Kowa

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens cameras are popular because they are lightweight, compact and can capture high resolution images. Last year, Nikon introduced its first mirrorless camera, the Nikon 1 which has attracted attention as an excellent camera for bird and nature photography. This camera uses Nikon lenses that are mounted via the FT1 adapter. The maximum telephoto effect is approximately 2.7 times the focal length of the main lens. Of course, Kowa's PROMINAR 500mm F5.6 FL lens (known below as the PROMINAR 500mm) can also be used in the same way. This lens delivers telephotography equivalent to 1350mm/f5.6 using the TX10 mount, 945mm/f4 using the TX07 mount, and 2295mm/f9.6 using the TX17 mount. Large lens images are delivered through an extremely lightweight and compact camera and lens system which weighs only 2.5 kg. Therefore, the system can easily be used in the field.

The Nikon 1 has two versions: the J1 has no electronic viewfinder (EVF) and the V1 which has a built-in EVF. When used with the PROMINAR 500mm, the V1 is recommended as it is easier to use when following moving birds and mammals. Despite its small size, the weight balance of the Nikon 1 and the PROMINAR 500mm is compact enough to react and maneuver quickly thus enabling it to track the movements of birds and other wildlife. Since the camera is small, care must be taken while photographing to avoid unintentionally touching the dials or buttons on the rear of the camera.

The EVF of the Nikon 1 V1 provides an image that is easily seen so that even in a dark situation such as late in the evening or in a dark forest, the focusing peak is easier to find than with an optical viewfinder. Since the PROMINAR 500mm is capable of precise focusing using the manual focus ring, the camera and lens together are a perfect match.
Overall, the camera responds quickly and operates very efficiently. The time lag of the camera is very short and it takes up to five frames per second so the camera can capture any photo opportunity. However, the startup is relatively slow so it’s a good idea to turn the camera on in a sufficient amount of time prior to taking photographs.

The Nikon 1 incorporates both a mechanical shutter as well as an electronic shutter which is another element which makes this camera suitable for bird and wildlife photography. The electronic shutter allows photographs to be taken with almost no mechanical vibration. A camera with no mirror shock is a particularly welcomed feature especially when using slow shutter speeds when camera shake is a concern.

Although the resolution is not as high as that of digital single lens reflex cameras such as the Canon EOS-1D Mark IV, the Nikon 1 delivers satisfactory resolution. The resolution lies midway between SLR cameras and compact digital cameras.
When the camera is used with the PROMINAR 500mm lens at 1350mm/f5.6, the resolution improved compared to a single lens reflex camera when taking distant photos and cropping the results.
Although the smaller sized image sensor of the Nikon 1 may have more difficulty dealing with the demands of the lens compared to the image sensor of an SLR camera, the PROMINAR 500mm showed incredible resolution and the finer details of feathers were clearly seen. It was easy to see the influence of Kowa’s fluorite crystal lens.