Well, to price it next to a Nikon D7100 body pretty much says it all - that Nikon is making big bets in 2013 to up her brand names of her coolpix series of products.
And from a system (i.e.. usability) perspective branches between a Coolpix P7700 and a Nikon 1 - sort of an in-between. The size versus image quality ratio certainly appeals to some but I would like to think that that “some” is indeed quite a small target audience.
Plugging from the now venerable surplus stock of Nikon D7000 sensors, I would applaud Nikon for adopting that oldest textbook trick of self-cannibalizing while innovating and redefining a new price-point for a new DX compact.
But alas! For that same price point, you have practically gained a less conspicuous tool that concurrently forces you to make quite a few compromises from an otherwise semi-pro Nikon D7100. Lens are fixed and not swappable (reminds me of the Leica X2). The 28mm reach is not the lens of choice in my opinion for street photography. 36mm is. No AF confirmation (or focus point selection) is available via the optional optical viewfinder. Battery life is rather short.
A tool definitely that’s neither designed as a DSLR backup nor an independent tool for a serious assignment.
I would shoot any day with a Nikon 1 V1 system against say the Nikon Coolpix A.
PS Nikon is not scoring anything for lifting her design cue directly from the Nikon P3XX series
Christmas came early to all you Nikon 1 owners!
I like the element of simplicity with the V1, and still do today as compared to even my Nikon P7000. It was that, plus the petite footprint that won me over to hopefully use it as a decent emergency gear or for extensive telephoto assignments.
Is there really something to shout about in the department of image quality? Yes, if you are coming from a compact owner perspective. No, if you are used to a DSLR to begin with. The shutter count on mine reads only 8,544, implying that I am not exactly shooting enough with it.
Right, what exactly then am I impressed with the Nikon 1 V1? I would say that it’s probably still the world’s smallest camera that’s equipped with a bounce-flash unit, has a 2.7X crop factor and is capable of shooting at a speedy 10fps. As the strobe itself does not require standard batteries to operate, its indeed a very portable system that I would use when occasions simply cannot justify the weight or intrusiveness of a DSLR.
By itself, it’s a tool most photographers will pass (which explain why the drastic price discounts with the intent to clear them recently) and a system that’s only useable when you deploy the accessory grip - Nikon GR-N1000, Nikon FT-1 mount adapter and SB-N5 Speedlight in unison.
Extreme telephoto!
Nikon 1 BTS with Scott Woodward.
Nikon 1 Product Tour 2012
Bike ride with the Nikon 1.
(Motion Snapshot)
Nikon 1 Revisited.
Ever wonder if the Nikon 1 can cut the mustard, in a more serious undertaking, as opposed to just be a mommy’s camera? Well, that’s what I am about to find out next week!
Coupled with the FT-1 and superb ISO performance, it may well gives photographers the little edge to do what it does best - people.
Stay tune!
I reckon architectural and street photography will take dominance in Saigon while interesting landscape pretty distant from existence. And with all the motorcycles, crowd and pick-pockets, it will be foolishness to lug around a big camera as a target board.
Besides, the threatening wet weather being foretold seems to imply that I would be storing my camera gears in and out of the All-weather Lowe Pro sling bag very regularly. In addition, the petite-sized Nikon 1 should minimize my surface area as a snatch target. I think Saigon is not that bad, and perhaps I am greatly exaggerating it.
Now, to grab the moments off the streets, a telephoto lens will come in handy as candid takes become more natural. A 35mm DX glass will function perfectly as the 95mm I need from the Nikon 1. And did I say shoot day would involves crawling in dirt tunnels and watery rivers?
Let’s begin!
