Photographers have the power to reveal the origins of alien life on earth. All we need do is grab a camera, lens and some extension tubes (or a macro lens or close focusing filter) and ‘the truth’ will be revealed!
From what part of the solar system did this creature evolve? Perhaps those residual red markings are an indication of a Martian heritage.
Bright yellow in hue…camouflage from a hot, bright planet? Mercury?
The thick coat on this beast may reveal that it travelled to earth from a distant, cold planet. While it is no longer classified as such, Pluto comes to mind.
Frosty white with fur…perhaps beyond Pluto and still thawing out?
As humans, do we mimic and copy alien visitors? Those rakishly curved antennae perhaps inspired mankind’s first attempts to fashion ‘ape-hanger’ handlebars for their choppers.
Hmm…same thick fur that we have seen on other specimen. But wait…the colouring is different…brighter…highlighted ends! Could the origins of your local hair salon be alien?
All kidding aside, it can be a great, creative experience to grab your camera and head off to a butterfly conservatory in your local area. Go beyond capturing typical butterfly images of complete individuals. Take your extension tubes, macro lens, or close focusing filter with you. Try to get up close and very personal with the butterflies. When you do you’ll discover how surreal and alien they can appear. But be forewarned…you may no longer sleep well at night! These will not be ‘visions of sugar plums dancing in your head’.
All of the images in this short article were captured hand-held in available light with a Nikon 1 J5, 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 zoom lens, 21mm and 10mm MOVO extension tubes during a visit to the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory in Niagara Falls Canada. Manual camera settings were used along with Auto-ISO 160-3200. Single point auto-focus was used for all images. Photographs were produced from RAW files using my standard process of OpticsPro 11, CS6 and Nik Suite.
Article and all images are Copyright 2016 Thomas Stirr. All rights reserved. No use, adaptation or reproduction of any kind is allowed without written consent. Photography Life is the only approved user of this article. If you see it reproduced anywhere else it is an unauthorized and illegal use.
www.43rumors.com/
Hi Bengt,
This seems to be linked to the same rumor that has been floating around for a while. Until we see an official announcement from Nikon on the subject it remains in the rumor column.
Tom
If you count 10 days as “a while”, it has been floating around … I guess September will tell.
If Nikon had offered a 600 mm equivalent Nikon 1 prime, I would have invested in the Nikon 1 as well.
Hi Thomas,
I guess now it’s official. Tne Nikon 1 has been discontinued.
But, like you said, it doesn’t mean that it isn’t still an effective photographic tool.
With the DX format gaining some new attention and with the Micro 4/3 format producing excellent results on small objects requiering long lenses, it will be interesting to see what Nikon does next in mirrorless. I would like to see a top quality 400 mm f/4 DX prime lens for use with either DSLR or mirrorless.
Your successful use of extention tubes with the Nikon 1 is inspireing me to try the same thing on the E-M1 with the Zuiko 300mm lens.
Anyway, greetings and keep up the good work.
Hi Bengt,
I haven’t seen anything on that announcement yet. Have you got a link to an official Nikon announcement on this topic?
*shrugs* if this is true the news is rather uneventful for me anyway. As I’ve noted a few times on my blog and in replies to readers whether Nikon discontinued the Nikon 1 system or not will have no impact on my business for the next few years. I’ve been buying some additional bodies etc. to make sure that I could extend the life of my current system.
I’ll likely shop around to see if I can find a couple of good, used V2s to augment the three I already have, and perhaps pick up a third J5. Adding additional copies of the 10-100 f/4-5.6, 30-110 f/3.8-5.6 and 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 are also things I will likely consider doing. If I do supplement my existing system with that additional kit it will likely allow me to stretch my system for a further 2 years from what I currently had planned. After that point I’m pretty sure I won’t be doing any more client work at all so it won’t matter anyway. The depreciated book value on all of my Nikon 1 gear at that point will be minimal.
In the meantime I will continue to enjoy using the Nikon 1 gear I have and experiment with my photography.
Tom
I agree with you Thomas. I believe that Nikon has long been disappointed in the sales of the Nikon 1. Maybe they under-estimated the relationship between pixel size and Image IQ, though your excellent images do not support that conclusion. Judging from turists with DSLR cameras I believe that there is still some status attached to having a DSLR, especially since the weight of the smaller, mirrorless cameras is not reduced in proportion to the size. People who want small size and convenience appear to settle for a smart phone.
Using both DSLRs and mirrorless I conclude that the big difference is in AF speed. I am looking forward to the appearance of the new E-M1 II supposedly aiming at sports and wildlife, requiering DSLR type AF speed.
I would hate to see Nikon introduce yet another crop-factor/form-factor/lens-mount. We already have 4 different crop factors between and including 1.5 and 2.0.
I would prefer to see further development of the 1.5 DX system including mirrorless cameras and a broader selection of lenses. A high IQ 400 mm DX prime lens would fill a real void in the market.
I gladly buy new cameras and lenses when they offer better images. But I would abandon a manufacturer who tries to manipulate or reduce my choices.
