Nikon reveals CSC / mirrorless cameras

Nikon launches new Nikon 1 compact system camera

Nikon has joined the compact system camera market with a pair of new camera bodies the Nikon 1 V1 and the Nikon 1 J1 and four lenses, and a 10.1-million-pixel (1inch) CMOS sensor that is smaller than those used by Micro Four Thirds cameras.

The Nikon 1 system comprises the Nikon 1 V1 and the Nikon 1 J1 cameras.

Nikon claims they are the world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable lens cameras, though it appears the newly announced Pentax Q system beats them on both counts.

The company has introduced a new dual processor, Expeed 3, which it claims is fastest than those used in its professional DSLR cameras, and which will drive a series of high powered functions in the new cameras.

Nikon’s press release states that the 1 system auto focusing is faster than any other, and that the processor is used to facilitate a 60-frames-per-second maximum drive rate at full resolution as well as ‘superior’ image noise reduction.

The cameras are able to record images before and after the shutter button is fully depressed and released, and a Smart Photo Selector mode shoots 20 frames instantly and chooses the best to present to the user.

Image: The Nikon 1 J1

Image: The Nikon 1 J1

The cameras will feature an ISO range of 100-6400, raw shooting and three metering modes. The Nikon 1 V1 also features an electronic viewfinder with a resolution of 1440 dots, as well as both electronic and mechanical shutters. Both models will feature a built-in flash with a guide number of 5m @ ISO 100.

The CX format (1inch) sensor measures just 13.2×8.8mm, which is smaller than the 17.3x13mm imaging area of a Micro Four Thirds sensor, but larger than Pentax’s 6.17×4.55mm sensor in the Q system. APS-C sensors tend to be 25.1×16.7mm.

Lenses

With a 13.2×8.8mm (1inch) sensor stated focal lengths have to be magnified by 2.7x to give an idea of the angle of view in comparison to focal lengths on a full frame or 35mm camera.

The Nikon 1 system will comprise four new lenses as follows:

  • 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 (27-81mm in full frame terms)
  • 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 (81-297mm in full frame terms)
  • 1 Nikkor 10mm f/2.8 (27mm in full frame terms)
  • 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD-Zoom (27-270mm in full frame terms) PD stands for ?power drive? zoom for silent and steady zooming during movie recording.
Image: The Nikon 1 V1

Image: The Nikon 1 V1

There will also be a mount adapter to allow existing F users to attach their lenses to the new Nikon 1 bodies. Called the FT1, the adapter will also deliver full AF functionality when used with AF-S and AF-I lenses.

See Nikon 1 prices and release date

More Nikon J1 images

Nikon 1 prices: J1 and V1 cameras

Nikon 1 V1 10-30mm kit – Price: £829.99 / ?962.00 (available in black and white)

Nikon 1 V1 10mm Kit – Price: £879.99 / ?1020.00 (available in black and white)

Nikon V1 10-30mm & 30-110mm Twin Kit – Price: £979.99 / ?1136.00 (available in black and white)

Nikon J1 10-30mm kit – Price: £549.99 / ?638.00 (available in red, black, silver, pink, white)

Nikon J1 10mm kit – Price: £599.99 / ?696.00 (available in red, black, silver, pink, white)

Nikon J1 10-30mm & 30-110mm kit – Price: £699.99 / ?812.00 (available in red, black, silver, pink, white)

Nikon J1 10-30mm & 30-110mm kit Pink Special kit – Price: £749.99 / ?870.00

Sales start date: 20th October 2011

Nikon 1 lens prices

1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 ? Price: £179.99 / ?209.00 (Black)

1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 ? Price: £229.99 / ?267.00 (Black / White)

1 NIKKOR 10mm f/2.8 ? Price: £229.99 / ?267.00 (Black / White)

1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM ? Price: £679.99 / ?789.00 (Black)

Sales start date: 20th October 2011

Nikon 1 Accessory prices

Nikon F Mount adapter FT- ? Price: £229.99 / ?267.00

Sales start date: 1st December 2011

SB-N5 speedlight ? Price: £129.99 / ?151.00

Sales start date: 20th October 2011

GP-N100 GPS Unit ? Price: £109.99 / ?128.00 (Black)

Sales start date: : 20th October 2011

Page 2: Nikon 1 J1 Full Specification

Nikon 1 J1 Full Specification, as supplied by Nikon UK

Type of camera Digital camera with interchangeable lenses

Lens mount Nikon 1 mount

Effective angle of view Approx. 2.7× lens focal length (Nikon CX format)

Effective pixels 10.1 million

Image sensor 13.2 mm × 8.8 mm CMOS sensor (1inch type)

