Nikon unveils V1 and J1 Mirrorless Cameras

[gmrza]

even if Canon launch next year it will look a bit 'me too'

That's why Canon will make a game-changing entry into the field. It's a common theme in innovative companies. Apple developed the iPad long before the iPhone was released in 2007, and Apple sat on it until other necessary developments and technological adjacencies paved the way (they were waiting on large LCD displays with lower power consumption and better battery technology, as the iPad prototypes had abysmally short battery life).

So, Canon is probably sitting on a full frame mirrorless camera...they're just waiting for the laws of physics to change so they can launch pancake lenses with a 43.2mm image circle.

I could like with an APS-C camera - for my needs I would not even demand full frame.

Leica have shown us how small a lens for a full frame camera can be - if it doesn't have to work with the massive flange to focal plane distance which is necessitated by a mirror box. My understanding is that with moving the flange closer to the focal plane, you would be able to avoid having to use a retrofocus design in lenses, thus simplifying the optics, and making lenses smaller and lighter. By using power zooms, you can eliminate the zoom ring and focus ring, further reducing the size of a lens.
Think about the size of Leica primes, or the old Zeiss Ikon lenses - the Sonnar f/2 is a small lens - yes it has its weaknesses, but that kind of lens is proof of how compact a lens can be.
A further interesting twist to make the whole package smaller would be a recessed lens mount, which would allow part of the lens to sit "inside" the body - in the way that the lenses of compact cameras do. - Now I am really speculating though!

 

[UncleFester]

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/rangefinder-vs-slr.htm

 

[bycostello]

real pretty looking too... sensor size puts me off though

 

[koolman]

Nikon made a smart business move, to develop a small sensor body, with fast focus and speed. As sensor technology improves - the physical size of the sensor is less meaningful, allowing nikon to provide smaller better quality lenses, and keep costs down. I believe most consumers are not seeking interchangeable lens systems, and do not want to lug around a MFT body and lens. Nikon gives us a smallish body, with super fast performance.

I think this is a very smart business move.

problem is it is not small compared to m43....

m43 has the bigger sensor by similiar sized body+lens combos.
plus m43 has faster lenses.

so there is no reason to buy this nikon system...
beside the 60 FPS that will sure be seen in other (cheaper) P&S cameras soon.

Gothmoth: I agree with you that the size of say the GF3 and this new nikon are very close. However the size of the lenses, and the ability to create smaller lenses to match the sensor size - is the main advantage of keeping things small on the sensor side.

 

[Mark D5 TEAM II]

Funny that DPR had to write a whole praise release article and basically act as Nikon's corporate mouthpiece just to defend this DOA Japanese faddist Rainbow Brite toy. ;D

Body and lenses too big, sensor too small, price too high, fruitcakey design and colors == TEH FEYL.

 

[Mark D5 TEAM II]

"If bringing multiple sensor sizes into the mirrorless market ends up seeding customer confusion about the camera's capabilities (especially in markets where such systems haven't yet become a success), this would only serve to benefit Nikon's DSLR sales."

Winnar quote from DPR.

 

[Flake]

Just received the Pre Order 'offers' from Calumet: http://www.calumetphoto.co.uk/eng/gallery-NIKNEW/home?t=CM02&a=CM02

Eye wateringly expensive! V1 + 10 - 30mm lens costs almost as much as a D7000 + 18 -105mm VR and a lot more than a D3100 twin lens kit! In Canon terms that's a 60D with 18 - 55mm IS I know which I'd choose for that much money and the V1 would be last on my list!

 

[AJ]

... you land up with a product which is rather like a motorbike with a sidecar - it inherits the disadvantages of a motorbike combined with the disadvantages of a car, and only satisfies a small market segment.

And you price that motorbike-and-sidecar higher than a fully loaded Honda Civic.

 

[Rocky]

The only thing good comes out from the Nikon mirrorless is the fast AF ( at least that is what Nikon claims). However, the high price, small sensor, large camera body and lenses make us wondering this "Who is going to buy it???)

 

[UncleFester]

The only thing good comes out from the Nikon mirrorless is the fast AF ( at least that is what Nikon claims). However, the high price, small sensor, large camera body and lenses make us wondering this "Who is going to buy it???)

Ashton "Nikon" Kutcher.

 

[gmrza]

The only thing good comes out from the Nikon mirrorless is the fast AF ( at least that is what Nikon claims). However, the high price, small sensor, large camera body and lenses make us wondering this "Who is going to buy it???)

