Nikon have released a new range to the "Nikon 1" series of compact system cameras. Introducing the S1 this camera being aimed at the consumer market, this camera is aimed at those who have the likes of point & shoot cameras but would like to step up in both quality of images and speed of the camera. You may say this look very similar to the J series compact system, you would be correct but Nikon have made several changes to the system to make it more user friendly and appeal to the correct target audience. You are able to use interchangeable lenses which will allow to change between all of Nikons compact system lenses.
So what makes this camera different to the likes of the J1 and the V2? The S1 has been stripped of all real manual settings which you are able to access in the other camera and has have an overhaul in the menu setup to be more user friendly and easy to use. Using all in camera menus to navigate the different aspects of the camera from setup to shooting modes of camera which if your coming from a background of using digital cameras it will be a very smooth transition as using the likes of the J1 might be confusing from someone stepping up into the compact system market.
Don't be put off because the camera because although it is a beginner or entry level camera into the compact system market it will still be able to pack a punch, being on par with the J1 and having the same 10 MP sensor you will get the same quality of shots but what has been taken away is the likes of such high FPS available in the J and V series as well as you are not able to access them manual settings which will give you access to the full potential of the camera. This series being designed to be more user friendly and there as an option from someone ready to step up from the compact camera world they will find using the likes of the "perfect shot" system and all the different shooting mode will get them really high quality images that people who don't want to get into photography but want high quality images wants to be able to get out of a camera.
Nikon J1 - Initial thoughts
When you first take a look at the camera you can tell it is a camera which is aimed at the consumer market and this is clear from the size of the camera and also how it is designed. The design is very sleek & sexy which will appeal to the consumer market which will care about how the camera looks when they are using it but that is not the only appeal to the camera cause the power inside this little body is a force to be reckoned with in the compact systems market Slightly smaller sensor than the standard micro four thirds mirror camera range currently on the market but don't let that put off the camera as what you may think it lacks in spec it will make up for in quality images and video!
User Experience
Using the camera is a pleasure when you are using both the image and video aspects of the camera, using the crisp and sharp screen you get a good indication to the quality of the image before you get home and get it on the computer or print the image. The easy access to the flash is perfect when in low light situations it truly lights up the whole area and the images produced when using the flash are surprising in terms of the quality of expect. I have found when using other camera when you are focusing to take to take the photo it is a slow process and sometimes the moment you were waiting for has passed by the time the camera has focused, not with the J1 the camera has the fastest focusing time in the camera market at the minute, it is very impressive how fast the camera has focus and you are able to take a very crisp and high quality image in a matter of seconds which when I have used the bigger DSLR camera this is not an experience I have been able to have which really shows you the power of this camera.
Usability
When navigating through the camera weather that is going through and changing the settings manually or you are just going through the photos and scroll wheel on the back makes this a pleasant experience and this in pairing with the easy to use menu system will not scare anyone who dares to play with the settings who is new to the word of photography. It is clear what every button does and the camera is not littered with buttons which have not purpose on the body when they could just be in the menu.
Modes
The camera has a series of modes which will allow the new users of this style of camera to learn about all the different settings or allow them to just use the camera in automatic and let the camera do the work and allow them to get some excellent results. There is mode such as programmed auto which will allow to adjust a few of the settings but the camera still does some work, Shutter priority which allow you to create images with longer exposures, aperture priority creating images which will make the subjects of the image pop out and really make a crisp image and full manual mode which would be fantastic for DLSR to use if they are just wanting to use a camera with a smaller body but still wanting the same features that they can access on the bigger more powerful cameras.
Lenses and accessories There is a series of different lenses that can be purchased with the camera and different boxed bundles that can be purchased as standard with the camera. When purchasing the camera I highly recommend you go for the twin lens kit as this gives you the 10-30mm lens (wide angle) and the 30-110mm lens (zoom lens) for most people these lens will be all you will ever need as this allows you to zoom into subjects and also get a wide angle landscapes you are after. The reason I recommend to get the twin lens kit is cause you'll pay about £50 more for the package but if you wanted to get the zoom lens separateyou will pay around £150 for it so you are making a saving you are getting a better range of images as with the one lens you will only be getting wide angle shots which for most users will put them off using the camera due to the limitations one lens will give you.
Portability The camera is very compact and this is perfect for people who love to travel either on holidays or days out, want to be able to go places and take quality photos but not want all the size and weight that having a DLSR system requires. I carry the camera in the LowePro Streamline which is a small bag but I use this cause normally I wouldn't carry bags on a day out but the weight of the camera when using it in the bag is minor and having the bag is worth it for the quality of the images you are getting, although we would all love a camera that with just shove in your pocket you wont be able to do this with the J1 but a big coat pocket would be perfect for this camera so the size is slightly awkward but you will put up with the just a little to big body to have the power of a camera like this with you.
Conclusion
This camera is perfect for someone wanting to pay a little bit more money for a lot more quality than your standard point and shoot, want the near quality of DLSR systems but in a compact body and the portability that comes with a camera this size, want to be able to get into photography but not be thrown in at the deep end as the camera allows you to use all its different modes to the users advantage and if you love the idea of changing the lenses on your camera and want a professional feel the the pictures you are taking then this camera is perfect for you! I have had this camera for about 2 months now and it has not put a foot out of place and that is why I rate the camera so highly as it ticks all my boxes. The only down side to the Nikon 1 range is the current lack of lenses but Nikon are saying on the website they're working on more lens for the product, I would mainly like to see more a lens with a large zoom then the 30-110 as in rare situations you are limited to what you can take but that would be the only thing I can take away from this camera. Take a look at some of my sample images and see the quality of the camera for yourself.
