Lens Construction
The 1 Nikon 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 seems well constructed for a lens of this type and price point. The zoom operates smoothly, with the zoom ring providing a good gripping surface.
Auto-Focus
As is the case with other 1 Nikon native lenses the auto-focus is fast and accurate. I detected just the slightest hint of delay when shooting in very dark conditions, but nothing that concerned me at all.
I used this lens with Movo Extension Tubes at the Niagara Butterfly Conservatory and found that it performed well in terms of auto-focus speed and accuracy. I should mention that my favourite 1 Nikon lens with which to use extension tubes is still the 30-110 mm.
Handling
I found the 1 Nikon 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 a joy to use. It is small and light, providing a very usable equivalent focal range of 27-270 mm when compared to a full frame camera. When I did some field work at Bird Kingdom I shot with it single handed with my arm fully extended, composing from the rear screen. Since the lens has a comparatively short minimum focusing distance when fully extended it was fantastic to use when photographing specimens in the Small Bird Aviary.
To be honest I really wasn’t sure what to expect with this lens, and I ended up being pleasantly surprised.
It is an immensely practical lens that provides users with all kinds of flexibility and produces very pleasing images.
As is the case with other 1 Nikon lenses, best results will be achieved by shooting in RAW and doing some work on your files in post.
I found that my files responded very well to OpticsPro 10 and even some of the images taken at very high ISOs were usable.
HI,
I just got the 10-100 non PD lens and couldn’t figure out how to MF using this lens since it doesn’t have a focus ring. I though there might be a control function/wheel in the camera (V3 or V2) that help manual focus but I have problems finding how and where.
If you can provide me with some help, it’ll be greatly appreciated.
Hi Ruby,
Manual focusing doesn’t work that well with Nikon 1 lenses that don’t have a focus ring. You have to go into the menu and set the camera for Manual Focus. If my memory serves you then have to use the ring on the back of the camera to manually focus. I don’t think I have ever used manual focusing with my Nikon 1 gear since the auto-focusing is very good.
Tom
Is this AF-S and will this lens fit D90?
Regards
Hi Shekhar,
This is a 1 Nikon lens with a CX mount and can only be used on Nikon 1 camera bodies.
Tom
Thanks for your informative posts. I’m probably sticking with my 10-30 and 30-110 instead of reducing the lens inventory by one (going to the 10-100). Seems what I have now may be a bit sharper than the 10-100’s are. I have been impressed with your results with the 70-300, and bought mine largely based on your recommendations. Not disappointed so far. Thanks again. All the best.
Hi Guido,
The 10-100mm shines as a great all-in-one walk-around lens but it does suffer a bit in terms of optical quality, especially when compared to the 30-110mm. If you don’t need the flexibility of the 10-100 you are well served by keeping the 10-30 and 30-110 combination.
It’s good to hear that you have been happy with your CX 70-300mm.
Tom
really useful, Thomas, your efforts here, surpass other sites.
while keeping it add free, some ebay and amazon links, to help you cover costs, would not be objectionable, I think, although you may hold strong views on this.
happy shooting, Allan.
Thanks Allan – I’m glad you found the review helpful! I do have a link to B&H as well as Amplis. In addition, folks are able to donate to the site if they wish to support my efforts. If all goes according to plan, next year I will have a number of photography-related e-books published and for sale on the website as well.
Tom
Hi Tom,
A very interesting review.
I have had the chance to shoot with the PD lens, and wonder if the extra weight of the lens has any bearing on the ability to handhold it at a slower speed.
It does seem to me, to cradle nicely in the palm of my hand, and although a little more weightty and bulky, it is not awkward.
I am a bit ambivalent on the use of the power zoom, as I don’t intend to use it much for dedicated video work.
Not sure which way to proceed at the moment.
Thanks again.
Hi David,
I suppose it ultimately comes down to how you intend to use a 10-100mm Nikon 1 lens. If your focus is still photography then most people would find the compact size of the 10-100mm f/4-5.6 non-PD to be a plus. It is also easier to get the exact framing desired using its manual focal length adjustment. Filters would also be more cost affordable. Since the time that I added the 10-100mm f/4-5.6 to my kit I have not used my 10-100mm PD zoom for still photography at all. The 10-100mm f/4-5.6 would be preferred by most people as a general ‘walk-around’ lens.
The 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD zoom is a very nice lens and in my experience is slightly sharper and the VR a bit better. I doubt that most people would buy this particular lens for those two reasons though as the differences are minor. Getting exact framing for still images is a little bit harder because of the power zoom, filters are more expensive, and it is bulkier and heavier than the non-PD 10-100mm. Video shooters would likely choose this lens as the zoom action is very smooth and quite silent. I shot a client video project yesterday and used this lens at least half a dozen times to get specific effects needed in the video, so having a power zoom does come in handy. This lens does suffer from some slight exposure shifts even when shooting at f/5.6 and higher when long zoom pulls are done. Shorter pulls are OK though.
If you haven’t shot with the 10-100mm f/4-5.6 non-PD yet it may be beneficial doing so as you could then compare the two lenses on a first-hand basis.
Tom
Is the Nikon 1 camera system new because it is not listed on B&H website
Hi Bill,
The Nikon 1 system was launched about 4 years ago. Here is a link on B&H: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?&ci=16158&N=4288586281+4291315846&origSearch=Nikon%201
This link will take you to Nikon 1 lenses: https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/search?&ci=17912&N=4196380428+4099560918&origSearch=nikon%201%20lenses
Tom
I am, once again very indebted to your expertise and you remain the ne plus ultra of proponents of the Nikon 1 system. Though I own nearly all the Nikon 1 system lenses, I was intrigued about the PD version ofthe 10-100. I am not sure it would add any significant benefit to my arsenal as it were, as I find the normal 10 -100 very capable and sharp in my guise as a news photographer. But your meticulous and comprehensive posts are really quite wonderful to pore over for every nugget. Thanks, once again.
Hi Rick,
Thank you so much for your most generous comment – I’m glad you enjoyed the article and found it useful!
Tom