In 1999, Nikon released the D1 to the market as the first DSLR with a semi-affordable price. Prior to the D1, DSLRs had been film bodies with small sensors installed and very large battery packs. The Nikon D1, in a way, was no different as the camera was built on the F5 chassis and the internals have residual film-era DNA such as moldings for film a cassette and take-up cylinder. The batteries were large, and today the conversion for them relies on 18650 batteries. And the D1 was also heavy, built to physically withstand the harshness of professional use. The electronics, too, could withstand whatever was thrown their way. The batteries, not so much. And today the batteries are the most significant issue with using a D1. Converting a D1 battery pack to 18650 can be done, and is frankly the only hope these cameras have for a life going forward.
And due to age, and its status as a trailblazer, and having been developed at a time when no one truly knew what a DSLR should or could be, the D1 has some quirks. Some of the D1’s quirks make it a joy to shoot – The viewfinder is incredible given the specs, the fastest shutter speed of 1/16,000th is superb for freezing motion, the colors are fantastic owing to the sensor using four-pixel binning clusters to create each image pixel, the sharpness punches way above the 2.624-megapixel level, and the camera writes slowly and underruns the buffer frequently which forces the user to slow down and think deliberately about their images. Those elements of the camera, they have aged well and least make it fun to use today.
Some quirks have not aged well – using any ISO beyond 200 adds unpalatable digital noise (which can only really be hidden with a black and white image conversion); the camera cannot be turned off while writing images to the CF card or every image following the one you’re writing will be lost, even with a quick power cycle; the batteries are heavy, expensive, and last at most 120 shots under ideal conditions; when batteries age and die they send the wrong amount of power to the camera and it only records plain-white or dead black images or simply sensor amp glow regardless of the settings being correct or not; and finding the equipment needed to make one of these run (specifically batteries, a charger, and small CF cards) will be far more expensive than the camera’s image results justify.
So using a Nikon D1 today, and really at any point in the future after today, makes no practical or financial sense except for eccentrics, hobbyists, fools, and people who dreamt of one of these when they were new but couldn’t afford them. Right? Well, not really. The D1 is an incredible tool for digital photographers who want to learn patience. Like film cameras, like large format cameras though not to the same degree, the D1 needs a slower pace and a slower workflow. Spending time composing your images in your mind is a mandatory practice when using the D1 successfully. And the digital noise at any sensitivity faster than the camera’s native sensor sensitivity of 200 ISO introduces color distortions and shadow detail loss that today’s image viewers would find unpalatable. And in all likelihood when this camera was introduced that was the case, too, with high-ISO images being reserved for black and white conversion for newsprint work.
The D1 will teach you about precision in your exposures and your settings because any variation from precision will impair or destroy your images. The exposure bubble which results in usable images with the D1 is small. My newest digital cameras, as I write this script, are the Pentax K-1 and Sony A7S II. They are far from the newest cameras on the market, too. The K-1’s images have more image adjustment latitude in raw editing than Photoshop CS6 can provide. The A7S II at high ISOs functions better than many cameras made in the five or so years after it do at mid-level ISOs. Those cameras are easy to use, especially compared to the D1. It’s the difference between using a Tesla Model S in self-drive mode and a 1960s muscle car with a gated shifter and no power steering.
But the Nikon D1, it will teach you about photography. That’s what these old cameras do. Modern cameras are like eager busybodies that want to do everything for you, provide unlimited editing flexibility such that a photographer need not poses much or any skill at crafting an exposure, and they keep the secrets of how the image is taken for themselves. Old cameras, they want to pass on their knowledge, pass on a piece of the era in which they were made, and do so in a manner that requires the user to have or learn photographic skill. And the Nikon D1 maintains that, something that I believe very few if any cameras after it do, at least to the same degree.
#NikonD1 #NikonD1Review #NikonD1DSLR
Video 1, Interface:
Video 2, Operation:
Video 3, Menus and Custom Functions:
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I shot for a newspaper for 7 years with the D1 and had about 8,000 photos published from it in that time. Photos from that camera were also used for billboards and occasionally magazines. I still have the camera today. It's worn with the battle scars of assignment work, but it still works to this day. Flawlessly.
I used to have a D1x, you could gain a lot of write speed by turning off the raw compression, provided you had a fast enough card of course.
