Nikon 1 V1 - A Speedy Compact Mirrorless Camera

Introduction

The mirrorless interchangeable lens camera market is a young one, at only three years old since the first Micro Four Thirds camera was launched. Since then, it's seen a multitude of entrants coming in to try and take the market which exists somewhere between compact and DSLR cameras. Panasonic and Olympus champion the Micro Four Thirds standard, Sony has its NEX system, Samsung the NX system, Pentax the Q, and even Fujifilm wants to get in the mirrorless game in 2012.

Noticeable by their absence were the two biggest giants in the camera industry; Canon and Nikon. While Canon has kept mum on any plans for a mirrorless camera system, Nikon became quite forthright late in the year about their plans to release a mirrorless camera system. 

The Nikon 1 mirrorless system was finally announced to the public on September 21st, with two new cameras on offer: The Nikon 1 J1, and the higher-end model we're reviewing today; the Nikon 1 V1.

The Nikon V1 is so new and different it's hard to wrap our mind around it. At first glance, it's another mirror-less interchangeable lens camera in a sea of those cameras, albeit Nikon's long-anticipated first entry into the category. The sensor size is roughly twice as small as those found in entry-level APS-C DSLR cameras and smaller than those found in Micro Four Thirds cameras, even though it's larger than any sensor found in a compact camera.

Together with the smaller sensor, Nikon has added all sorts of interesting and unheard of features into the V1. It shoots at a rate of 60 frames per second in AF-S mode (the speed is 60fps, but the maximum number of shots you can get in one burst is 30, so you're effectively shooting and getting up to a maximum of 30 frames per half-second at one time). Up to 10fps if you're shooting in the more reliable AF-A mode (to put that into perspective, Nikon's top of the line D3s DSLR shoots up to 9fps).

It has a groundbreaking hybrid AF system, which combines phase-detection and contrast-detect AF for quick and accurate autofocus, and a staggering 73 AF area points (the Olympus Micro Four Thirds flagship E-P3 has 35). Motion Snapshot mode captures a still image and a movie vignette which will play back in slow motion, and Smart Photo Selector mode takes advantage of the V1's fast speeds by firing a burst of 20 shots at a rate of 30fps, then selecting only the best five images to save.

It's a heady buffet of abilities to choose from when you have the V1 in your hands, and that's what Nikon is betting you'll think too when considering the V1; it's not just about the sensor anymore, it's about what else a camera can do.

Design & Handling

Holding it, the V1 feels solid, thanks to its magnesium alloy exterior. There's a retrospective touch in its form, and its design is pleasingly minimalistic with ample white space between controls. The V1's twin lenses come in matching colors, white lenses with white bodies, and black lenses with black bodies. While matching colors may sound like a gimmick, aesthetically it makes a big difference. With its good looks and solid body, the V1 comes off as a premium product. The camera is smaller than a DSLR camera, but not much smaller than the smallest of the current Micro Four Thirds range. 

The kit lenses come with a textured matte ring, which enhances the grip, and instead of a sliding lock like those used on Olympus' MFT kit lenses, the lock on the Nikon lenses is a better looking and an easier to use button. Unlocking the lens also conveniently powers on the camera, and reduces the usual two-step 'power on, then unlock' sequence of getting your camera ready to shoot to just one step.

The EVF and the Brilliant LCD

The two obvious differences between Nikon's 1 V1 and J1 cameras are that the V1 includes a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF), but no built-in flash like the J1; instead it comes with a hot shoe port which fits the optional 1 mount flash unit. The EVF is responsive and clear, the benefits of having an electronic viewfinder instead of an optical one is that you can have shooting information overlaid on the EVF, as well as access the interface menu without taking your eyes off the window.

We did find the EVF a little small for comfort, and found ourselves using the 3-inch LCD screen more often. The LCD is easily one of the V1's best features; it's astonishingly clear and fast, almost like you're looking straight at the world itself instead of through an electronic sensor. If you want to switch back and forth between the LCD screen and the EVF, all you need to do is hold your eye up to the EVF and a proximity sensor will do the switching for you automatically.

It's Not Just about the Sensor - the V1 is Fast

If you find yourself dismissing the V1 just because of its small sensor, you need to give the camera a fair chance and try it for yourself. Thanks to the quick auto-focus and its burst speeds, the V1 is so responsive that sometimes the camera feels like it disappears. You can manually take over the focus point using the single-point AF-area mode and the d-pad, but the AF gets it right so much of the time that there's really no need to.

