Nikon 1 J1 - the same Nikon, but cheaper

Comparison of Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 J4 mirrorless cameras

In this article we will compare the Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 J4 mirrorless camera models. Both cameras belong to the Nikon 1 line of mirrorless cameras. Nikon S2 is a cheaper and more affordable model. It's almost $150 cheaper than the J4. The S2 comes with an 11-27.5mm lens, while the J4 comes with a 10-30mm lens. Before comparing cameras, let's take a closer look at their main characteristics.

Nikon 1 S2 mirrorless camera

The Nikon 1 S2 is a mirrorless camera released on May 14, 2014, and is the new entry-level model from Nikon, replacing the Nikon 1 S1 announced on January 8, 2013.

The design of the Nikon camera remains the same, the only thing is that the S2 has more rounded corners. The Nikon 1 S2 doesn't have a mode dial on the top, and the camera itself is made of plastic rather than magnesium alloy like the J4.

The Nikon 1 S2's stylish design makes it look a bit like a compact camera, although in fact it has a much more interesting set of features and capabilities. The most important advantage of the S2 over compacts is the ability to change lenses. The camera is compatible with all models of optics in the 1 NIKKOR line, and comes complete with 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 1 Nikkor. The equivalent focal length of the lens is 30-74mm in 35mm format.

In the center of the camera there is a 1-inch matrix with a resolution of 14.2 megapixels. This sensor is significantly larger than the one used in conventional compact models. However, it is significantly smaller than the Micro Four Thirds and APS-C sensors found in many competing mirrorless models from Olympus, Fujifilm, Panasonic and Sony. The camera has a dust elimination system to minimize the appearance of dirt on the sensor.

On the back of the camera there is a fixed display with a diameter of 3 inches and a resolution of 460 thousand dots. Nikon 1 S2 lacks a built-in electronic viewfinder.

One of the unique features of the S2 is the ability to shoot at up to 60 frames per second in continuous shooting mode, with focus locked on the first frame. 20 fps is available with continuous autofocus. You won't get such impressive speed even in the most expensive DSLR models. In addition, the S2 has a feature called “Best Moment Capture,” where the camera takes ten consecutive high-resolution images in one second and allows you to select the best shot.

Other features include: 16,000 sec maximum shutter speed, built-in flash, 12-bit RAW file, frame capture while shooting video, creative filters, slow-motion shooting, special effects available, advanced hybrid AF for fast-moving subjects and compatibility with wireless adapters WU-1a.

In some ways, the S2 looks like a point-and-shoot with a large matrix. When buying an S2, remember that you always have the opportunity to upgrade to a more improved Nikon 1 series model, and all lenses purchased for the Nikon 1 S2 will be compatible with the new camera.

Overall, the Nikon 1 S2 is a light and small camera that has an interesting set of features that will be more than suitable for a beginner.

Nikon 1 J4 mirrorless camera

Nikon 1 J4 is a mirrorless camera from Nikon, which is a more advanced model compared to the S1 and S2. The J4 offers a wide range of controls and features that will interest photo enthusiasts. The camera has a boxier, flatter design compared to the rounded design of the S2. The mirrorless camera has a mode switch on the top panel, which allows you to select the appropriate shooting mode. Among the modes there are many creative options, a mode for shooting moving objects and an automatic mode.

The Nikon J4 is made from magnesium alloy and aluminum, making it more durable and reliable than the S2, which is made primarily from plastic.

Nikon J4 is equipped with a 1-inch sensor with a resolution of 18.4 megapixels and the latest Expeed 4A image processor. Compared to the previous model, Nikon J4 has a number of advantages in ISO performance. Despite this, the camera is still equipped with a 1-inch matrix, which is inferior in performance to Micro Four Thirds and APS-C sensors.

On the back of the camera is a 3-inch fixed touchscreen with a resolution of 1037K pixels. Unfortunately, the Nikon J4 does not have a built-in electronic viewfinder, and there is no option to connect the same external viewfinder. The lack of a viewfinder may present some inconvenience for photography enthusiasts looking for greater creative freedom.

The Nikon 1 J4 also benefits from the advanced hybrid autofocus found in the V3. It consists of 105 phase detection points and 171 contrast detection points, which are well distributed over the entire frame area. This makes the J4 a great choice for sports and wildlife photographers. Additionally, the Nikon 1 J4 also shoots up to 20fps with continuous autofocus tracking.

The camera also features built-in Wi-Fi and a host of cool creative features and effects. As for video, the J4 shoots in 1080p60 mode and three slow-motion video options (144p1200, 720p120, 288p400).

Comparison of characteristics of mirrorless cameras Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 J4

Options	Nikon 1 S2	Nikon 1 J4
Announced	May 14, 2014	April 10, 2014
Camera type	Mirrorless camera	Mirrorless camera
Build quality	Plastic	Magnesium alloy and aluminum
Sensor	1 inch, resolution 14.2 MP	1 inch, resolution 18.4 MP
Image processor	Expeed 4A	Expeed 4A
ISO	200 — 12800	160 — 12800
RAW	12-bit NEF	12-bit NEF
Excerpt	30 - 16000 sec	30 - 16000 sec
Built-in flash	Yes, pop-up	Yes, pop-up
Active D-Lighting	Eat	Eat
Auto Focus System	Hybrid autofocus with 135 contrast detection points and 73 phase detection points	Hybrid autofocus with 171 contrast detection points and 105 phase detection points
Autofocus illuminator	Yes	Yes
Exposure compensation	-3 — +3 EV, in 1/3EV increments	-3 — +3 EV, in 1/3EV increments
Flash compensation	-3 to +1 EV in 1/3 EV steps	-3 to +1 EV in 1/3 EV steps
LCD	Diameter 3 inches, resolution 460 thousand dots	Diameter 3 inches, resolution 1,037,000 thousand dots. Touch display
Viewfinder	No	No
Video recording	1080p60, 1080p30, 720p60, 720p30, 240p400120p1200 with stereo sound	1080p60, 1080p30, 720p60, 720p30, 240p400120p1200 with stereo sound
Microphone input	No	No
Size	101 x 61 x 29 mm	100 x 60 x 29 mm
Weight	230g	232g
Battery life (CIPA)	270 shots	300 shots
Built-in GPS	No	No
Wireless connection	Via WU-1a adapter	Built-in Wi-Fi