Dust-reduction system Dust shield glass

Image size (pixels) Still images (still image and Smart Photo Selector

modes, aspect ratio 3 : 2) ? 3,872 × 2,592 ? 2,896 × 1,944 ? 1,936 × 1,296 Still images (movie mode, aspect ratio 16 : 9) ? 3,840 × 2,160 (1080/60i) ? 1,920 × 1,080 (1080/30p) ? 1,280 × 720 (720/60p) Still images (Motion Snapshot mode, aspect ratio 16:9) ? 3,840 x 2,160

File format ? NEF (RAW): 12-bit, compressed ? JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression ? NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats

Picture Control system Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls

Storage media SD (Secure Digital), SDHC, and SDXC memory cards

File system DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print Order Format), Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) 2.3, PictBridge

Shooting modes still image (3 : 2), Smart Photo Selector (3 : 2), movie (HD 16 : 9, slow motion 8 : 3), Motion Snapshot (16 : 9)

Compatible lenses 1 NIKKOR lenses for 1 mount

Shutter type Electronic shutter

Shutter Speed 1/16,000-30s in steps of 1/3EV; Bulb; Time (requires optional ML-L3 remote control)

Flash sync speed Synchronizes with shutter at X=1/60s or slower

Release mode ?Single frame, continuous, Electronic (Hi) ?Self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response remote, interval timer shooting

Frame advance rate*1 ? Electronic (Hi): Approx. 10, 30, or 60 fps ? Other modes: Up to 5 fps (single AF or manual focus, S Shutter-priority auto or M Manual exposure mode, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values)

Self-timer 2 s, 5 s, 10 s

Remote control modes Delayed remote (2 s); quick-response remote

Exposure metering TTL metering using image sensor

Metering method ? Matrix ? Center-weighted: Meters 4.5 mm circle in center of frame ? Spot: Meters 2 mm circle centered on selected focus area

Mode Programmed auto with flexible program; shutter priority auto; aperture-priority auto; manual; scene auto selector

Exposure compensation ?3?+3 EV in increments of 1/3 EV

Exposure lock Luminosity locked at metered value with AE-L/AF-L button

ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) ISO 100?3200 in steps of 1 EV. Can also be set to approx. 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) above ISO 3200; auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100?3200, 100?800, 100?400) available

Active D-Lighting On, off

Autofocus Hybrid auto focus (phase detection/contrast detect AF); AF-assist illuminator

Lens servo ? Auto focus (AF): Single AF (AF-S); continuous AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); full-time AF (AF-F) ? Manual focus (MF)”

AF-area mode Single-point, auto-area, subject tracking

Focus area ? Single-point AF: 135 focus areas ? Auto-area AF: 41 focus areas

Focus lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single AF) or by pressing AE-L/ AF-L) button

Face-priority AF On, off

Built-in Flash Built-in flash: raised by sliding flash pop-up switch control

Guide number Approx. 5/16 (m/ft, ISO 100, 20°C/68°F)

Flash Control i-TTL flash control using image sensor available

Flash mode Fill flash, slow sync, red-eye reduction, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain sync, rear curtain with slow sync

Flash compensation ?3?+1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV

Flash-ready indicator Lights when built-in flash unit is fully charged.

White balance Auto, incandescent, fluorescent, direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning

Movie Metering TTL metering using image sensor

Metering method ? Matrix ? Center-weighted: Meters 4.5 mm circle in center of frame ? Spot: Meters 2 mm circle centered on selected focus area

Frame size (pixels)/ recording rate HD movies ? 1,920 × 1,080/60i (59.94 fields/s*2) ? 1,920 × 1,080/30p (29.97 fps) ? 1,280 × 720/60p (59.94 fps) Slow-motion movies ? 640 × 240/400 fps (plays at 30p/29.97 fps) ? 320 × 120/1,200 fps (plays at 30p/29.97 fps) Motion Snapshot ? 1,920 X 1,080/60p (59.94fps) (plays at 24p/23.976fps)

Maximum recording time 1080/60i (20 minutes); 1080/30p (20 minutes) ;720/60p (29 minutes)

File format MOV

Video compression H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding

Audio recording format AAC

Audio recording device Built-in stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable

Monitor 7.5cm/3-in., approx. 460k-dot, TFT LCD with brightness adjustment

Playback function Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar)

playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, auto image rotation, and rating option

USB Hi-Speed USB

HDMI output Type C mini-pin HDMI connector

25 Supported languages Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian

Battery One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL20 battery

AC adapter EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5C power connector (available separately)

Tripod socket 1/4-in. (ISO 1222)