It's so easy to go overboard with the V1's shooting speeds; we shot over 600 images in one setting alone, shooting images in quick video-like succession simply by holding down the shutter release until the buffer overran (of course, the speed of your memory card will play a part in your experience, so we used a class 10 SDHC card to try going fast on the V1).

That's where the Smart Photo Selector mode comes in handy. We wish we could review this feature properly, but because the camera automatically deletes the fifteen out of the twenty shots that it thinks aren't as good, we don't have a way to compare the camera's final five selects against the fifteen rejects and benchmark its taste. Because of that, we stayed out of this mode and shot normally for the purpose of proper imaging evaluation for our article. So while we didn't want the camera to decide the 'keepers' for us, we can definitely see the benefits for casual shooters who don't want to review hundreds of photos after a shoot.

Missing 'Pro-like' Controls

The Smart Photo Selector mode is one indicator that Nikon has geared the 1 cameras towards the casual, rather than the more serious photographer, who would balk at having a camera delete his shots (though of course the usage of this mode is up to user's discretion). The other indicator is how there aren't any PASM modes indicated on the mode dial. It's not that they're not there, but instead of including them on the mode dial for the advanced user's convenience, Nikon has buried PASM mode selection into the interface menu. The menu itself is very simple and easy to use, but to get to controls like PASM and ISO takes more steps than an advanced user will like.

The other decision an advanced user won't like is how the zoom toggle doubles as the aperture/shutter control. The tried-and-tested control dial has given way to a thin up-down toggle. It's usable, but slow, instead of moving a wheel to scroll through aperture or shutter settings, you tap up and down to move up or down a stop. If you're in fully manual mode, the toggle controls aperture, and the scroll wheel surrounding the d-pad controls shutter speed. As with any changes to conventional designs and controls, this is one of those things where buyers would probably get used to it after familiarization. Do give it a try when you're at a camera shop next.

Image Performance

Going back to that small sensor, the V1 produces good image clarity, returning a respectable 1400-1600LPH (horizontal & vertical) on our resolution chart. The score isn't too far off from the best performing Canon S95 compact camera or the Olympus E-P3, but doesn't match the high performance of the Panasonic G3, which currently has the best looking images we've seen from a Micro Four Thirds camera.

You'll need to keep the ISO settings low though, as noise can be seen in images starting from ISO800 onwards. It's a matter of preference, but for some ISO800 will be the upper limit, and for others it'll be ISO1600. At ISO3200 image noise is too prevalent to dismiss. The V1 seems to introduce more color noise than luminance noise into the image, so you'll see color speckles at higher ISO settings, especially in dark areas.

Still, the ISO performance is quite a feat when you think about how small the sensor is, and we think that for the casual user who doesn't look at images at 100%, shooting at ISO800 should be fine. If it gets too dark, they can also bring more light, but remember that the V1 doesn't come with a built-in flash (unlike the J1), and they'd need to get the optional flash attachment.

Micro Four Thirds cameras aren't very usable above ISO1600 today, but their images from the latest cameras are cleaner than the V1's. Nikon sweetens the 1 mount with an optional adapter that lets you mount existing Nikkor lenses, together with auto-focus, but you'll have to contend with the 1 mount's 2.7x crop factor, which means a 35mm lens becomes an unusual 94mm equivalent.

A Far-Ranging Camera

The extreme crop factor can be both good and bad. We found ourselves continuously reaching for the other kit lens; the 30-110mm, with the 2.7x crop, the lens became a far-reaching 81-297mm. Together with the quick AF and fast frame rate, we were drawn into shooting sports and animals with the V1. With its qualities, It's probable that the camera will find a following with a niche audience with sports and nature photographers.

Sample Photographs

These are sample photographs shot with Nikon 1 V1. The photos have not been post-processed and are copyright to SPH Magazines. They are provided for your reference only and we ask that you do not reproduce them elsewhere. Click for the full-resolution images.

Conclusion

So what is the Nikon 1 V1?

It's a small camera, smaller than traditional DSLR cameras but average when compared with Micro Four Thirds cameras. It has a sensor larger than compact cameras, but smaller than APS-C and Micro Four Thirds sensors. It produces good image clarity, better than a compact but not as good as an entry-level DSLR. Image noise starts showing at ISO800, but can remain usable up to ISO1600. The camera is fast, with quick AF and insane burst speeds. The 2.7x crop factor produces unusual 35mm equivalents, but also provides further reach when you mount telephoto lenses.