Conclusion

So, which camera should you buy? The Nikon 1 S2 is significantly cheaper, but still provides good photo quality and high ISO performance. The camera is small, light and stylish. However, for a little more you can enjoy the Nikon 1 J4's touchscreen display, significantly better autofocus tracking and built-in Wi-Fi.

The lens that comes with Nikon 1 J4 – VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 PD-Zoom has image stabilization, thereby providing sharper images and good macro capabilities. The Nikon 1 S2 comes with an 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lens, which does not have vibration reduction.

To summarize, it should be noted that the Nikon 1 S2 would be more suitable for beginners who are just getting acquainted with the world of photography and who still have to go through the difficult path of becoming familiar with certain capabilities of photographic equipment. Nikon 1 J4, in turn, is more suitable for more experienced photographers who have already had experience with, say, an inexpensive point-and-shoot camera. Whatever camera you choose, if you upgrade to the more expensive Nikon 1 professional model, you will be able to use the lenses you purchased with your previous camera.

Nikon 1 J1 - the same Nikon, but cheaper

Sergey Verveyko

December 21, 2011

Nikon 1 J1 is the junior model of the Nikon 1 line of system cameras, consisting of only two devices. At first glance, the camera seems even more interesting than the older one, because, unlike the Nikon V1, it has a built-in flash. However, the younger camera does not have an accessory port, the display is worse, the shutter is only electronic, the battery capacity is smaller, there is no viewfinder, in addition, the buffer is significantly smaller than that of the V1. But the cost of Nikon 1 J1 is approximately 10 thousand rubles less, which, with a similar element base, makes you think carefully when choosing. The V1 camera, which was recently tested, first of all impressed with its speed. Of course, similar results were expected from J1.

⇡#Technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer

Nikon 1 J1
Image sensor	CMOS matrix size 13.2x8.8 mm, total number of dots 12.0 million
Effective number of points, MP	10,1
Image saving format	Still image: JPEG (DCF 2.0, Exif 2.3, RAW (NEF) Video: MPEG-4
Frame size in pixels	Still image: 3872×2592, 2896 x1944, 1936×1296 Video: 1920×1080/60i, 1920×1080/30p, 1280×720/60p Slow motion video: 640×240/400 fps, 320×120/120 0 frames per give me a sec
Sensitivity, units in ISO equivalent	100-3200 (expandable to 6400)
Shutter speed range, s	Electronic shutter: 1/16,000 to 30 in 1/3 EV increments
Exposure metering	Matrix, Center-weighted: Meters 4.5mm circle in center of frame Spot: Meters 2mm circle for selected focus area
Exposure compensation	+/-3 EV in 1/3EV increments
Built-in flash	Yes (guide number 5.0 at ISO 100)
Self-timer, s	2/5/10
Storage device	SD, SDHC, SDXC
LCD display	TFT LCD monitor with a diagonal of 3″, a resolution of about 460 thousand dots and brightness adjustment
Interfaces	HDMI, USB, audio/video output, external microphone connection
Nutrition	Lithium-ion battery EN-EL20, 7.4 Wh
Dimensions (WxHxD), mm	106x61x29.8 (without protruding parts)
Weight, g	277 g with battery and memory card, but without protective cover 234 g (camera body only)

⇡#Supply set

• Belt AN-N1000;
• Protective cover BF-N1000;
• Battery EN-EL20;
• Charger MH-27;
• Disk with ViewNX2 software;
• Disc with Short Movie Creator software;
• USB cable UC-E15.

⇡#Compatible optics

When planning the start of sales, Nikon clearly understood that without a fleet of compatible optics it would be extremely difficult to break through among the mass of competitors, so simultaneously with the presentation of the cameras, a line of four lenses was presented. These are the “whale” 1 NIKKOR 10 mm ƒ/2.8 and 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30 mm ƒ/3.5-5.6, as well as the portable telephoto zoom lens 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110 mm ƒ/3.8 -5.6 and a motorized zoom lens covering a fairly large range of focal lengths 1 NIKKOR VR 10–100 mm ƒ/4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM. Of course, this range of lenses cannot be compared with the line of Panasonic and Olympus Micro Four Thirds optics, and the Samsung NX series includes a significant number of lenses. In general, it’s a rather weak start, but Nikon has much more experience in lens design than, for example, Samsung.

There can be only one explanation: Nikon is cautious and does not immediately invest huge sums in the development of a large fleet of optics, wanting to first evaluate the commercial success of Nikon 1 series cameras. However, an adapter for Nikon F lenses is available in the list of options, so users of Nikon DSLRs can easily use the existing one optics available.

⇡#Appearance and ease of use

The tested camera is quite similar to the older one - V1, but at the same time noticeably smaller. With the “pancake” the camera is really miniature. It may not be the smallest, but it is the thinnest in the class of system cameras. Even the Olympus PEN E-PM1 and Pentax Q turned out to be thicker. Nikon 1 J1 looks very interesting, and a potential buyer can choose one of five color options - classic silver and black, as well as white, pink and red. The cameras and complete lenses are painted in the same color, which should be kept in mind when choosing a color if you plan to expand your optics fleet.