Dimensions (W× H × D) Approx. 106× 61×29.8mm/4.2× 2.4× 1.2in., excluding projections

Weight Approx. 277 g/9.8oz with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 234 g/8.3 oz(camera body only)

Temperature Temperature: 0?40 °C/+32?104 °F/humidity: less than 85% (no condensation)

Supplied accessories (may differ by country or area) EN-EL20 rechargeable Li-ion battery, MH-27 battery charger, UC-E6 USB cable, EG-CP14 audio/vldeo cable, AN-N1000 strap, BF-N1000 body cap, ViewNX 2/Short Movie Creator CD

Still images Approximately 230

Movies Approximately 70 minutes of HD footage at 1080/60i

?Unless otherwise stated, all figures are for a camera with a fully-charged bat-tery operating at an ambient temperature of 20°C (68°F).

?Nikon reserves the right to change the specifications of the hardware and software described in this manual at any time and without prior notice. Nikon will not be held liable for damages that may result from any mistakes that this manual may contain.

*1 Around 13 frames at shooting speed of 10fps; around 12 frames if shooting speed is set at 30fps and 60fps. As determined by Nikon performance tests.

*2 Sensor output is about 60 fps.

Page 3: Nikon 1 V1 Full Specification

Nikon 1 V1 Full Specification, as supplied by Nikon UK

Type of camera Digital camera with interchangeable lenses

Lens mount Nikon 1 mount

Effective angle of view Approx. 2.7× lens focal length (Nikon CX format)

Effective pixels 10.1 million

Image sensor 13.2 mm × 8.8 mm CMOS sensor

Dust-reduction system Dust shield glass

Image size (pixels) Still images (still image and Smart Photo Selector modes, aspect ratio 3 : 2) ? 3,872 × 2,592 ? 2,896 × 1,944 ? 1,936 × 1,296 Still images (movie mode, aspect ratio 16 : 9) ? 3,840 × 2,160 (1080/60i) ? 1,920 × 1,080 (1080/30p) ? 1,280 × 720 (720/60p) Still images(Motion Snapshot mode, aspect ratio 16:9) ? 3,840 x 2,160

File format ? NEF (RAW): 12-bit, compressed ? JPEG: JPEG-Baseline compliant with fine (approx. 1 : 4), normal (approx. 1 : 8), or basic (approx. 1 : 16) compression ? NEF (RAW) + JPEG: Single photograph recorded in both NEF (RAW) and JPEG formats

Picture Control system Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls

Storage media SD (Secure Digital), SDHC, and SDXC memory cards

File system DCF (Design Rule for Camera File System) 2.0, DPOF (Digital Print

Order Format), Exif (Exchangeable Image File Format for Digital Still Cameras) 2.3, PictBridge

Electronic viewfinder 0.47-in., approx. 1440k-dot color TFT LCD viewfinder with diopter control and brightness adjustment

Frame coverage Approx. 100% horizontal and 100% vertical

Eyepoint 17 mm (?1.0 m?1; from center surface of viewfinder eyepiece lens)

Diopter adjustment ?3?+1 m?1

Eye sensor Camera switches to viewfinder display when it detects that viewfinder is in use

Shooting modes still image (3 : 2), Smart Photo Selector (3 : 2), movie (HD 16 : 9, slow motion 8 : 3), Motion Snapshot (16 : 9)

Compatible lenses 1 NIKKOR lenses for 1 mount

Shutter type Electronically-controlled vertical-travel focal plane mechanical

shutter; electronic shutter

Shutter speed ? Mechanical shutter: 1/4,000?30 s in steps of 1/3 EV; Bulb; Time (requires optional ML-L3 remote control) ? Electronic shutter: 1/16,000?30 s in steps of 1/3 EV; Bulb; Time (requires optional ML-L3 remote control)

Flash sync speed ? Mechanical shutter: Synchronizes with shutter at X=1/250 s or slower ? Electronic shutter: Synchronizes with shutter at X=1/60 s or slower

Release mode ? Single frame, continuous ? Mechanical, Electronic, Electronic (Hi) ? Self-timer, delayed remote, quick-response remote, interval timer shooting

Frame advance rate*1 ? Electronic (Hi): Approx. 10, 30, or 60 fps ? Other modes: Up to 5 fps (single AF or manual focus, S Shutter-priority auto or M Manual exposure mode, shutter speed 1/250 s or faster, and other settings at default values)

Self-timer 2 s, 5 s, 10 s

Remote control modes Delayed remote (2 s); quick-response remote

Exposure metering TTL metering using image sensor

Metering method ? Matrix ? Center-weighted: Meters 4.5 mm circle in center of frame ? Spot: Meters 2 mm circle centered on selected focus area

