Wild roses (1)

Wild Roses

Nikon D300s + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f/8, 1/125 secs, ISO 800

Himalayan Bulbul, Pycnonotus leucogenys

Himalayan Bulbul, Pycnonotus leucogenys

Nikon D300s + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f/5.6, 1/200 secs, ISO 800

Rajma, shot and eaten

Rajma in the making

Nikon D300s + 85 1.8G
f/1.8, 1/100 secs, ISO 1600

Just playing around with the new 85 1.8G (AF-S Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 G) at home. The beans were shot, and then eaten! The poor lot!

This is one of the initial steps in making a pretty popular Indian dish, called Rajma. A quick google throws up a bunch of recipes on how to go about preparing it, very frequently combined with boiled rice, as 'Rajma Chawal'.

V1 @ Schwanthalerstraße, Munich

Schwanthalerstraße, Munich

Nikon 1 V1 + 10-30 VR
f/5.6, 1/640 secs, ISO 100

A brightly painted wall on Schwanthalerstraße, Munich. I could not decide whether to crop in closer to the wall, but lose the context, i.e. the fact that it fits into a more 'regular' street and building, with regular balconies ... but still puts on display some pretty random artwork ... from a giant dripping tap, to fish on a plate, and so many other bits and pieces ... including the 'struggle continues' ... while we can gaze and guess the obvious ones, it would be very interesting to hear what the artist(s) had in mind.

Comparing Nikon Supertelephoto Lenses

Came across this sometime back ... this is a video of  Roger Cicala from http://www.lensrentals.com where he compares a bunch of the big guns from Nikon.

On display are (in order) ... Nikkor 80-400mm AF VR f/4.5-5.6D ED, Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/4D IF-ED, Sigma 50-500mm f/4-6.3 EX DG HSM (the Bigma!), Nikkor AF-S 300mm f/2.8G ED VR II, Sigma 120-300mm f/2.8 EX DG HSM, Nikkor AF-S 200-400mm f/4G ED VR II, Nikkor AF-S 500mm f/4G ED VR and Nikkor AF-S 400mm f/2.8G ED VR.

If you get over the visual fest, then you can head to some of these sites for some reviews and views based on actual usage ...

@ ByThom ... http://www.bythom.com/nikkor-telephoto.htm
@ Natural Art Images ... http://www.naturalart.ca/artist/fieldtests/4waysto400.html

While I dream about some of these lenses all the time, a video like this puts things in perspective ... though it won't stop me from thinking about the 300 f2.8 or the 500 f4 ... hmmm! Nor will it stop me from enjoying such lewd videos ...  :)

Also, remember that the Nikon 1 V1 with the FT1 adapter and the Nikon 70-300 VR gets you a light, compact and cheap (though slow)  189mm - 810mm zoom lens with vibration reduction, that you can almost run a race with ... the whole package is smaller than the smallest lens in this video ...

Theresienwiese, Munich

Theresienwiese, Munich

Nikon 1 V1 + 10-30 VR
f/3.5, 1/13 secs, ISO 400

If you have visited Munich during the Oktoberfest, then this may (or more probably may not) look familiar :)

V1 does Windows

V1 does Windows

Nikon 1 V1 + 30-110 VR
f/8, 1/250 secs, ISO 125

Intentionally OOF, 85 1.8G

Intentionally OOF

Nikon D300s + 85 1.8G
f/1.8, 1/30 secs, ISO 400

High Speed Chase

High Speed Chase

Nikon D300s + 70-300 VR + Canon 500D Close Up Lens
f/10, 1/250 secs, ISO 1600

V1 @ ISO 3200 (Universität, Munich)

Universität, Munich

Nikon 1 V1 + Nikon 1 10-30 VR @ 12.7mm
f/4.5, 1/10 seconds, ISO 3200

A quick grab while walking back from a coffee meet up ... and a short spin in LR 3.6 ... I like the V1 :)

A Blue Bell Bud

A Blue Bell Bud

Nikon D300s + 70-300 VR + Canon 500D Close Up Lens
f/10, 1/100 secs, ISO 1600

The Tightrope Walker (1)

The Tightrope Walker

Nikon D300s + 105 VR
f/10, 1/125 secs, ISO 1600

Gear: Cleaning lenses

Clean your lens correctly ... Whatever type of camera you use ... in all probabilities you have a lens sticking out in front of it (pin-hole users, please ignore the post) ... That lens collects its own set of souvenirs as you travel along and put your equipment to use ... in the form of dust, smudges and (hopefully not) scratches.

Here's an article that I had found recently on how one of the more popular lens rental companies clean their lenses ... and note that these guys clean lots and lots of lenses!

http://www.lensrentals.com/blog/2011/05/the-lensrentals-lens-cleaning-methods

This is possibly too 'hardcore' for most of us, but it gives you more than an idea on how to go about it!