People who need to care about money in their purchases will probably rather buy a high-end compact or an entry level DSLR. People to whom money is no object, or who absolutely have to have a light camera that produces quality images, would probably be better advised to buy a Leica M9, as it will deliver far superior images (albeit at an eye-watering price). If money is not object, why monkey around? Rather just buy a Leica. If money is an object, think about what your real requirements are and either buy a compact or a DSLR.

 

[-zero-]

The whole small sensor with interchangeable lens thing makes no sense to me
first the Q with a sensor barely bigger than a PS camera now Nikon?

with a sensor this small it practicaly negates the major advantage of interchangeable lens (shallow DOF) you might as well put a fixed 24-120 equivalent like the S100 and be done with it

 

[UncleFester]

The only thing good comes out from the Nikon mirrorless is the fast AF ( at least that is what Nikon claims). However, the high price, small sensor, large camera body and lenses make us wondering this "Who is going to buy it???)

People who need to care about money in their purchases will probably rather buy a high-end compact or an entry level DSLR. People to whom money is no object, or who absolutely have to have a light camera that produces quality images, would probably be better advised to buy a Leica M9, as it will deliver far superior images (albeit at an eye-watering price). If money is not object, why monkey around? Rather just buy a Leica. If money is an object, think about what your real requirements are and either buy a compact or a DSLR.

Bingo!


But, the gear head in us won't always tolerate logic.

 

[Rocky]

The whole small sensor with interchangeable lens thing makes no sense to me
first the Q with a sensor barely bigger than a PS camera now Nikon?

with a sensor this small it practicaly negates the major advantage of interchangeable lens (shallow DOF) you might as well put a fixed 24-120 equivalent like the S100 and be done with it

Exactly. Canon should make a mirrorless with FF sensor with its own line of smaller lenses (withadapter for EF lens and Leica M Mount). However, I will settle for APS-C sensor with its own line of even smaller lenses, also with adapter for EF, EF-S and Leica M mount. Both MUST have the focusing speed of DSLR. Or Canon can come up with a Leica M9 copy, let the old range finder fan use zone focusing technique and Old leica lenses to get extremely fast manual focusing speed.

 

[Flake]

Interesting to see Dpreview desperately scrambling to put up sample images of the new Nikons, especially following their apology for the small sensor yesterday. It's almost as if they're desperate for Nikon to have a success not a flop.

 

[Sunnystate]

Just a simplistic way Nikon is attempting to be in the game squeezing mirrorless system in to non existing, imaginary place in between, without cannibalizing own DSLR sales. Lets hope Canon will be more genuine in they mirrorless offer.

 

[Flake]

Well it seems from the first review that the one redeeming quality might save this camera, but alas it's not even good for image quality. Seems like a dead duck.

Conclusion

By now it should be clear to everyone that if you are upgrading from a compact like the Canon G12 searching for more image quality, virtually any other choice of camera is better for image quality than the Nikon J1 and V1.

In fact the Nikon V1 is by far the worst in it’s class for resolution and high ISO performance, in fact I’d go so far and say that for £850 it is a catastrophe against its peers. The Fuji X100 is far more interesting, more innovative, more fashionable and has far better image quality.

If Nikon had released this mirrorless camera 1 year ago it would have been FAR more competitive but all their rivals especially Sony have moved on in big steps recently especially with their CMOS and image processor technology.

For the normal mass market consumer (not the enthusiast) the Nikon J1 gives you no real meaningful image quality boost over a high end compact like the Canon G12 or upcoming PowerShot S100 and no size advantage.

For average consumers looking for a Handbag Camera, the Sony NEX 5N is a far better choice for a genuine compact step-up in terms of image quality.

It also has the added bonus that you can make a Hollywood film with it.


Source: http://www.eoshd.com/content/4216/nikon-j1-and-v1-image-quality

 

[moreorless]

The whole small sensor with interchangeable lens thing makes no sense to me
first the Q with a sensor barely bigger than a PS camera now Nikon?

with a sensor this small it practicaly negates the major advantage of interchangeable lens (shallow DOF) you might as well put a fixed 24-120 equivalent like the S100 and be done with it

Yeah thats my feeling, the X10 seems to point more to the future between compact and m43 than these Nikon releases do, seems theres still a good deal more room for a larger fixed lens. I can't say I know the technical specifics but wouldnt an UWA fixed lens be possible with a larger sensor? 22mm or even 20mm would offer something different to any current compact.

Personally I think its too late to challange the m43 crowd on there own ground now, if these Nikons are anything to go by they've got way too much of a head start. The smarter move for Canon would IMHO be too merge the best aspects of the NEX and the X100, a crop sensor in a small body(maybe one ultra compactand a larger prenium one with a viewfinder and more manual controls) with a range of pancake primes.