Mode Programmed auto with flexible program; shutterpriority auto; aperture-priority auto; manual; scene auto selector

Exposure compensation ?3?+3 EV in increments of 1/3 EV

Exposure lock Luminosity locked at metered value with AE-L/AF-L button

ISO sensitivity (Recommended Exposure Index) ISO 100?3200 in steps of 1 EV. Can also be set to approx. 1 EV (ISO 6400 equivalent) above ISO 3200; auto ISO sensitivity control (ISO 100?3200, 100?800, 100?400) available

Active D-Lighting On, off

Autofocus Hybrid auto focus (phase detection/contrast detect AF); AF-assist illuminator

Lens servo ? Auto focus (AF): Single AF (AF-S); continuous AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); full-time AF (AF-F) ? Manual focus (MF)

AF-area mode Single-point, auto-area, subject tracking

Focus area ? Single-point AF: 135 focus areas ? Auto-area AF: 41 focus areas

Focus lock Focus can be locked by pressing shutter-release button halfway (single AF) or by pressing AE-L/ AF-L button

Face-priority AF On, off

Flash Control i-TTL flash control using image sensor available with optional SB-N5 flash unit

Flash mode Fill flash, slow sync, red-eye reduction, slow sync with red-eye reduction, rear-curtain sync, rear curtain with slow sync

Flash compensation ?3?+1 EV in increments of 1/3 EV

Flash-ready indicator Lights when optional flash unit is fully charged

White balance Auto, incandescent, fluorescent, direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual, all except preset manual with fine tuning

Movie Metering TTL metering using image sensor

Metering method ? Matrix ? Center-weighted: Meters 4.5 mm circle in center of frame ? Spot: Meters 2 mm circle centered on selected focus area

Frame size (pixels)/ recording rate HD movies ? 1,920 × 1,080/60i (59.94 fields/s*2) ? 1,920 × 1,080/30p (29.97 fps) ? 1,280 × 720/60p (59.94 fps) Slow-motion movies ? 640 × 240/400 fps (plays at 30p/29.97 fps) ? 320 × 120/1,200 fps (plays at 30p/29.97 fps) Movies recorded in still image mode 1,072 X 720/60p(59.94fps)(plays at 24p/23.976fps) Motion Snapshot 1,920 X 1,080/60p(59.94fps) (plays at 24p/23.976fps)

Maximum recording time 1080/60i (20 minutes), 1080/30p (20 minutes), 720/60p (29 minutes)

File format MOV

Video compression H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding

Audio recording format AAC

Audio recording device Built-in or optional external ME-1 stereo microphone; sensitivity adjustable

Monitor 7.5 cm/3-in., approx. 921k-dot, TFT LCD with brightness adjustment

Playback function Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, auto image rotation, and rating option

USB Hi-Speed USB

Video output NTSC, PAL

HDMI output Type C mini-pin HDMI connector

Multi accessory port Used for designated accessories

Audio input Stereo mini-pin jack (3.5 mm diameter)

25 Supported languages Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Swedish, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian

Battery One rechargeable Li-ion EN-EL15 battery

AC adapter EH-5b AC adapter; requires EP-5B power connector (available separately)

Tripod socket 1/4-in. (ISO 1222)

Dimensions (W× H × D) Approx. 113 × 76 × 43.5 mm/4.4 × 3 × 1.7 in., excluding projections; thickness of body (from mount to monitor) is 36 mm/1.4 in.

Weight Approx. 383 g/13.5 oz with battery and memory card but without body cap; approx. 294 g/10.4 oz (camera body only)

Temperature Temperature: 0?40 °C/+32?104 °F Humidity: less than 85% (no condensation)

Supplied accessories (may differ by country or area) EN-EL15 rechargeable Li-ion battery, MH-25 battery charger, UC-E6 USB cable, EG-CP14 audio/vldeo cable, AN-N1000 strap, BF-N1000 body cap, BS-N1000 multi accessory port cover, ViewNX 2/Short Movie Creator CD

Still images Approximately 400, or 350 with SB-N5

Movies Approximately 120 minutes of HD footage at 1080/60i

Unless otherwise stated, all figures are for a camera with a fully-charged battery operating at an ambient temperature of 20°C (68°F).

?Nikon reserves the right to change the specifications of the hardware and software described in this manual at any time and without prior notice. Nikon will not be held liable for damages that may result from any mistakes that this manual may contain.

*1 Around 34 frames at shooting speed of 10fps; around 30 frames if shooting speed is set at 30fps and 60fps. As determined by Nikon performance tests.

*2 Sensor output is about 60 fps.