Camera Labs

Anybody knows, when diffraction is supposed to set in with this CX sensor?
I suppose it already starts at f5.6...

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Oh, and btw...
I'm not sure this was already posted elsewhere:
A sensor with the same pixel-density as the CX sensor would carry 32 Mega-pixel in DX (33% more than the new Sony sensor) and 74MP in FX.
An incredible large number

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Thomas (beware: Nikon-fanboy and moderator!) My Lens Reviews, My Pictures, My Photography Blog
D800+assorted lenses

Hi everyone, I've been testing final production samples of the J1 and V1, and ahead of my full review, I'm going to start sharing images and videos.

I'll start with a selection of videos, which you can find on my Nikon V1 preview page and scrolling down a little:

http://www.cameralabs.com/reviews/Nikon_1_V1/

I've also included samples using the 400fps and 1200fps slow motion modes.

I recently purchased a V1. For me the small form factor is a plus, the 30-100 lens is very small compared to the 4/3 equivalent. I will take this with me for ultra running and fast pack trips in the mountains. It is also a camera I can carry around every day.

I am very impressed with the IQ for the sensor size and the video has blown me away. I can track fast moving dogs through an agility course from the stands and have accurate AF. My D300s has more difficult with these fast moving targets than the V1!

I am quite happy that Nikon went for the 2.7x crop as the m4/3 are just too big for me (when you start adding lenses).

The user interface will take some getting used to. I would have liked to have more access to manual controls and not have so much buried in the menus. It will take a different approach to using the camera. However, I have found that switching between stills and video is virtually seamless and this may change my photography by incorporating much more video than I have previously done.

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Zena Bronica EC-TL
Nikon FM2
Nikon D300s
Nikon D60
Nikon V1

Welcome on-board martowl, I agree about the 30-110mm lens. I've been using this a lot during my tests and it really is tiny for a telephoto zoom.

Would love to hear more about what you like - and don't like - about the camera, and why you chose it over the J1. I'd also be interested to hear if you use the other modes, like Motion Snapshot or Smart Photo Selector...

Hi everyone, ahead of my full review, I've just published my High ISO noise results! To make it interesting I've compared it against the Canon S100 and Panasonic G3 which have smaller and larger sensors respectively.

Nikon V1 noise results!

Remember this camera is not just about image quality though. Under the right conditions it'll focus and shoot as fast as a pro sports DSLR at a fraction of the price...

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Not at all bad. The V1 ISO 800 image cleans up really well after a quick visit to Smart Sharpen and Topaz Labs noise filter in PhotoShop. I'm still unsure why Nikon chose to use such a small sensor compared to some other CSS (compact system camera) offerings so I am looking forward to being educated by the full review. Doris Day had it about right when she sang "Whip Crack Away" (video) - keep on typing, Gordon.

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

Bob, the obvious guess on the sensor size choice is to differentiate between their mirrorless solution and DSLR lines. Plus there is the potential for smaller equivalent FoV lenses, even if not matching the same for DoF as bigger sensors. For my uses shallow DoF is not of high importance as insufficient subject DoF is often the bigger barrier.

It is still interesting to me if the AF on it can be compared to continuous phase on a DSLR, at least in reasonable light conditions. And having some longer lenses would help too... regardless, I hate to admit I've been looking at the pricing on these too often...

If someone tells me the AF is as good as a DSLR at tracking and they bring out a ??-200mm-ish compact zoom lens I might give in...

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

popo, weeeeell, I've had a great time shooting people running and jetboats driving towards me with the 30-110mm zoom on a V1 and J1 and the camera's keep up very well - and that telephoto zoom is very small indeed...

Gordon, I had a look again at the boat video, and while that seemed ok (assuming the AF is much the same for stills as it is for video) my typical subjects are smaller and closer so the relative difficulty is probably tougher for a camera.

Also on the lenses, I'm used to using 300-400mm on 1.6x crop body. The Nikon 1 system lens would need to be 170-235mm on the long end to equate to that, hence I picked 200mm as a round figure in that ball park.