The camera we tested does not have a small protrusion on the left side of the front panel, like the V1, so it is less comfortable to hold with one hand. In addition, the paintwork on the body is mirror-smooth, so the camera glides great in your hands, especially in even slightly damp ones. In general, working with the camera without a shoulder strap is even a little scary - after all, it’s not a $100 compact. It is also worth noting another small drawback: the strap fasteners do not rotate. But there are no comments about the build quality - everything is impeccable. When trying to squeeze and twist, the case does not give in at all and does not make any sounds.

On the front there is a bayonet mount, a pair of microphones, an IR receiver, and an autofocus illuminator lamp, which also serves as an indicator for the automatic shutter release timer.

The back is almost the same as the recently reviewed V1. There is only one difference - on the round multifunction key the “down” button is responsible for calling up the menu for selecting the flash operating mode, while on the V1 it is for the menu for selecting the focus mode. So, most of the surface is occupied by the screen, above which there is a mechanical flash lock slider, and to the right there is a function key, an image zoom lever during viewing, which is also used to control the shutter speed and aperture opening. Below is a dial for selecting shooting modes, a key for switching to viewing mode and a button for selecting a display mode, a round multifunction key with an enter button in the center and a rotating ring around the perimeter. Even lower are the keys to enter the main menu and delete.

On top are a pop-up flash, a system speaker, a power button, as well as a shutter and video key.

Below is a standard set: a tripod mount connector and a plastic door hiding the battery and memory card compartments.

The left side surface is empty, and on the right there is a rubber plug that hides the HDMI and USB cable connection ports.

Nikon 1 J1 - the same Nikon, but cheaper

Sergey Verveyko

December 21, 2011

⇡#Display and interface

Unlike the older Nikon V1, the camera under test does not have a viewfinder. And the display is also three-inch, but with half the resolution - 460 thousand versus 921 thousand dots, that is, the same as, for example, the Panasonic GF3 and Olympus E-PM1 cameras. Surprisingly, this difference is not immediately apparent, due to insufficiently neat and smooth fonts. However, the image itself is also displayed worse - at the same resolution, individual pixels are more noticeable. The viewing angles of the J1 display are much smaller than those of the older model - V1, Olympus PEN E-PM1, and the Panasonic GF3 is ahead here. Color rendering is also worse than that of competitors or the older model of the line. The interface is exactly the same as that of V1, and the minor differences are only the presence or absence of some items. Subjectively, the menu animation seemed less smooth, although there were no obvious stutters. To familiarize yourself with the camera interface, below are some screenshots.

Main shooting window

System settings menu

Photo settings menu

Viewing Mode Setup Menu

Movie mode setup menu

View basic metadata and luminance histogram

Viewing the underlying file data

Viewing the maximum enlarged fragment

2x2 miniature matrix

3x3 miniature matrix

9x9 miniature matrix

⇡#Camera Features

Since, in terms of features, the camera is exactly the same as the Nikon 1 V1, we will not describe them in detail here, but will provide a link : a curious reader can always follow it and find out everything he would like about the Smart Selector smart photography mode, the instant snapshot, Full HD video recording, high-speed shooting and other interesting features of the Nikon 1 camera family.

The main feature of the camera remains the fastest autofocus in the class of system cameras. As testing of the older model, V1, has shown, autofocus in Nikon 1 series cameras is indeed very fast, primarily due to the use of a hybrid focusing mechanism that supports switching between contrast targeting and phase detection modes.

⇡#Shooting and impressions of work

Of course, in terms of focusing speed, the J1 was expected to produce no worse results than the one shown by the V1, since the cameras are quite similar, but... that was not the case. J1 switches on and gets ready for operation in 1.48 seconds. Of course, the result is not the worst, but there is no talk of immediate readiness. It's a shame.

Continuous shooting speed was measured in three modes: in JPEG format with the least compression, in RAW format, and also in RAW+JPEG formats with the least compression. All formats were set to the maximum available resolution. To minimize the influence of various third-party factors, the fastest available memory card was selected. Focusing was set to manual mode, and the shutter speed during testing was 1/1000 of a second. In the diagram below, the spikes indicate the shutter is being released.

The camera has two options for continuous shooting: with an electronic shutter and speeds of 10, 30 and 60 frames per second, without autofocus, with a burst duration limit of 1 second, as well as with an electronic shutter (the older model of the line uses a mechanical shutter in this case ), without duration limitation, but at a lower speed. The buffer capacity of J1 is noticeably smaller than that of V1, which set an absolute record for the duration of a burst at maximum speed, but still the buffer is sufficient to shoot 27 frames at maximum resolution in JPEG Fine (with minimal compression), 19 in RAW and in RAW+JPEG Fine - 18 frames. The result is twice as bad as the V1, but still the J1 is ahead of all other system cameras. Even the Panasonic DMC-GF3 was left behind, which was able to shoot 14 frames in JPEG Fine at a resolution of only 2 megapixels.

The focusing speed was measured in good lighting, a test still life used to assess the noise level was used as a pointing object, focusing was done in the central zone, and before each measurement the camera was pointed at infinity. During testing, a 10-30mm lens was used. At wide-angle, the camera is only slightly slower than the older model - 0.22 seconds. It is worth noting that one of the main competitors, the Panasonic DMC-GF3 with a “whale” zoom lens, required the same amount of precision to the nearest hundredth of a second, which was a record in our results database before the advent of the Nikon V1. In the telephoto position, the camera unexpectedly turned out to be not so quick - 0.48 seconds, and this is already one of the worst indicators among modern system cameras.