P.S. A new line of mirrorless cameras will undoubtly use a shorter flange distance than the comperable DSLR, making it possible for third market manufacturers to provide lens mount adapters for use of older lenses, with or without an associated crop factor.
Hi Bengt,
Time will tell what is going to happen with the current Nikon 1 system. From a practical standpoint with my own business, it doesn’t much matter to me what Nikon decides to do with the Nikon 1 system in the near term.
The Nikon 1 system, while it may not be appropriate for many photographers, perfectly fits my needs. I have a sufficient number of Nikon 1 bodies and lens selection to take care of my clients needs for at least the next several years. After that I may stop doing client work and would need to reassess my camera needs at that time.
Tom
I think most people simple always want to have the “best”. To identify the best they look at numbers and in terms of benchmark numbers most Nikon 1 cameras doesn’t look so good. Nevertheless, if I look at your pictures @Tom it is clear that the Nikon 1 System does provide enough image quality for a lot of scenarios.
best regards
Markus
Hi Markus,
I think that ‘best’ is a relative term based on the specific needs of a particular photographer. What works well for one photographer may not be a good fit at all for the next. When I originally started using the Nikon 1 system I never thought I would end up using it as much as I do now. Over time I discovered that is the ‘best’ gear for my specific needs.
Tom
Hi Thomas, what is your take on this:
www.mirrorlessrumors.com/
Hi Bengt,
I have no way of knowing whether it is true or not. The rumor originates from a large, respected website so the rumor could indeed be factual. There is also a rumor floating around that Nikon may introduce a new mirror-less camera with a larger sensor that still maintains the CX mount. A crop factor of around 1.7X seems to be commonly mentioned. If this rumor is true, then the one about Nikon 1 no longer being developed would likely also be true. I’m not a technical guy at all, but from what I’ve read moving to a larger sensor but maintaining a CX mount would mean existing Nikon 1 owners could still use their current CX mount lenses. The challenge is that those lenses would only use a portion of the larger sensor…i.e. 1.7X crop compared to a 2.7X crop.
To take advantage of the sales potential of a larger sensor mirror-less camera Nikon would need to create a new line of CX mount lenses. Perhaps a new mirror-less body featuring a larger sensor and CX lenses with a different image circle could be launched under ‘Nikon 2’ branding. Strategically this could make some sense for Nikon as their current mirror-less customers could still use their existing lenses while they transitioned over time to a new line of CX lenses that have a different image circle. Using a larger sensor would also give Nikon the opportunity to greatly improve the image quality of their mirror-less cameras to a level similar to Nikon APS-C cameras (i.e. 1.5X crop compared to 1.7X crop), and likely above what is currently available with M4/3 competition which have a 2X crop. This would remove one of the longest standing knocks against the Nikon 1 product line. Moving to a 1.7X crop with a CX mount would also differentiate Nikon’s mirror-less offering from their current APS-C DSLRs which also could make some sense from a product cannibalization standpoint. From a production cost standpoint perhaps Nikon would simply put an APS-C sensor in a ‘Nikon 2’ body and only use a portion of it.
The fact that there has been little activity on the Nikon 1 line in terms of new product launches would support the notion that Nikon is working on something new with their mirror-less strategy. I have heard from some well-connected commercial photography folks that they are expecting some really significant announcements from Nikon in September. This could be one of them.
I think many current Nikon 1 owners would embrace a ‘Nikon 2’ camera concept that allowed them to used their existing Nikon 1 glass in the near term and then transition to a different set of CX mount lenses over time. Maybe that mount would be called ‘CX2’ to differentiate it from existing Nikon 1 lenses.
In terms of my existing client video business moving to a 1.7X crop camera system would be problematic for me. That is one of the biggest reasons why I bought multiple copies of the V2 a while back. I will happily continue to use my existing Nikon 1 gear for as long as it remains serviceable for my client video work.
Tom
Hi Bengt – thanks for your question – it prompted these additional thoughts: tomstirrphotography.com/nikon-2
Tom
Nice and fresh idea to present macro images.
I always like your Nikon 1 work.
best regards,
Markus
Thanks for the supportive comment Markus!
Tom
Hi Tom,
Great photos and post as always from you. I really enjoyed viewing them.
Vinnie
Thanks Vinnie – I’m glad you enjoyed them!
Tom
I gotta say you sure do great work with that Nikon 1 J5. I am always impressed with what you turn out.
Thanks Steve!
The J5 is a great little camera that I quite enjoy using.
Tom
Beautiful set. I’m inspired. Thank you!
By far most of the land animals on earth are insects whether measured by numbers of individuals, numbers of species, or tonnage. As you can see with just the Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths) in this set, they are exquisitely beautiful. So are most of the other insect orders…living jewels with the possible exception of mosquitoes and bedbugs.
Insects are absolutely not aliens. They are the basis for almost all plant and animal land life to the degree where most of the living plants and animals on earth couldn’t survive without insects, including us. In contrast, most land life on earth would thrive without humanity.
I don’t know what “extension tubes” are, but will definitely find out and use them. I hope they exist for Nikon DX bodies.
Hi Wings42 – thanks for the comment! I’m glad you enjoyed the images! The heading and text of this article were simply a small attempt at some humour…
Tom