NikonWeb.com

"Nikon Inc. today announced a revolutionary new digital imaging system built from the ground up to empower users with new ways to tell stories through photography, driven by imaginative next-generation technology."

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/conten ... 1665-11941

I'm not impressed - yet - but I'm looking forward to see how the camera performs, especially at higher ISOs. For now, I can't see this system replace my handy Fujifilm X100 (with its impressive APS-C sized sensor) or a full frame DSLR. Personally, I'd also like to see more fast, small prime lenses. And a wider wide angle lens.

Jarle

I fully agree with you Jarle. These cameras are for the point-and-shoot consumers, though. They are not to compete with the Leica, Sony NEX, etc. A faster lens may not be necessary if high ISO-setting results are acceptable. Nikon has shown with the P7000-series that Canon has the better prosumer compacts. It is nice that AF-S-Nikkors can be used, but with at a crop factor of 2.7 (sic!).
In about a month the new cameras will be on the market. I hope they are not disappointing.
Nico

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D1/D1X/D1H etc.

There are a few high-ISO night-time samples here, which don't look too bad:
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/N ... ONJ1A7.HTM

Interesting to see Nikon reviving the same sensor format as the Kodak DCS 420! In a much smaller body. Nine more megapixels. Shoots at 60fps as well, and can do high-speed movies - short ones at 640x480, 40fps - which is something that's always fascinated me. The lens line-up seems a bit meh. I wonder how the dynamic range will turn out. I mentally imagine bright skies turning into patches of whiteness, but perhaps it has a clever automatic HDR mode or something along those lines. Curiously the budget model, the J1, looks really nice, a bit Leica-ish from the front, whereas the pro-spec V1 has an ugly-looking moulded hump for the EVF that just looks ugly and wrong. I can imagine the tiny sensor limiting future expansion of the system.

I've just come back from holiday, and it was a bind carrying around my 5D. Not so much the weight, but the awkward shape, which defied my attempts to fit it neatly into a small shoulder bag. It kept banging around and accumulating scratches and crushing things, so I'm interested in something smaller, although based on the reviews and samples I'd buy an X100. Mainly for the lens and the relatively flat shape. Or I'd buy a better bag.

Hi,

What? Nobody is using that snazzy new E2N from a couple weeks ago to shoot these new little ones?



Later!

Stan

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Amateur Photographer
Professional Electronics Development Engineer

Hi,
the new CX-frame cameras may produce reasonable images. It is a pity that the 'older' FX-lenses can be used with a crop factor of 2.7 only. I am not afraid to drop the - one century old - 24x36 mm frame/size/reference, but what replaces it, should be acceptable. We were just used to the DX-size - with very acceptable results - so let's wait what the performance of these cute cameras is. We all know that the larger the 'negative' the better the image; my Hasselblad slides will never be 'outclassed' by Nikon (FX) slides, as my Sinar pics are unbeatable by smaller formats.
The design and the bodies of the cameras and lenses show that these cameras and lenses are made for the crowd that is fed up by (the performance of) camphones and similar imagers and for those that don't want to carry a SLR around, or?
regards,
Nico

www.nicovandijk.net

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D1/D1X/D1H etc.

The most intriguing thing to me about these is the CX lens mount is I think Nikon's first all new lens mount since the original Nikon F, even the IX-Nikkors were still compatible with the F mount, even if the lenses weren't, and then it was only how far back the rear element extended.

From the press so far these seem to be the cameras people love to hate; I honestly can't see the point to them because the cost places them actually above some DSLR cameras. If they were competing with bridges/prosumer cameras then they would have a good market.

The photos I've seen in tests are acceptable but do have some blown highlights, and I was surprised the crop ratio is just like the DCS-420 (and 315).

Honestly, what I would find interesting would be a genuine compact with interchangeable lenses, but for this--unless it's your only camera--you might as well get a slightly older DSLR and get much better pictures and compatibility in the bargain.

Interesting Nikon 1 review by well-known photojournalist Rob Galbraith:

http://www.robgalbraith.com/bins/multi_ ... 1666-11988

Short version: He likes it. "..at long last, my weekend carry-about camera has arrived and it's called the V1."

Jarle