There are only three items available in the autofocus mode selection menu - automatic zone selection, the so-called “single-frame”, which by default is the central zone focusing mode, but when you press the enter key it switches to manual zone selection mode, as well as tracking mode. The latter mode works very correctly, and here the camera being tested is not a bit inferior to the Nikon V1. Objects are picked up instantly, and in the presence of a more or less contrasting background, the camera tenaciously holds onto them even with rapid and chaotic movement or shaking of the camera. In addition, when an object leaves the frame area, it is immediately picked up again upon its return.

Autofocus is accurate even in very difficult conditions, but when shooting in the dark, the built-in autofocus illuminator is not always enough for correct operation. It would be far from superfluous to add the function of autofocus illumination with pre-flashes, but, unfortunately, this is not provided. Manual focusing is carried out using the rotating ring of the multifunction key, since Nikon 1 series lenses do not have a focusing ring, which is a little frustrating - because in difficult conditions it is much easier to help autofocus by turning the ring (albeit with a pseudo-mechanical drive) than pressing buttons in a complex sequence . In general, the manual focusing process is quite lengthy.

In addition to other modes, there is also a face detection mode. The camera doesn't have the ability to create a list of favorite faces, but the mode itself works great - the camera instantly picks up a lot of faces and holds them, even in quite difficult conditions.

Nikon J1 has PASM modes, and exposure metering works in three standard modes - matrix, center-weighted and spot. The user is given the opportunity to enter an exposure shift in the range from -3 to +3 EV, but there is no shooting mode with automatic exposure bracketing, however, there could not be one, because this function is not available even in the older model of the line.

Exposure metering in natural light works quite well, but artificial light makes the camera make a little more errors. Although, in general, the automation’s performance is quite good. Under fluorescent lighting, the error is +0.09...+0.18 EV, which is slightly higher than the competition. In contrast, under incandescent lighting, the J1 was more accurate than most system cameras, with an error of no more than +0.1 EV. It is noteworthy that the magnitude of the error gradually decreases with increasing sensitivity level.

The white balance settings, at first glance, do not differ from those of most Nikon compacts: automatic and manual modes are available, as well as six presets (fluorescent, incandescent, sunlight, cloudy, flash, shadow). In addition to the ability to select a preset, it is possible to fine-tune individual settings on the AB/GM scale (+/-6 positions). Natural lighting is easy for automation, but with artificial lighting, mistakes can be significant.

To assess the correctness of automatic determination of white balance, the Colorchecker 24 table was used. The selected constant light sources were fluorescent lamps with a color temperature of 5500 K, as well as incandescent lamp illuminators. The test results are shown below.

Automatic BB, fluorescent lighting 5500K

Automatic BB, incandescent lighting

In the images in each field, the small inner rectangle is the reference color, and the inner square is the one obtained by the camera, but adjusted for brightness and contrast, the outer square is the raw area obtained from the camera. Red numbers indicate color deviations on the S scale in the HSV color space, and blue numbers indicate color deviations in degrees Kelvin [Meredah].

Nikon 1 J1 mirrorless review: “make me beautiful”

It's no secret that more and more people prefer a high-quality mirrorless camera to an inexpensive DSLR. Taking a kilogram device with you on vacation, which also costs a lot of money, is a dubious pleasure, unless of course you have a porter or orderly. At the same time, the choice of mirrorless cameras today is wider than ever. Sensing the trend, leading manufacturers began releasing one model after another, trying to please as many potential buyers as possible. However, someone managed to keep up with fashion better than others, and this is Nikon.

The J1 is positioned as a lightweight and extremely easy-to-use system mirrorless camera with detachable optics. Almost all settings and shooting modes are accessed from the menu, with controls tightly grouped along the right edge of the rear panel. The case is made neatly and pleasant to the touch, does not seem heavy, but at the same time gives the impression of being strong and reliable. It is convenient to hold the device with your left hand under the lens, and perform all controls with your right. The current state of the settings is shown on the display; any changes are accompanied by informative prompts. The menu is transparent and understandable. And the automation works decently, so there is no urgent need to fiddle with the settings often.

The J1 lacks a rotating display and a flash shoe. However, these attributes are not yet mandatory for a mirrorless camera. As we got to know the J1, it turned out that you can do without them quite successfully. The three-inch display with a resolution of 460,000 viewing angles and brightness is sufficient in most cases, so the lack of a viewfinder is also not too burdensome. It is worth noting that in the Nikon1 family there is also a model with a viewfinder - V1.

As for ease of control, this is the absolute truth. The device was mastered by a five-year-old child without any problems in a few minutes without any instructions. However, this is not surprising, since when shooting in point-and-shoot mode, the only operation that requires the user to make a decision is raising the flash.

Nikon 1 J1 controls are extremely simple

If you are not too lazy to look at the menu, you can easily find in it everything you need for those for whom automation capabilities are not enough. There is manual focus, exposure compensation, built-in flash correction, metering mode selection and much more. There is even the possibility of shooting in RAW format, which is not found in every amateur camera. It is possible to resize or crop the finished photo. Good functionality for a mirrorless camera, all that remains is to choose a lens and see how the J1 performs. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to evaluate the fast wide-angle 10/2.8, and a pair of 10-30 and 30-110, along with a tenx zoom lens 10-100, came to the editorial office along with the J1.

Lenses 10-30 and 30-110 have a built-in stabilizer, a fairly modest aperture ratio of 3.5 (3.8) at the wide end and 5.6 at the long end. In 35mm camera equivalents these are 27-81 and 81-297. Quite a classic pair for all occasions. Lenses are available in various colors to match the color of the camera. J1 looks very harmonious with them. The weight of a device with a whale zoom 10-30 does not exceed four hundred grams; a telephoto camera will add only another hundred and eighty to the bag. This set is not only quite light, but also very compact - both lenses fold up when not in use.

