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I have been using D1 cameras almost exclusively since October 1999. I've taken over 100,000 images since that time with no malfunctions or failures. Now that I'm comfortable with digital imaging I hardly ever use 35mm film cameras. Prior to acquiring the first D1 I relied on Nikon F5 and F100 film bodies.
I started with one of the original D1. My first one, with a 1000 serial number, suffered quite a bit from noise. Our next camera, a 20,000 serial number model, was much better. The third, a 30,000 camera, was about the same. We sent the original D1 back to NPS for warranty service. The camera they returned to us was so much better than any of our original D1’s you'd have thought it was a different product. However, it was the same old D1 with substantial upgrades. It was so much better we began using it for most D1 work even though it was the oldest.
In June 2001 we received one of the first D1x cameras. We quickly replaced our D1 cameras with a pair of D1x units. This proved to be another huge step forward compared to the D1. The diagonal banding noise is gone, the flash works, the color is better; the improvements are too numerous to list here.
In the winter of 2005 the D1x camera were replaced by the new D2x bodies, yet another improvement in imaging. The D2x cameras are approaching the resolving limits of the lenses. I am very impressed with their performance.
Most images on this site were taken with the following three lenses: 14mm 2.8 Sigma — 17-35 and 80-200 2.8 Nikon AFS. The original 80-200 lens was replaced with the VR version last year. I’ve been very pleased with the VR performance in this lens; I’ve found it a lot better than the original 80-400 VR lens.
I also use the 28-70, 300 and 400 Nikon AFS lenses, though less frequently. I use Nikon flash, sometimes in conjunction with external flash.
I use and highly recommend the Arca-Swiss quick releases from ReallyRightStuff. My preferred tripod is the Gitzo CF with B1 head. When possible I carry whatever gear I’ll need in a Domke shoulder bag. For memory I mostly use microdrives, in 4 and 6 GB sizes.
My local dealers — whom I recommend — are Hunt’s Photo in Hadley, Mass. and Mike Bard at Newtonville Camera in Newton, Mass.
John Robison
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Abandoned quarry
in New Hamphire.
Taken
with a Nikon D1, 14mm lens, and existing light.
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