Nikon's pocket-rocket 1-series

September 21, 2011 @ 6:45AM

Nikon's pocket-rocket 1-series

By Daniela Bowker

This has to have been one of the most painful birthing processes of any camera. For well over a year there has been rumour after rumour after rumour, a string of red herrings, and the odd denial. But finally, Nikon has announced what it considers a complete game-changer: Nikon 1. It’s the smallest, lightest, fastest interchangeable lens camera available with technology so advanced that Nikon has even invented an entire new category of cameras just for it: A-CIL (Advanced Interchangeable Lens camera).

In brief

So what’s the run-down? Two miniscule interchangeable lens cameras, the Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1, with an entirely new mount, 1-mount. Both come with 10 megapixel CX-format CMOS sensors (CX being a shiny new format developed just for Nikon 1) and their brand, spanking new EXPEED 3 processors. ISO 100-6,400, RAW capability, 41 point standard auto-focus, 73-point phase-detection auto-focus, and 135-point contrast detect auto-focus.

A game-changer, you say?

V1 with 30-110mm lens

And all this exciting technology? Sit tight, when I read the PR I began to think that I might be in a sci-fi film. As the dudes at Nikon put it, ‘These cameras don’t just manipulate light – they redefine photography by manipulating time… ‘

Smart Photo Selector takes up to 20 full-resolution images all the while you take just one photo. Basically, it starts taking a photo the millisecond you begin to depress the shutter, and continues after you’ve pressed it. Then through magic and libations to the camera gods it’ll save your ‘best’ five shots based on facial expression, composition, and focus, after which the ‘perfect’ shot is presented to you. On a plate or wearing a ribbon. You choose.

J1 with 10-100mm lens

Motion Snapshot is what freaked me the most. It simultaneously records a slow motion video and a still image, then with more magic and more libations (or maybe sacrifices this time, I don’t know) it mashes together the two to create a photo that moves. Awesome, definitely. But slightly freaky.

And of course you can take normal still images and make videos, too. You can even shoot full-res images whilst making a video.

V1 and J1

V1 (such an unfortunate name if you’re a Londoner of a certain generation) is the one that has all the bells and whistles. It’s an 1440k-dot electronic viewfinder with 100% frame coverage. The multi-accessory port allows you connect it to all the other goodies that Nikon’s brought out to accompany the 1-series. The body is magnesium alloy and comes in matte black and high-gloss white.

J1′s spec is pretty impressive, but is definitely aimed at a wider, less photographically-advanced audience. Fully automatic, with a built-in flash, and it comes in high-gloss white, matte black, high-gloss red, silver, and hot pink (heaven help us).

Lenses and accessories

J1, in pink

Shall we take a quick look at lenses? So Nikon developed a whole new range of lenses, 1-mount, for the Nikon 1. There’s the 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6, which is being marketed as the ‘everyday’ lens. There’s the uber-portrable 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8 -5.6. The crazy wide-angle 1 NIKKOR 10mm f/2.8. And finally the 1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM, which is aimed at people who want to make videos. It’s got a power-drive zoom switch with adjustable speed.

But, with an FT-1 mount adaptor, you can use any NIKKOR D-SLR lens with a Nikon 1 camera.

You can also splash out on a dinky SB-N5 Speedlight flash and a GP-N100 GPS unit.