I was
invited by Nikon Canada at an exclusive media party in New York last Tuesday
where Nikon had a worldwide launch of a new consumer digital camera system that
will produce high quality pictures and make sure you get the shot, every time.
Built from scratch,
the hi-tech Nikon 1 camera system features the V1 and J1 cameras. It’s a combination
of smart simplicity and great picture and movie taking. The cameras are mirror
less with interchangeable lenses, newly designed for the compact and minimalist
buttoned camera bodies.
The Nikon 1
system joins similar mirror less cameras from Olympus, Samsung, Panasonic, Sony
and Pentax. They all feature larger picture sensors than traditional point and
shoot digital cameras. This translates to better quality pictures, especially
when taken under challenging conditions.
Although
the Nikon V1 and J1 cameras have the second-smallest of these sensors (Samsung
and Sony having the largest sensors found in larger-bodied DSLR cameras) the
smarts built in the Nikon 1 system is impressive.
Here’s why:
– A 10.1
megapixel CX-format high speed AF CMOS sensor wisely ignores the gimmicky high
megapixel war with no compromise in colour tone and contrast range.
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– The
claimed world’s fastest autofocus (well, I must admit it is zippy) uses a new advanced hybrid autofocus system
that enables fast AF with 73 focus points. That means the camera figures out
what to focus on, even in crowded scenes.
– It shoots
the best quality 1080 60i fps video with
the smoothness of dedicated camcorders. From my tests, it is the number video
shooter from any still picture camera made today.
– Motion
Snapshot: unites a frozen still image with a slow-motion movement set to a
built-in audio soundtrack
– It’s
pocketable, with the retractable stock 10-30 mm zoom lens or the optional “pancake”
f 2.8 10 mm.
– Its new
EXPEED 3 dual-core image processing engine allows it to multifunction while you
shoot. For example, you can take full resolution still, while recording uninterrupted
video.
– The fast
processing allows the Smart Photo Selector feature to quickly capture a burst
of frames at 60 FPS and then analyze images within the camera and select the
best five photos based on factors such as exposure, composition, focus and
advanced facial recognition.
-Slow
motion playback shooting at 400 or 1200 frames per second (FPS)
-A good
startup selection of Nikkor lenses, including a VR 10-100 mm (28-280 mm equiv) power
zoom lens that performs as impressive as it looks.
Nikon is betting
consumers looking for their second or third digital camera upgrade are ready to
fork out more for the pricy “on steroids” performing cameras . “The needs of
the consumer are changing and the world is becoming one of visual conversation,
paving the way for the next chapter in image capture devices. The new Nikon 1
system is the culmination of more than 75 years of optical excellence and the
relentless pursuit of the next standard of technological advancements in
digital camera technology,” said Gregory Flasch, National Advertising and
Communications Manager at Nikon Canada.
Shooting
against similar mirror less cameras, I found the V1 to produce better than average
colour richness on regular daylight scenes, a chip off the block from its DSLR
cousin the D7000, with good shadow detail too. In available light photos 20 minutes
after sunset, the V1 outshined all other mirror less cameras, able to capture
shadow tones well after similar cameras were crying out for flash. But at 10.1
megapixels, the Nikon 1 system is limited to the size of blowups the likes of
Samsung NX11, Olympus e-PL2 can easily provide due to their almost twice as
large sensors and higher megaixel count.
Who should look into the Nikon 1 system? Folks wanting to avoid the bulkiness of DSLRs, needing
the processing smarts currently unmatched by competitors and looking for the
best video in the still camera category.
PRICES
The Nikon 1
J1 is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers on October
20, 2011 at a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price(MSRP) of $649.95. It is
available in white, as well as pink, red, silver and black in limited
distribution.
The Nikon 1
V1 is scheduled to be available at Authorized Nikon Canada Dealers on October
20, 2011 at an MSRP of $899.95. It is available in black.
Lenses and
accessories: Kit lens – 1 NIKKOR VR 10-33mm f/3.5-5.6 lens Pancake lens – 1
NIKKOR 10mm f/2.8 lens ($259.95) Zoom lens – 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6
lens ($259.95) Nikon’s first 10x power zoom (ideal for recording movies) – 1
NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 ($779.95)
SB-N5
compact speedlight ($159.95)
GP-N100 GPS
module ($159.95)
For more
information go to: www.nikon.ca
Check out my GlobalTV Sunday Morning News live tech segment on the Nikon 1 System: http://www.globaltvedmonton.com/video/tech+talk/video.html?v=2143999581&p=4&s=dd#themorningnews/video
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