Image courtesy: Quesabesde
There are quite many news on the web about the new Nikon mirrorless cameras. Let’s just pickup some of them. What’s interesting are the size comparisons with other mirrorless cameras. Engadget compared the Sony NEX-C3 and the new Nikon J1 sensor size comparison (Scroll the article to see the image). Huge difference! Quesabesde compared the body size of the Olympus E-PM1 with the size of the Nikon V1.
And now it’s time for some image samples! You can find them on Fotopolis, Imaging Resource and Digitalcamerareview.
One mroe thing: The pictures of the future lenses can be seen at Photographyblog. But there is no info about specs and price, just anonymous mockups 🙁
16 Responses
It’s a lot bigger than I thought. Quite disappointing.
real world sample images available at dprview;
http://www.dpreview.com/news/1109/11092210nikonj1samplesgallery.asp
The real point for me is the lack of a pancake zoom like the new Panasonic. Price will decrease next mounths for sure, but if this camera doesn’t become pocketable it will be an useless compromise
Interesting size comparison between the Nikon J1 and the Sony NEX-5 in the gallery at the bottom of this article:
http://www.journaldugeek.com/2011/09/21/impressions-photos-nikon-j1-v1/
How clunky and crude the V1 seems beside the E-PM1, even if you take away the EVF. Did Nikon originally design the J1 and then very quickly built a crude V1 because of the NEX-7? Just can’t see how this system will fly, but there are a lot of unbelievably brand loyal people out there who just can’t believe what is happening to their beloved Canikon world, so it might have some life. Seriously, Panasonic, Sony, Samsung are the ones who will be on top for the next 20 years of enthuthiast photography. This ugly crude box from Nikon, with its flawed specifications for both stills and video, shows just how far behind they are. As an old Nikon guy, I find it quite sad.
The Nikon V1 looks (except for the EVF-eyepiece hump) exactly like a Leica M3, M4 or other classic Leica rangefinder.
This is a proven form factor. For about 50 years some of the best photos have been made with a camera shaped not unlike the V1.
The modern Leica’s style speaks of it’s heritage and retains a muted “retro” look, which is pleasing. This Nikon V1 design has none of that, and seriously looks like a prototype to test function and not define form. The back is OK (but lack of swivelling LCD a significant omission), the top is OK, but the front, without any attempt to compartmentalize, and to give a decent grip, is just so ugly. At least the J1 speaks to a Coolpix connection. In any event, way too big for what the camera contains. My only consolation is that it brings increased attention to MILC without seriously robbing sales from Panasonic, Olympus and Sony.
It would not surprise me if this Nikon 1 system had more market share than Olympus or Samsung by Christmas, if prices go down a bit.
Maybe Nikon doesn’t want the “retro” look. not everyone wants the retro look. Look at the eos 1d series, with their futuristic design and that astro-dome like head. I think it’s beautiful and the fact that Canon has left it virtually unchanged proves that point. Retro works for some people, but for some they would prefer a different look. also, there are only so many ways you can design essentially a rectangular box. Depending on who you talk to, the Leica m9 design has the lines similar to a thin tuna can…round, flat, sharp, minimalistic…but it works for some.
the fact that Nikon has a built in EVF on the V1 shows that they know how to make cameras for shooters, proof being that not one “rangefinder styled body csc” except for the Sony nex 7 has a built in viewfinder. ep1,2,3, epL1 epL2 epL3,epm-1, panny GF1,2,3 gx1,samsung nx100,200,sony 5,3,5n, c3..NOT ONE OF THESE GUYS HAS A BUILT IN VIEWFINDER.And they have had years to get it right. You want a EVF?, then they want you to fork out an extra 300 for a decent one…400 for Sony’s. The Fuji x100 has one too, but the cam costs 1400, the x10s OVF coverage is so little it’s practically useless. The xpro 1 isn’t even out yet and the body is 1700.The Nikon V11 looks pretty good if you consider those facts.
this is a bit of a letdown … small sensor – big, fat camera?
nikon missed the chance to create an elegant, portable device with small lenses to make the whole package really pocketable
At last, despite i was very interested in this new system, I think this is not neither a solution to improve a pocketable camera (better to consider S100 or X10 or EX1, with very faster lens) neither to get an alternative to an advenced small mirrorless system (e-pl3 or gf3 or even g3 whith the new panny pocketable zoom). Try it again Nikon!
The V1 looks a bit to fat IMO.
Its LCD assembly should have been more flush with the body giving it a more sleek and oval top view.
I wonder if all that internal space is filled up with electronic?
If so, how come? Look how small the m43 camera is, and it has a bigger sensor.
But no doubt it will fit better in hand. Maybe ergonomics played a more bigger role in design
Don’t forget that none of the ep cameras have a built in EVF. Also, cameras with the top plate no taller then the edge of the lens mount end up looking like a Sony NEX, which is not what everyone may wantor like..Even film bessas and Leicas are taller, depsite the Rf being just in the corner.
I have a feeling this is not the mirrorless camera from Nikon we are waiting for. I’ll just skip the next two years, rely on my Panny G3 and wait for a better camera for my F mount lenses. Keep at it Nikon. Hope to see you in a couple of years.
It seems the niche for enthusiasts to use the 1 V1 is street photo; autofocus and burst speed are very impressive.
Street is not like nature where image quality often seems to be the main thing. Its is more about catching the moment, content being more important than pixel peeping
I have picked up and tried the Nikon V1 at a competitors store recently and i have to say i was surprised. First thing you will notice is the build quality…for csc’s,in the near one thousand dollar mark, I think it’s second to none.It’s also heavy which is also a shock , judging by it’s appearance you would think it would be light.The heaviness is very reassuring.The built in evf is also unusual for a csc cause the only other csc that has one is the NEX 7 and that costs a few hundred more. After reading the reviews on the camera I’am really surprised by it and i may be getting the camera for myself.Plus the fact that I will be getting the deal of a life time doesn’t hurt either.LOL
As the the V1, the only negative I have found so far for me is that the EVF or lcd cycle time after a shot is like 1.5 seconds. Apparently you cant turn off the preview after you shoot a picture.Also, there are many reviews that show the V1 quality as very favorable compared to m43 despite its smaller sensor.I liked the epm1 too, blazing Af and minimal shutter lag, but if you ever hold any of these two cameras in your hand, the build of the V1 is on a different planet than that of the oly epm1. I would even say the build is more solid then the ep3, having played with both.In a perfect world, I’d probably buy the ep3 for 800 if it had a EVF, but now that Oly decided to show it’s money grubbing hand by announcing a m43 om looking cam with EVF for 1400, the writing was on the wall for me. To get a csc with an EVF, which is rare, for under a grand, even rarer.And I would say that a 900k dot EVF would be do-able at this point and time for most csc users, the fact that Nikon has a 1.4 mil EVF on their camera is a god send for me. Would i buy a V1 for 899? No. But i think if the camera does go lower in price, esp if it’s sub 600, i think it would be a mistake for anyone to overlook it. after all, optional EVF’s usually go for about 300, and the NEX one goes for 400,[ almost a new epm1 camera with kit lens]
I too , pooh poohed over the Nikon 1 cameras before they were released and before I even tried them. But on closer inspection, they are surprisingly good. Maybe not for the price of 899, but price aside, it is a really good camera.Im not a pixel peepster, not a collector,not someone who has to have the biggest mp or biggest sensor in order to shoot, but if I’m honest, I’d have to say the Nikon V1 is alot better than what most people who have never tried it [ including myself before] have been saying about it. Give it a try, you may be quite surprised.