The batteries are not that expensive for this camera I have this camera love it my battery lasts long before having to charge it luckily mine came with the charger it's the charger that's hard to find and expensive
Just won an auction for a near immaculate Nikon D1 on eBay for $150. I don’t see them pop up very often, so I HAD to have one of these for the novelty and collector value!
Actually, some of my fav shots were made with a beat up D1. The experience and pace was slower, specially in RAW and the camera feels well in the hand. For its low res the image are sharp but its noise is bad, specially because of the banding issues. But the color is amazing when you correct the RAW file (my file always are kinda green), is like my D2X, its color is different, more pastel than modern camera, even I tried to use its DCP profile in modern cameras and I'm unavailable to replicate it fully. The most ankward thing of the D1 OG is the odd position of the ISO button that changed in the next generation. Do you have experience with the D2H and its weird JFIT sensor?
I inherited this camera for work and was missing a few parts. Was debating on putting this together and figuring it out and I can't tell you how much I appreciate your help. This is one of those niche video's that really does some good for the community. Ty! SO SO much!
Absolutely excellent video, loved it man, keep it up! Hope you blow up
built to last leke shizun houzun .. jeff
Imagine scanning film with this camera lol, very nice and informative video as always and happy 2021!
I have 2 D1x that I have used about 10 years ago as my main cameras. I moved up to the D2x until the shutter died, then to full frame Nikons, etc. Recently, I started shooting some MF film, which got me to dust out the D1x and wanting to use it again. Batteries are a problem. I use a A/C adapter to power it in the studio. I want to convert some old batteries to Li-on, but don't know where to begin. I hope you do a video on it. And if I figure a way to do the conversion, how do I charge the battery?
I still shoot with a Nikon D70 every now and then, just got a new Nikon battery and a used 35mm f1.8 DX lens, can’t wait to go out and make some pictures!!!
For only 2.6mp these images look amazing.
Some good points and it is very true that one of the biggest motivation on buying old dslrs is cause it was out of the budget back when they were released:)
It makes them so desirable as a kids dream come true.
I do agree with you on low pixel camera bodies, color is usually way better at least to my eye. Thats the reason my modern mirrorless with many pixels and tones of features stays most of the time on a copystand while old bulky dslr lives in my bag;) and yes, an image from a CCD sensor looks always special, reminds me somehow a slide film estetic.
Great video, great photos, and great commentary. There was a time when Nikon D1's on eBay could be found cheaply (I don't live in the US, so maybe I'm missing many deals from sellers who don't ship abroad), and I was a fool for not taking the opportunity. I'm on a path of rediscovery of older digital cameras, I absolutely love my Nikon D200, and have always been curious to go even further back and try the D1/D1H/D1X. Coming from film cameras, which I still shoot today, and being a slow-paced enthusiast photographer, I'm sure I have the necessary patience to make the most out of these older Nikons.
Keep up the good work! Cheers!
Actually the images look very impressive
David, this again is an outstanding script for a remarkable piece of gear. 60 (even the total of 310) bucks seems to be a reasonable value.
PS: A million thanks for the sidebar, this part made my day! 😀
Great review as always. I was stoked to see so many of the sample shots taken with catadioptric lenses!!
Love the vid, and have the same thoughts as you… I am not a fan of this Ai Or assisted photography. I still shoot sports with a single AF point and do the tracking myself as I find very pleasing knowing I got the shot.
Awesome that you are willing to dance like no one is watching.👍
I have a D1x and the D2x, and I agree, their image quality is VERY different from modern digital cameras, from the D3 onwards the colours are just so different from the early Nikon D’s.
My old digital cameras are a Minolta Dimage 7 I bought for $10 and a Sony Mavica that takes floppy discs my former neighbor gave me.
I guess I’m lucky with my D1X. The battery charges reliably and I can shoot more than 100 images. I’ve never exhausted the whole battery. It’s incredibly fun to use. The D1X challenges you when taking photos because of its limits.
I bought a used Pentax K20D recently and it it closer to using a film KX than my K-S2, which is fine. I only wish Pentax would have kept the aperture linkage to the lens, the aperture ring on the lenses, DOF button and made it as easy to use in manual as the KX was. I do crave a K-1 and is in my list. I also bought two used Sunpak 544 and a 3600 flash, but I am afraid to use them with my DSLRs. I will try with remote triggers from china.