 x 5.7 mm)

Resolution 12.1 10.1 10.1 (Megapixels)

ISO Range 200-6400 100-3200 100-3200 (standard)

Maximum 5 fps (RAW or 5 fps (RAW or 1.2 fps (JPEG) Frame Advance JPEG) JPEG) Rate (standard)

RAW format NEF (12 or 14-bit) NEF (12-bit NRW (8-bit) compressed)

Flash Built-in or shoe- Shoe mount only Built-in or shoe- mount mount

Video No Yes (1080p HD) Yes (720p HD)

19 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

The Nikon 1 V1 is nearly the same size and weight (without a lens) as the compact Coolpix P7100, but with faster speed and a much larger sensor area (116 mm2 vs. 43 mm2). Compared to the D700, it’s obvious that the CX sensor in the Nikon 1 System is much smaller, but it shoots 12-bit NEFs just as quickly (5 fps) and also captures HD video. Factor in the responsive autofocus performance (not something that a spec sheet shows), and you have a compelling option in a small package. Based on my subjective testing, I’d say that the Nikon 1’s autofocus system is at least as responsive as that in the D700 for most subjects.

Nikon 1 System Camera Comparison The Nikon 1 System currently has two camera models, the V1 and J1. Both cameras use the same 10.1 megapixel CX-format imaging sensor and are compatible with 1-Nikkor lenses. The fundamental differences between the V1 and J1 are as follows:

20 Introduction

Comparison Between Nikon 1 System Cameras

Feature J1 V1 Ramification(s)

Viewfinder Rear LCD Rear LCD and V1’s EVF allows more stable panel only Electronic hand-holding and better Viewfinder viewing in bright conditions. (EVF)

Shutter Electronic Electronic & J1 is limited to 1/60 sec. Mechanical flash sync

Battery EN-EL EN-EL 15 The V1 has higher battery 20 (1020 (1900 mAh) capacity and uses the same mAH) as battery as the Nikon D7000 and D800/E.

Flash Built-in Optional The SB-N5 is not included SB-N5 with the V1, but it offers swivel/bounce features and an LED illuminator.

Flash Modes TTL TTL or Manual The optional SB-N5 offers (SB-N5) a wider degree of output control for advanced users.

Accessory None Yes You can use optional shoe- shoe mount accessories on the V1, like the SB-N5 flash and GP-N100 GPS unit.

Accessory USB/HDMI USB(AV)/ The V1 can be used with Ports HDMI/ an external microphone Microphone for videos with sound, and connects to a standard TV.

Infrared Front only Front and Rear You can use the ML-L3 Receiver remote from behind the V1.

21 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

Comparison Between Nikon 1 System Cameras

Feature J1 V1 Ramification(s)

Buffer 19 NEF, up 44 NEF, up to The V1 is better suited for Capacity to 88 JPEG 100 JPEG burst shooting of action subjects, especially in RAW.

Multimedia HDMI only HDMI or AV The V1 will connect to a Connectivity connection. standard television with the supplied AV cable.

Available Black, Black only If this is important to you, Colors white, red, then so be it. pink, silver

Other than these primary differences the J1 and V1 perform nearly identically. I’ll point out specific differences along the way when necessary.

22 Introduction

Objective of This Book If you’ve purchased this book, chances are you’ve already got a V1 or J1 in your hands. My objective is to present a functional guide to these cameras for photographers. To that end, I will try to take a slightly different approach than simply rewriting the manual supplied with the camera. In fact, I assume you have a copy of the camera manual to use as a reference as needed (I put a PDF copy of it on my iPhone for quick reference).

My approach for this book centers on the functional use of the camera in a variety of situations. I will try to present information as to how the camera “thinks” so that you will understand the limits of what the camera can do. More importantly, I’ll try to present those limitations to you in such a way that you’ll know the proper work-arounds and settings for common shooting situations. I will also discuss advanced use of the V1, including using many of the optional accessories like the SB-N5 speedlight, GP-N100 GPS unit and FT1 F-mount adapter.

While I will spend some time discussing the video capabilities of the camera, this book isn’t about

23 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

videography and movie-making. However, having the ability to capture video in addition to stills is a compelling reason to have a Nikon 1 System camera around. Image processing techniques are also somewhat beyond the scope of this guide, but I will touch on in-camera settings and features for JPEG and RAW shooters, along with suggestions for I can carry my entire V1 kit in a small belt pack, optimizing image which makes it the perfect vacation camera. quality in post- processing.

What I want you to come away with after reading this guide is a greater comfort level with your camera. I

24 Introduction want you to know when to use Shutter Priority mode instead of Program Auto mode. I want you to know when to choose the electronic shutter and when to use the electronic viewfinder on the V1. You’ll also get a refresher course in the fundamentals of digital photography, because knowing about your camera’s features is one thing, but knowing how and when to use them is quite another.

25 1: Getting Started

In this chapter, we’ll take a look at the controls and features of the Nikon 1 cameras, and how to set them up for initial use.

Photo booth, Manitou Springs, CO. Nikon 1 V1 with 10-30 mm 1-Nikkor lens; stylizing effects added with Color Efex Pro 4.0 Getting Started

Parts of the Camera Let’s start with a brief overview of the external features of the Nikon 1 System cameras. Both the V1 and J1 are quite similar, except for the obvious electronic viewfinder on the Nikon 1 V1.

Front View (V1)

Microphones Infrared receiver

Multi-function front lamp: Lens Lens release button • AF-assist • Self-timer • Red-eye reduction

27 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

Front View (J1) Multi-function front lamp: • AF-assist • Self-timer • Red-eye reduction

Lens Release Infrared receiver Button

The J1 has nearly the same front features as the V1, only with slightly different placement (above). The J1 can deploy a pop-up flash (right). Images courtesy of Nikon USA.

28 Getting Started

Rear View (V1) Electronic Viewfinder Viewfinder Diopter Adjustment Zoom Toggle Switch Dial

Feature Button

Eye Proximity Display Button Mode Dial Sensor Playback Button

Multi Selector

OK Button

Camera Display (LCD) Menu Button Delete Button

Memory Card Access Lamp Rear Infrared Receiver

29 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

Rear View (J1)

Pop-up Flash Release Button

The rear panel of the is nearly identical to that of the V1. The biggest differences are the lack of EVF and the flash pop-up release button. Image courtesy of Nikon USA.

30 Getting Started

Top View (V1)

Accessory Shoe Port Speaker On/Off Button Record Button (covered)

Sensor Plane Mark Camera Power Shutter Release Button Status Lamp

Electronic Viewfinder

The top controls (on/off button, shutter release, and Record button are identical between the V1 and J1. The J1’s pop-up flash is located where the V1’s accessory port resides, on the top left of the camera.

31 The Photographer’s Guide to the Nikon 1 V1/J1

Bottom View

Battery/Card Chamber Door Tripod Socket Side View (V1)

Microphone Jack

Type-C HDMI port

Micro USB/AV Port

The interface ports on the V1 are on the left side of the camera.

32 Getting Started

Side View (J1)

Interface Ports (covered) HDMI and Micro USB

The Nikon 1 J1 has its interface ports on the right side of the camera, and lacks a microphone jack. Image courtesy of Nikon USA.

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