Now it’s not difficult to match your camera to your evening dress or lipstick.

To move the lens to the working position, you need to press the lock button and rotate the zoom ring. In this case, the device automatically turns on, so the time before taking the first frame is very short. Sometimes it even seems that J1 takes longer to “wake up” from energy-saving mode than it does to turn on. The 10x zoom 10-100 is noticeably different from other 1 Nikkor lenses - its size and weight (more than half a kilogram) would be more suitable for DSLR models. The aperture of this lens is also modest - 4.5-5.6. But don’t forget about another part of the user audience – videographers. Motorized zoom allows fast or slow, but always very smooth and almost silent changes in focal length. The combination with fast and fairly tenacious autofocus makes this lens almost indispensable for shooting video fragments.

When changing the lens, we will see a dozen contacts that provide communication with the lens and a protective filter very shallowly underneath them. It is located at a noticeable distance from the matrix, so if a speck of dust or even a hair gets on the filter while the lens is not installed, it will have virtually no effect on the image. A simple and elegant solution. As it turned out, it was very effective.

Both those who have used compacts and those who are familiar with SLR cameras will have to get used to the features of the optics, “tailored” for the inch J1 sensor. The small dimensions and weight of the optical elements make it possible to achieve excellent focusing speed. In sufficient light, the J1 focuses almost like a DSLR with any of its lenses.

Test shots of Nikon 1 J1 (to view in real resolution, click on the photo)

In twilight street light, as the light flux decreases, the focusing quality slowly drops, then the device “goes blind” for a while, after which the autofocus illuminator “wakes up.” When switching to manual mode, focusing is carried out not mechanically, but by the same focusing motor, only the user is given the opportunity to independently command the drive, observing the result on the screen. The focusing area is displayed in an enlarged form, which in good light allows you to focus very accurately on the desired object. A very valuable feature for complex multi-plane scenes. But at dusk, it becomes difficult to see the object on the screen.

HDMI interface expands multimedia capabilities of Nikon 1 J1

The image stabilization system built into the 1 Nikkor lenses deserves special mention. For example, with a focal length of 30mm (81mm equivalent), traces of “shake” become visible when the image is fully enlarged from each of the three tested lenses at shutter speeds of 1/5 and longer, i.e. The stabilizer worked properly for about four exposure steps, this result can be considered very good for a mirrorless camera.

When analyzing the first batch of test images on the computer, a noticeable percentage of out-of-focus frames were discovered that were not immediately noticeable when viewed on the J1 display. If it weren’t for the test, which showed the reliable operation of the stabilizer on all lenses, they could easily be written off as a glitch. However, having carefully studied the EXIF ​​data and repeated the test, we finally justified the stabilizer. The J1's auto program is designed to avoid increasing ISO unnecessarily.

When the light falls, the device will first open the aperture, then gradually increase the shutter speed. Only when the shutter speed reaches a threshold that the stabilizer cannot handle at a given focal length does the device finally increase the ISO value. In most cases, the algorithm is correct, but in the twilight the effect of its operation leads to blurred images - the stabilizer compensates for the movement of the device, but not the movement of objects in the frame. The procedure is completed by a noise reduction system, after the intervention of which it becomes almost impossible to distinguish blur from movement in the frame from “shaking”.

The top edge of Nikon 1 J1 is practically devoid of control elements

In general, the result of the noise reduction in the J1 is quite predictable, especially if you remember that all 10 million points are taken from a 13.2 x 8.8 mm CMOS matrix. The system gradually eats up small details as the ISO value increases, but the result looks much more decent than with 1/1.7” matrices. As a result, most of the shots from the J1 allow you to get a 20x30 cm format print. The computing power in the Nikon 1 J1 is enough not only for noise suppression. The modern matrix and EXPEED 3 processor made it possible to achieve very decent video quality with a resolution of 1920x1080. The J1 can take long series of full-resolution photos at 5 frames per second.

For short bursts there are modes with a frequency of 10, 30 and even 60 frames per second. You certainly cannot do without a high-speed memory card, otherwise you will have to wait too long for the buffer to be cleared. There are no problems with this - the J1 supports SD, SDHC and SDXC cards. The “motion snapshot” or 60 frames per second modes are certainly interesting, but are extremely rarely used in ordinary household photography. Much more important is the speed of the device’s response to user actions. Here the J1 is at its best - it is not at all inclined to “slow down”, responding to commands with lightning speed and predictability. Just a few years ago, many people expected exactly this from cameras, but without waiting, they eventually got used to it and... together they take pictures with their phones.

Funny solution with built-in flash Nikon 1 J1

Getting to know the Nikon J1 showed both strengths and weaknesses, however, there are noticeably more of the former, especially considering that this is an extremely compact and lightweight camera designed for the fastest and easiest shooting possible. We remember Nikon J1 primarily for its pleasant design, extreme simplicity and a number of technical advantages over both conventional point-and-shoot cameras and its direct competitors among mirrorless cameras.

Nikon 1: J1 and J2

The entire Nikon 1 series was perhaps the most anticipated in the mirrorless camera market. This segment has been divided between competitors such as Sony, Samsung, and Olympus for quite some time. Nikon's first entry was the J1, and after a short period of time the Japanese company did some work on the bugs with the release of the J2. We had both of these cameras in our possession, and it's a good opportunity to appreciate the amount of work Nikon has done.

