Backyard Nature in New Jersey: Small Winter Birds on Christmas Eve.
I attached a 600 mm f/4 VR lens to the Nikon 1 V2 camera using the FT1 adapter. This was then set up on a tripod with a Gimble head on my back deck. Because of the small size of the digital sensor on the N1V2, this combination has a field of view (FOV) equivalent to a 1620 mm lens on a full size (35 mm) digital sensor. I wanted to see what type of images I could get, especially of small birds. There is more noise with the small sensor (and I think more noise with the N1V2 than the N1V1).
Dark-eyed “Slate-colored” Junco. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 280, 600 mm, f/4, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)White-throated Sparrow. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 160, 600 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)White-throated Sparrow. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 720, 600 mm, f/4, 1/320 sec). (David J Mathre)Downy Wookpecker. Backyard Winter Nature in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera and 600 mm f/4 VR lens (ISO 160, 600 mm, f/5.6, 1/500 sec). (David J Mathre)
I caught this white-throated sparrow eating a red berry in my backyard. The Nikon 80-400 mm VR lens is probably my most used lens. It is light enough to be hand held, and gives the reach to get images of small birds.
White-throated sparrow. Image taken with a Nikon D2xs camera and 80-400 mm VR lens (ISO 400, 400 mm, f/6, 1/160 sec). (David J Mathre)
Late Fall Night Sky Anomaly. Super-Nova or Geminid Meteor Coming at Me?
The sky was clear Thursday night. I had three cameras out to capture Geminid meteor trails. Friday night the sky was also clear, so stayed up again to capture any late Geminid meteor trails. After being up two nights in a row, I really needed to catch up on some sleep. When I started to review the images today, I found an anomaly in the star trail image between 2-3 AM Friday morning. The images for this composite were taken on a Nikon D4 with a 14-24 f/2.8 lens. I have trouble with condensation on this lens and this night was no different and because it was cold frost formed on the center on the lens. The result is that light getting to the center of the image is significantly attenuated. I didn’t expect to see anything in the center area because of the frost — but there was one bright star. The unusual star is actually brighter than Sirius. I went back and reviewed the individual images, and found that this “star” only appeared at 02:19 AM — not before and not after. I checked the images from the other two cameras. The D800 with a 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens covered the same space, and indeed it also captured the same anomaly. I didn’t see any news about a super-nova, so did I capture an image of a Geminid meteor coming right at me? Good thing that they burn up in the atmosphere!!
Late Fall 02:00 to 03:00 AM Sky Star Trail (with anomaly) in New Jersey. Composite of 60 Images taken with a Nikon D4 and 14-24 mm f/2.8G lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec) using Star Trails. (David J Mathre)Late Fall 02:18 AM Sky in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 14-24 mm f/2.8G lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec). (David J Mathre)Late Fall 02:19 AM Sky (with anomaly) in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 14-24 mm f/2.8G lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec). (David J Mathre)Late Fall 02:20 AM Sky in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D4 and 14-24 mm f/2.8G lens (ISO 200, 14 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec). (David J Mathre)Late Fall 02:18 AM Sky in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec). (David J Mathre)Late Fall 02:19 AM Sky (with anomaly) in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec). (David J Mathre)Late Fall 02:20 AM Sky in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon D800 and 16 mm f/2.8 fisheye lens (ISO 200, 16 mm, f/2.8, 59 sec). (David J Mathre)
Turkey Vulture in a tree waiting to warm in the morning sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). I think I am going to like this camera.
Turkey Vulture in a Tree Waiting to Warm in the Morning Sun. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/1600 sec). (David J Mathre)
Late-Autumn Nature in New Jersey. Sourland Mountain Preserve.
The mirror-less Nikon 1 V1 (N1V1) camera has been upgraded to the Nikon 1 V2 (N1V2). The first thing that I noticed about the N1V2 is that it is smaller than the N1V1. Ergonomically, it is easier to handle. The mode selector has been moved to the top — it was on the back of the N1V1 in a position that was too easy to accidentally change modes. A couple of negatives – the battery is new, and lower capacity than the battery in the N1V1. Also, the interval timer mode has disappeared. I won’t be able to take time-lapse videos with this camera. I took the camera out for a walk at the Sourland Mountain Preserve this morning and caught this Mallard duck taking off from the pond. I don’t know if it plans to stay for the winter, or is about to go south.
Male Mallard Duck Taking Off from a Pond in the Sourland Mountain Preserve in New Jersey. Image taken with a Nikon 1 V2 camera FT1 adapter and 70-200 mm f/2.8 VRII lens (ISO 160, 200 mm, f/2.8, 1/2000 sec). TIFF image process with Capture One Pro 7. (David J. Mathre)
