V1

A surprise package, the V1 is much better than I thought it would be.

This is a camera you easily fall in love with, as it is small, lightning fast, sharp, and rugged. Quirky, unusual, and with three minute lenses that have gotten full points with every lens tester. Think MFT (aka M4/3rds) lenses, and then make them 30% smaller!

Very much a poor man's Leica, where you for a tenth of the price of the Leica (with three lenses) get a kit that very much reminds of the famous camera.

The ISO range is better with the V1 (its simpler sister J1 has no viewfinder), the sensor is comparative to the M8's in size, both cameras's lenses are among the best on the market.

Focus is lightning fast with the V1, and it can take a series of shots in zero time, and so on.

As yet, the main disadvantage with the Nikon 1 Series was that there were no fast lenses. Originally the best is the 10/2.8, but better things are in the works, according to Nikon, who seem to have been surprised by the camera system's success! Now there is the 18.5/1.8 and the 32/1.2 (the former equals a 50 on a full format, and the latter a 85, or so).

For day's with heavy overcast, and when I need longer focal lengths, I've invested in the TF1 adapter, which allow you to use 'normal' Nikon lenses, with fully functional auto focus, as long as they have a focus motor (G models). Even VR lenses have working VR, as long as they are genuine Nikon lenses. Some Tamron and Sigma lenses work as well, but not all, far from it.

As the sensor is small (roughly half the area of a MFT's, but bigger than compact's), a complete camera kit with the three basic lenses (covering, in FF/FX terms, 27-297mm), weighs less than a kilogram (close to two pounds).

According to Ken Rockwell, the Nikon guru, the sharpest Nikon zoom ever, was the classic 80-200/4.0, which on the V1, with the TF1 adapter, is pretty amazing, equalling a zoom range 216-540!

The viewfinder is surprisingly clear (if not quite in NEX-7 class), and the display is just as good (if, with my copy, with a minute green tinge), and the switching is automatic between the two, as you approach the viewfinder with your eye. Works well with glasses, too!

The battery is hefty, and seem to last for ever, unless you use the flashgun (optional extra). There is also a GPS (optional), about which I know nothing ;-(!

The bad things, then?!

Well, the arrangement of thumb wheels, and buttons, is unique, and a bit quirky, so many have taped over the selector wheel on the back, so you not accidentally choose movie, or animated postcard mode.

It occasionally chooses a too low ISO, so the shots become fuzzy, but it can also, at times, choose a too high ISO, so the shots become grainy. So I use A, most of the time.

Update, 2014

The real revelation, as far as the V1 goes, is using it with the FT1 adapter, which gives access to all the lovely F Mount lenses. For instance, the AF-S 70-300 VR, which compared to when you use a full format camera, is a 200-800mm lens, something out of anyone but a millionaire's funding possibilities. But instead this lens costs about 400 pounds, and is crystal sharp in the area that matters (when you add your V1 to it).

I also own the 80-400 VR II, which works quite well, too, but the VR is a little over-active (worse if you add a 'TC'), but is said to work very well with the V2 (no personal experience).

Most V1 owners use dental floss to lock the selector wheel on the back of the camera, and taped it in place as well. Works like a charm, as long as you don't want to change from stills to movies! You can still turn the wheel, but it now takes a little effort.

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Addendum, october 2014:

Since I wrote this review a few things have happened, not least two excellent, fast primes (18.5/1.8 & 32/1.2), that equals a 50mm and a 85mm lens on a full format. For some reason these superbly engineered lenses have no anti-shake built-in, but they are among the sharpest lenses I ever used, and I've owned a lot through the years!

Let's hope the next generation zooms also get faster apertures ;-) !

Then came the 70-300CX (mine is still on back-order, but the wife's came a few months ago. Amazing!

This lens is extremely fast, sharp as a needle, and a delight to use, weighing in at 550 grams. Compared to what you need, if you're used to full format cameras, to get the the same angle of view, it is a 200-800/4.5-5-6, with better DOF (depth of field).