Externally, the devices are practically no different from each other, neither in their exterior nor in their controls. In both cases, Nikon focused on compactness and minimalism: rounded shapes, a small number of protruding parts and a rather original design of the built-in flash.

The differences are not noticeable at first glance, but if the body of the “first” is made of high-quality and pleasant-to-touch plastic, the “second” is already clad in brushed aluminum. Fundamentally, this only affected the weight of the devices: the “second” one was heavier, albeit by a few grams, but this choice of materials noticeably added to its “pedigreedness.”

In addition, replacing the coating allowed the company to somewhat diversify the color range: if the J1 was supplied to the market in only three colors (white, black and pink), then the J2 added dark red and orange. Color in this case decides a lot: if a black camera looks like a respectable men's camera, then pink and even orange are already a bright accessory.

The dimensions of both cameras are the same - 106x61x29.8 mm (without lens), weight J1 - 277 grams, and J2 - 280 grams.

The set of functional elements on both cameras is minimalistic. The front side of the J1 contains the lens mount, stereo microphone, lens release button and auxiliary light. In J2, an infrared receiver is added to them

Under the cover on the right side there are miniHDMI and miniUSB interfaces.

At the top end there is a flash, an on/off button, a power indicator, a speaker, a shutter button and a separate video recording button.

The battery compartment and memory card slot are hidden under one cover at the bottom. There is also a thread for attaching to a tripod.

The rear panel has a large area dedicated to the display, and this is one area that Nikon has worked hard on. The screen resolution of the J2 is exactly twice as high as that of the J1: 921,000 pixels versus 460,000.

The rest of the controls for both cameras are identical. The two most notable are the shooting modes and the five-way joystick with scroll wheel. On either side of it are four function keys: display mode, viewing footage, menu and delete.

Along the top edge there is a flash button, a quick menu function key and a zoom rocker when viewing pictures - it is not used as a digital zoom.

The build quality also raises no complaints: everything is secure, no play, the battery compartment closes securely. The only thing that raises some concerns is the design of the built-in flash - it is possible that in the open position it will not be able to survive a fall, although we did not dare to test this.

The only drawback is a consequence of the compactness of the device, as well as its rather heavy weight when loaded - holding both cameras in one hand is not very convenient. As a result, a stiff brush and littered horizons. So it’s best to hold the camera with both hands, but how comfortable it is is up to you to decide.

As for the controls and interface, each camera should be considered separately. In both cases, the manufacturer had to solve the same problem - to fit all the controls on a small island of the rear panel to the right of the display. Nikon coped with compactness, but at the expense of ease of control.

In the case of the J1, there are several very obvious mistakes, for example, there is no way to quickly switch the shooting mode or white balance - everything requires one or two extra clicks with the risk of going somewhere wrong. A separate difficulty is added by the insufficiently informative scroll wheel, which takes quite a long time to get used to.

The F button, which is supposed to be used to call up the quick menu, is in fact endowed with some strange functionality: in the “Motion Snapshot” mode, for example, it selects the soundtrack for the video, in the simple photo mode it selects serial or time-lapse shooting. But just these options could be “hidden” in the main menu, while the functions on the F key cannot be reassigned.

But to change the shooting mode - a much more popular item - you will have to go to the main menu.

In J2 this problem remains, while in some modes - in automatic and in Smart Photo, the F key is simply not endowed with any functionality - there is not even a quick menu. On the other hand, in Creative Photo mode, the key allows you to quickly switch between settings.

By the way, for some reason the manual settings mode is also hidden in Creative Photo, which may not seem entirely logical, but this does not cause serious problems. Changing ISO and white balance also requires going into the menu, but often you won’t have to do this anyway, since the automatic mode works at a decent level.

In manual mode, several options are available: manual, program, shutter priority, aperture priority, automatic.

As for the interface itself, both models have it at a very high level. There are no redundant graphics, too ramified menu items, everything is logically organized, in addition, the font was well chosen and the translation was done, which is also important.

In order for the cameras to be ready for use, just remove the lens cap and rotate it. In my personal opinion, this is much more convenient than turning on the camera with a key. There is one here too, but after pressing it, in order to take a picture, you still have to move the lens to the working position. Although, of course, this takes some time, and the plot may disappear in these split seconds.

The J1 and J2 are powered by the new CX CMOS sensor and EXPEED 3 processor, which give the cameras excellent performance. This is also facilitated by hybrid autofocus, which can switch between 73-point phase detection autofocus and 135-point contrast autofocus, so the devices are capable of taking up to 60 pictures per second with maximum resolution.

In addition, the cameras offer proactive photography (before you press the shutter button completely) and maximum resolution pictures simultaneously with video recording.

Another nice feature is D-Lightning, which “pulls out” dark areas of the image in highly contrasting conditions - moved here from professional DSLRs.

Both cameras also feature a Smart Photo mode that takes 20 photos while you press the shutter button and then selects the five that the camera thinks are best for you to choose from. This feature is very useful in dynamic conditions or when photographing animals and small children.

Another feature is Motion Snapshot. It is not original, and this has already been implemented in some Canon models. Its essence lies in the fact that a short video is recorded before the photo. There are several video style options to choose from, which differ primarily in the musical accompaniment. You can view the footage on your computer by first installing a special player on it.

The Creative Photo mode is exclusive to the J2, and it allows you to take some pretty original and beautiful photos. There are modes such as “panorama”, “miniature” (analogous to Tilt-Shift), “backlighting”, “selective light” and others.

As for lenses, a new bayonet mount was developed for the Nikon 1 series, for which its own fleet of optics was created, and for obvious reasons, lenses from DSLRs will not fit here.

