One of the transformative lenses in the Nikon 1 system.
With great screens available for both the back of a camera and its eyepiece, there really is no reason to spend money on a mirror system any more. The only justifications remaining for the larger format DSLR's is the greater sensor area, compatibility with an existing arsenal lenses, and of course the whole thing about personal tastes. So the smaller format mirrorless cameras like those in the Nikon 1 system at first glance are mostly about size, weight, value, and common sense simplicity. There are two striking exceptions to these generalizations. There are two lenses in the Nikon 1 system family that are truly transformative in terms of what they enable you to do. One is the 32mm f1.2, and the other is the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 zoom. Both of these lenses provide photographic capabilities that simply do not exist in larger format system families.
The thing that is so transformative about the 70-300 which is roughly equivalent to a 189-810mm lens in a full sized DSLR system is that you can carry it with you all the time. Aside from the fact that an 800mm DSLR lens typically costs many thousands of dollars ($14k+ at super discounted prices for the big Nikkor), such lenses are BIG and heavy. They are not creatures of one's gadget bag. You carry them in special cases, and you only take them with you when you are fairly sure that the extra weight is going to be worth it. Thus, about the only people who even bother to own such equipment are professional sports and wildlife photographers. The 1 Nikkor 70-300 gives the amateur access to a photographic world that is pretty much out of the question otherwise, and what a world this is! Do you have a favorite bird that likes to hang around in a tree 50 yards off your deck at home? Now you can capture the little chirper and fill the frame with great images of it. This lens will change your photographic experience in wondrous ways. Try it. You'll like it.
Verified purchase: YesCondition: New