Zaanse Schans (4)

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands

Nikon D300s + 16-85 VR
f/8, 1/50 secs, ISO 200

Zaanse Schans (3)

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands

Nikon D300s + 16-85 VR
f/8, 1/100 secs, ISO 800

Zaanse Schans (2)

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands

Nikon D300s + 16-85 VR
f/8, 1/25 secs, ISO 200

Zaanse Schans (1)

Zaanse Schans, Netherlands

Nikon D300s + 16-85 VR
f/8, 1/100 secs, ISO 200

Blossom-headed Parakeet at breakfast

Blossom-headed Parakeet, Psittacula roseata

Nikon D300s + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f/8, 1/320 secs, ISO 400
(Handheld. Shot in Dehradun, India, on 25th July, 2011)

Here are some more bird shots with this combination ...
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/04/red-vented-bulbul-pycnonotus-cafer-1.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/04/purple-sunbird-nectarinia-asiatica.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/himalayan-bulbul-pycnonotus-leucogenys.html

When combined with the FT1 and V1, this becomes 810mm ! See some attempts here ...
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/moon-nikon-1-v1-ft1-nikon-70-300-vr.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/blue-tit-with-v1.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/blue-tit-with-v1-2.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/04/v1-shoots-great-spotted-woodpecker.html

The Blue Tit, with a V1 (2)

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Another shot of the same bird. Not PPed in the most optimal way (as this is something I need to work on and become more patient with) and the twigs get in the way, but it was a hurried capture as this guy was in a rush, and I like the result. 

Being limited to AF-S with an FT1 is a bit of a pain ... and sometimes trying to focus repeatedly improves the results (it almost seems like after a good try, it stops to rest and leaves you to get after it again)

Gear: The big new 85mm

105 VR next to the 85 1.8G

 A quick size comparison between the reasonably hefty 105 VR Micro and the new 85 1.8G ... Ever since I returned a copy of one of the older versions, I knew I would get one again, specially if it got updated (so that I can use it on my wife's D3100 as well) ... Along with the 35 1.8G, this focal length makes for a nice two lens kit for me ... So I literally jumped to get the new 85mm ... and managed to get the only copy I could track in-store a few weeks back ... 

Of course, what was a bit of a surprise was the larger size compared to its ancestors ... the new 85mm is a bigger fellow ... as you can see it next to the 105 Micro above ... and you really only realise it when you have it in hand ... As a comparison point, you can see the non-D version (that I had) next to the tiny 24 2.8D below ... This also implies that one of the two tiny Lowepro pouches I used to carry this two lens combo is now useless for this purpose (the Nikon 1 30-110 sits in it now) ...

24 2.8D next to the older 85 1.8 (non-D)

But of course, no regrets, this is a great lens, and I am having fun with it ... even put it on the V1 with an FT1, and tried out the 500D close-up lens with this combo as well ... good fun. The facts that the lens hood is reversible and clicks into place (vs. screw into place in the older version) are also very welcome.

See some shots and other stuff related to the lens here ... (http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/search/label/85%201.8G) ... especially when combined with the V1 and FT1 (just for fun).

Gear: Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 70-300VR + Canon 500D close up lens

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 70-300VR + Canon 500D close up lens

A super macro set up ... great fun to play around with, but tripod recommended!

Check out some of the results I have obtained with this combination ...
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/euro-1-cent-coin-v1-macro.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/nikon-1-10-30-tab-macro.html

Gear: Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 70-300VR

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 70-300VR

A useful combination in decent light ... now if only some of the FT1 limitations could be done away with ...! Light weight and portable ...

Here are some results that I have obtained with this combination ...
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/04/v1-shoots-great-spotted-woodpecker.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/blue-tit-with-v1-2.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/blue-tit-with-v1.html
http://rohanthakursphotoblog.blogspot.de/2012/03/moon-nikon-1-v1-ft1-nikon-70-300-vr.html

Euro 1 cent coin, V1 macro

Euro 1 cent coin

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm + Canon 500D close up lens
f/8, 1/1000 secs, ISO 100
17th March 2012
(image is NOT cropped, handheld)

Nikon 1 10-30 tab (macro)

Nikon 1 10-30 alignment tab

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + 70-300 VR @ 300mm + Canon 500D close up lens
f/5.6, 1/50 secs, ISO 800
17th March 2012
(image is NOT cropped, handheld)

V1, and the new 85 1.8G via FT1 (1)

the table cloth

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 85mm 1.8G + Canon 500D close up lens
f/1.8, 1/50 secs, ISO 400


While playing around with the new 85mm 1.8 G, I realised that I could combine it with the 500D close up lens, and the Nikon V1 via the FT1 adapter ... and took this shot of the table cloth ... I am very happy with the sharpness and control over the depth of field that this combination is capable of ... not an all-weather macro ... but it does seem to have tremendous potential!

The Blue Tit, with a V1

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f/5.6, 1/125secs, ISO 400
18th March 2012
(handheld)

The Moon, with a V1

The Moon

Nikon 1 V1 + FT1 + Nikon 70-300 VR @ 300mm
f10, 1/60 secs, ISO 100
9th March 2012
(tripod)