Thankfully I'm not in any desperate need for another 2nd system so I can wait and see if they can make their 2nd generation bodies smaller and less ugly.

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Canon DSLRs: 7D, 5D2, 1D, 600D, 450D full spectrum, 300D IR mod
Lenses: EF 35/2, 50/1.8, 85/1.8, 135/2+SF, 28-80 V, 70-300L, 100-400L, TS-E 24/3.5L, MP-E 65, EF-S 15-85 IS
3rd party: Zeiss 2/50 makro, Samyang 8mm fisheye, Sigma 150 macro, 120-300 f/2.8 OS, Celestron 1325/13
Tinies: Sony HX9V.

NEW! Nikon V1 review!

I've finally finished my V1 review - I ended up spending 6 weeks on it! Hope you enjoy it and agree that it is a pretty special camera for certain folk. Parents, Soccer Moms and action afficionados on a budget will love it, especially the cheaper J1...

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A fascinating review. I was certainly one of the doubters when Nikon announced these cameras but now I see the light. You write

Hmm, might be quite good for dogs as well...

Bob.

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OM-D E-M5 + ED 12-50mm, H-PS14042E, H-F007014E, L-RS014150E, M.ZUIKO DIGITAL 45mm 1:1.8.
Gitzo GT1541T, Arca-Swiss Z1 DP ball-head.
Astrophotography: TEC 140 'scope, FLI ML16803 camera, ASA DDM60 Pro mount.

It has become a wonderful review!

It's nice to read that the two cameras are really enjoyable. Weeks ago, I was really enthusiastic about them just reading the specs. And to get confirmation now that their super fast autofocus is a real pleasure to work with is a nice thing.

Hadn't expected that the cheaper J1 would be the intuitively preferred camera to take outside but am happy for Gordon's long term testing here. Thank you.

One obvious camera to compare to the V1 is the G3. Very comparable feature sets and a significantly better sensor than the EP-3; perhaps at least worth a mention alongside the GX-1.

I'm worried Nikon has some kind of exclusive patent on the phase change AF on the sensor and then the only mirrorless option with decent AF tracking will have a tiny sensor.

I am finding the Nikon 1 V1 to be more interesting each time I do some reading on the subject. I may or may not buy, but the research surely does stimulate the brain.

On the purely practical side, a V1 uses the same models of battery and charger as my wife's D7000. If an admittedly expensive FT1 adapter is purchased, lenses can be shared, to some extent. I have not yet checked to see whether or not the V1 will meter with some of my older Nikkors, but it is good to know that any AF-S G lenses purchased in the future will be fully compatible.

The friend who did much to plant the seed that revived my latent interest in photography, Stuart, routinely carried two cameras: a point and shoot in a small waist pouch on the front of his body, and his big SLR slung in a larger shoulder-bag. When an interesting subject would present itself, Stuart could quickly draw his Yashica T4 Super and make the shot, that he would likely have missed with his SLR.

Inspired by Stuart, I bought a Kyocera T4, the then-current (late 1990s) equivalent of Stuart's P&S. (It took me until 2010 to finally buy an DSLR.) Will a Nikon 1 V1 be my first serious digital P&S? As Gordon indicated, the Nikon 1 can indeed make the quick shots. Other reviewers, on other sites, have reached the same conclusion. Steve Huff, whose true love is Leica M cameras, seems to really like the Nikon V1 for the times he does not want to carry his M9.

Has anyone reading this used an FT1 adapter yet?

Does anyone know if the Nikon 1 will meter with AF-D and AI lenses?

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Canon 7D/5D/40D/1D2N; Nikon F6, FM3A, & Coolpix A; Canon 40mm Pancake, 135L, 50L, 35L, pre-II 50mm 1.8, 100mm 2.8L Macro, 10-22mm EF-S, 28-135 EF, 400mm 5.6L; Nikkor 50mm 1.2 AI-S, 50mm 1.4G, 50mm 1.8D, 16mm 2.8D Fisheye, 180mm 2.8D, 100-300mm 5.6 AI-S; Tokina 17mm & 100mm 2.8 Macro