The worst-kept secret in recent times is out: The Nikon 1, the company’s entry into the EVIL (Electronic Viewfinder Interchangeable Lens) fray. Nikon today released two EVIL camera models:
- The Nikon V1 which includes a built-in electronic viewfinder
- The Nikon J1, a more compact design with a more affordable price tag
Both cameras share a new CX-format image sensor, about a third of the size of the current DX APS-C sensor in Nikon’s consumer DSLRs. It has a 2.7x focal length crop factor and an effective resolution of 10.1 megapixels. There’s a new version of Nikon’s EXPEED image processing engine to go with it. In fact, the Nikon J1 and V1 boast a dual-core EXPEED 3 processor, which is said to have been optimized for noise performance, speed and battery life. Burst shooting is fast at ten frames per second with autofocus enabled, and 60 fps if the focus is locked from the first frame.
The new CMOS image sensor is designed for phase-detection AF, and delivers fast auto-focusing, super-precise focusing according to Nikon, which captures a wide range of subjects flawlessly. Active D-lighting is a surprising addition at this price level. Motion Snapshot mode is a novel idea (and gives us a hint at the intended market for these cameras). It records a still image and a 1-second clip, then plays it back at about 0.4x speed (slow motion) with music
Interesting that Nikon chose a new interim sensor size. It’s about 4 times bigger than the 1/2.3” in most compact cameras, and 2.5x bigger than the 1/1.7" type used in ‘serious digicams like Canon’s S95. It’s about half the size of the M43 camera sensor and almost a quarter the size of the APS-C format sensor in Nikon’s DX cameras.
I’ve written at length about the huge imbalance of lumpy lenses on small bodies – a feature of EVIL cameras, more pronounced the bigger the sensor and the smaller the body (Sony NEX-5 or -7). Perhaps Nikon recognised that a smaller sensor would allow the design of smaller lenses that balanced much better on these small bodies.
Looking at the pictures of the Nikon 1 and its lenses, I have to say they don't look much smaller than the M43 lenses.
If that is so, why didn't Nikon go with an M43 sensor? With the CX size sensor, there's have to be a trade-off when it comes to image quality, but I suspect the main market for EVIL cameras is more about chic and cool than it is about IQ. Just check out the colours.
We shall see
Kim
More here:
http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/21/nikon-unveils-v1-and-j1-mirrorless-cameras-10-1mp-cmos-2-7-inc/
http://www.photographyblog.com/news/nikon_1_hands-on_photos/
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