The “First” comes with 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 lens. In addition, often the “kit” also comes with a “telephoto” 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110 mm f/3.8-5.6. Also in the line of “single” lenses there is a “fix” 1 NIKKOR VR 10 mm f/2.8 and a zoom lens with an electric drive 1 NIKKOR VR 10-100 mm F/4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM, which is well suited for shooting video.

For the “second” one, a standard lens 1 NIKKOR 11-27.5 mm f/3.5-5.6 was also developed.

You shouldn’t expect anything “extraordinary” from the flash, and in some cases its weakness is compensated by automatic aperture and shutter speed settings.

The speed of both cameras is simply excellent. Of course, it’s difficult to compare them with professional DSLRs, but they leave most modern digital point-and-shoot cameras far behind in terms of image speed. This is best seen during continuous shooting, as well as in autofocus speed.

It was not possible to completely get rid of noise, and they noticeably begin to appear already at ISO 800. In addition, automatic white balance does not always work perfectly, and the color palette may turn out to be too cold, or, on the contrary, fall into yellowness.

In all other respects, there are no complaints about the picture quality. The pictures are not much inferior to even entry-level DSLRs in terms of detail, dynamic range and color rendition.

Nikon 1J1 and J2 are equipped with EN-EL20 batteries with a capacity of 1020 mAh, which is enough for a day of work or about 230 shots including burst shooting. Video shooting eats up the charge faster, but not critically.

As for the price, Nikon 1J1 today costs about 18 thousand rubles, and the cost of Nikon 1J2 is already about 20 thousand. For a buyer, a logical decision would be to buy an entry-level DSLR for the same money. And this would be reasonable, since in this case you will get the opportunity to choose from a larger fleet of optics, a proven (and not created from scratch) bayonet mount, and the same decent operating speed.

However, Nikon took these objections into account, and when developing the “first” series, it focused on the advantage that “DSLRs” will not have soon - compactness and light weight. At the same time, the manufacturer managed to achieve an excellent balance between speed and image quality. Plus, it wouldn’t hurt to mention additional modes that make the shooting process much more interesting.

Examples of photos. The original is available by clicking.

Review of the Nikon 1 J1 10-30mm mirrorless camera

I love to travel, and to make a trip memorable, you can’t do without high-quality photographs. Usually, we always took a DSLR when traveling, but carrying almost one and a half kilograms of photographic equipment (Nikon D7000 + Tamrom 17-50/f2.8) around your neck all day is quite tiring. Therefore, before traveling to Vietnam in December 2012, I decided to pick up something more compact. I didn’t immediately take point-and-shoot cameras into account; it was easier for me to shoot with my Galaxy Nexus and I began to choose between mirrorless cameras.

By that time, prices for many models had just dropped. The cost of the cheapest junior models Olympus Pen, Samsung NX and Nikon 1 was around $300-400. I read reviews that, due to a poor matrix, rejected Olympus and, due to the very slow performance of the camera, Samsung. The Nikon 1 J1 was embarrassed by its small matrix compared to its competitors, but it was significantly larger than that of any point-and-shoot camera, so they decided to ignore it. As it turned out later, it was in vain. But it had, the first of the mirrorless cameras, fast hybrid autofocus and lacked the general system sluggishness that was then inherent in most budget mirrorless cameras. After reviewing a bunch of reviews and sample images, I chose the Nikon 1 J1 with a 10-30mm/f3.5-5.6 lens.

You can see examples of photographs on our travel blog “Live Traveling”, but some of the pictures there were taken on smartphones, so I will comment on a few pictures.

Sunny day Cloudy day Night photography Handheld shot in a yurt. There is light, but not very much.

Next, two lists with comments about the pros and cons of the Nikon 1 J1 camera with a 10-30mm lens.

Pros:

• Compact size and light weight. The camera with lens weighs 400 g and the charger 100 g.
• Speed ​​of autofocus and camera performance in general. Autofocus is really fast compared to any point-and-shoot camera. But how the camera chooses the focus point is clear only to it, but more on that in the cons. The camera does not freeze when taking a series of shots, does not get stuck in the menu or when switching modes.
• Autofocus illuminator. The camera focuses quite well in low light thanks to the green autofocus illuminator.
• Good photo quality in normal lighting conditions, excellent FullHD video quality for such a baby.
• Convenient use of mode A (aperture priority). I only shoot in this mode on a DSLR, sometimes adjusting the exposure using shortcut keys, and in Nikon 1 J1 it is implemented quite humanly. Quite convenient control of exposure compensation (joystick to the right). The aperture value is changed using a rocker button, which is not very convenient; it would be better to use a joystick wheel. Moreover, surprisingly, in M ​​mode (manual mode) the aperture is changed with a wheel, and the shutter speed is changed with a rocker button.
• No cable on the charger. Yes, yes, there is no cable creating an extra 100 grams of weight, although the dimensions of the charger could have been smaller.
• Built-in flash. Still a useful thing, especially if you need to take a photo in very dark conditions.
• Possibility of using standard Nikon ML-L3 infrared remote control.
• You can shoot timelapse; the necessary settings are in the camera menu.

Minuses:

• Autofocus performance is often blurry. Or, even more likely, he doesn’t choose where to focus correctly. Of course, you can choose a central point and not worry, but sometimes you still want a simple machine gun.
• Inconvenient switching between automatic and aperture priority modes. You need to go through several menu items to do this.
• Lots of digital noise in low light conditions. Main disadvantage number 1. The camera really loses to its classmates in terms of the amount of digital noise and appears even at ISO 400.
• No hot shoe. It could be useful for photographing objects or food. But for such a camera, it’s not critical.
• Weak battery and no charge indicator. Low battery capacity is a disease of all mirrorless cameras from any manufacturer, judging by numerous reviews on the Internet. But of course Nikon missed the mark with the indicator. The indicator appears only when the battery is on its last legs.