It's hard to place where the V1 stands in the market, because so much of it is singularly new. The sensor size is new. The mount is new. Its fast AF and frames per second capture speed is new. There is nothing like it in the market today.

How Much for a Nikon 1 V1?

One month ago, we wrote that based on overseas prices, we were estimating the V1 to cost S$1600-$1900. Now that the local retail prices have been announced, it appears that our estimates were off; the local prices are lower than we thought. The local suggested retail prices from Nikon for the various V1 kits are as follow:

With this new info in mind, let's take a fresh look at some other cameras selling in the same price range. We see that the Nikon 1 V1's price is in the same ballpark as the Olympus E-P3. But it is also in the same range as the Nikon D5100. So Nikon needs to answer two questions in the buyer's head as he enters the store; why get the V1 over another mirrorless camera, and why get the V1 over a DSLR?

The Nikon V1 as a Compact Camera Upgrade

The customer that Nikon is likely targeting with the 1 cameras is the compact camera owner who's looking for an upgrade. This person likely won't fuss over lenses, and probably won't buy lenses outside of the kit lens. Whether the Nikon 1 system's lenses expand or not don't matter too much for him, and he'd prefer the 1 cameras' smaller sizes as well as its ease of use when compared to a DSLR camera. For a person like this, the V1 offers a formidable upgrade.

It performs a lot faster than his previous camera, and at the same time he'll find the camera's ease of use comforting. The image quality is better than what he would have gotten out of his compact, and is good enough for him. What will matter more though, is the quick AF capture speed.

When compared to a compact camera, the Nikon V1 focuses and shoots a lot faster, especially for moving subjects, and might appeal especially to parents with active kids. The V1's quickness should delight the upgrading user, giving him a better chance at capturing quick moments he might otherwise have missed. The quick frames per second capture rate should let him do the same.

The Nikon 1 as a System

Coming from the other end of the spectrum, a DSLR camera owner who's looking for a smaller, light compact camera will eye the V1 not just as a camera in itself, but as buying into another camera system. If he's a Nikon user, the Nikon 1 system will be more attractive due to the fact that his existing Nikkor lenses can be mounted with an optional adapter, but with an unusual 2.7x focal length multiplier.

At the same time, this user will realize that at the time of launch, Nikon only has four lenses, and none of them are especially fast. The fastest lens is the 10mm, a 27mm in 35mm equivalent, shooting at the maximum aperture of f/2.8. In comparison, the Micro Four Thirds system has already released sixteen cameras, 26 lenses, and gained a three-year head-start on Nikon. Sony has released four cameras, three lenses and has been in the market for slightly more than a year. The Nikon 1 system still needs more lenses and more time to mature.

He'll also wonder if the smaller sensor compromises image quality, and whether or not he'll be better served by something like a Sony NEX, which has a larger sensor but also larger lenses in comparison.

The advantages the Nikon 1 cameras offer are its fast AF speeds, especially promising for action shots which the contrast detection system in other mirrorless systems struggle with, and its quick frames per second capture rate. And that long 2.7x focal length multiplier, which might turn out to be a boon to photographers looking for that extra reach.

In Conclusion

Nikon has named the V1 well. The moniker brings to mind rockets and speed, and the camera is certainly a quick one. While the quickness of the V1 is not compelling, it is interesting, and adds a whole new dimension to the shooting experience.

The V1 is a camera targeted towards the casual user who wants to upgrade from a compact camera, and it seems obvious from the way its controls are designed; more like an advanced compact than a simplified DSLR. If the upgrading customer can see the benefits that the camera will bring them over a compact, then the V1 will likely make a good upgrade.

At the same time though, feature lists like '10 frames per second' and 'hybrid contrast/phase detection AF' are terms that only serious photographers will understand, and they need to be grounded in context for the average consumer to be able to grasp just what's in it for them - especially looking at the high price of entry.

From a technological standpoint. we want to say kudos to Nikon for having the guts to do something different, to focus on the other things a camera can do besides having a big sensor, and we hope that the innovations introduced in the V1 & J1 bode well for the future of Nikon's entire product line. Whether being different would equate to success is entirely up to the marketplace, and the results will not be immediately obvious. The mirrorless system camera market is a relatively young one at three years of age, and it will likely be a protracted battle in the years to come, with the major players battling for dominance.

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