Some photos of the appearance and menu:

The camera lens is in working position. To extend it this way, you need to press the black button on the lens ring and turn it clockwise about 45 degrees. Switching between shooting modes "Video", "Photo", "Sports" and "Intelligent" is done using the wheel. But switching the aperture in mode A, using the rocker button above the wheel. Although it would be more convenient to switch it with the joystick wheel. Until you unlock the lens, you will not be able to use the camera, which is honestly written when you turn it on. This is what the main menu looks like. Through the menu, auxiliary shooting modes are switched. For example, “Aperture priority mode” Or types of output files And this is a charger, quite large, at least there are no wires

Conclusion. Considering today's price of 200-250 dollars, this is a great option for those who want better quality photos than any compact camera (point-and-shoot) in this price category. Due to the larger size of the matrix, frames in low-light conditions will be of higher quality, but not as high quality as on the youngest DSLRs or mirrorless Sony NEX or Canon EOS M. And fast autofocus and, in general, fast camera operation will not allow you to miss good frames . In general, it’s quite a device for $200-250, but not for the $400 that I spent on it.

In Russian

Nikon has finally joined the friendly team consisting of Olympus, Panasonic, Pentax (already!), Samsung and Sony. This morning the company officially announced its mirrorless cameras: Nikon V1 and Nikon J1.

While some companies are introducing their fourth or even fifth mirrorless cameras, the photography monsters - Canon and Nikon - are thinking about something of their own. We found out what was on the first one’s mind. But Nikon still did what was expected of it for a long time.

Without wasting a minute, we went to look at the new products:

Nikon 1

The company announced not just new cameras, Nikon presented an entire digital photographic system with the simple name “1”. The essence of the “one” is in a wide range of technologies, which, according to Nikon, have no analogues today. Thanks to the dual-core EXPEED 3 processor, the new cameras are “the fastest in the world.”

Among the special functions is “motion snapshot”: when in one mode, high-speed video shooting and photography are simultaneously carried out. Nikon claims that using this mode you can especially successfully record, for example, rolling waves, a child’s smile, and blowing out candles on a cake.

Another feature - intelligent shot selection - will be useful when shooting dynamic scenes. With just one press of the shutter release, the camera takes 20 high-resolution photos at high speed, then automatically selects the five best shots based on facial expression, composition and focus. After this, the best frame is displayed on the LCD screen. And if you don’t like it, the camera will offer several others to choose from.

Nikon J1

Nikon 1 J1 (that's right, there are two units in the full name) is the smallest digital camera in its class with interchangeable lenses and a matrix of over 25.4 mm. You will go to any lengths to achieve a record. Another feature of the camera is the world’s lowest shooting delay.

The design of the camera is minimalistic. The case is light, but, according to first impressions, reliable. The device weighs 277 grams

Inside the J1 is a 10.1-megapixel CX-format CMOS sensor (13.2mm x 8.8mm) with autofocus support (up to 135 focus areas). The camera shoots at speeds of up to 60 frames per second, and with high resolution. Working range ISO: 100-3200, with the ability to shoot 6400 in a separate mode

Sony NEX-5 and Nikon J1 matrices

Three-inch display (460,000 dots), with a wide viewing angle and protective glass

Nikon J1 also has a built-in flash and the ability to record video in Full HD format

According to Nikon itself, the J1 is a camera for those who are interested in capturing personal and family memories as easily as possible. The J1 will be available in five body colors: matte black, silver, glossy white, glossy red and hot pink with color-matched accessories

Nikon V1

Nikon V1 is also a compact mirrorless camera, but it is already a higher rank and more serious in appearance. “A camera for technology enthusiasts who want to take their photography to the next level,” Nikon told us.

The V1 is also compact, but it has a reinforced body and a bright 1440k dot electronic viewfinder

Plus a multi-function accessory connector: SB-N5 flash and GP-N100 GPS receiver (more on them below)

Inside, almost everything is the same: 10.1 megapixel CMOS sensor, EXPEED 3 processor and SD card photo recording

The display is also three-inch, but with a higher resolution: 921 thousand dots

Lenses

The company also introduced four new 1 Nikkor and 1 Mount lenses.

All lenses are small and lightweight for maximum portability and perfect camera balance. The first series includes the 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm (standard 3x zoom lens) for shooting anywhere and everywhere; retractable 1 Nikkor VR 30-110 mm (telephoto zoom), ultra-thin 1 Nikkor 10 mm for wide-angle shooting and 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm PD-ZOOM (motorized zoom with variable speed) for video enthusiasts. Moreover, Nikon hastened to note that the development of new 1 Nikkor lenses is already underway.

New 1 Nikkor lenses

Accessories

The SB-N5 Speedlight (pictured above) is compatible with the Nikon V1 and, apparently, future Nikon mirrorless cameras. The flash can be rotated horizontally and vertically and is equipped with a focusing illuminator.

The GP-N100 GPS module is compatible with V1 and is designed for geotagging images. Information about longitude, latitude and altitude above sea level is saved automatically.

The F mount adapter will allow you to use any Nikkor lenses for digital SLR cameras with Nikon 1 cameras. The adapter is compatible with Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1 cameras.

Plus cases, straps, hoods, handles, as well as the ability to connect an external Nikon ME-1 microphone.

The new cameras will go on sale in the States in October. Nikon J1 with a 10-30mm lens will cost $650, and Nikon V1, with the same glass included, will cost $900.

Related materials:

— “The Right Dish” (Preview of Sony NEX-7);

— “By cameras” (Preliminary review of Samsung NX200 and MV800).