I recently got a 2nd hand Samsung NX Mini which I find very small that it is really a deck of cards. The 9mm f3.5 (24mm FF equivalent) lens that come with it does not even has lens cap. The bright prime lens is super rare and I think it is not on sale in my country at all but I might later get the zoom lens to try.
I like this video but dislike the camera. In last 12 months, I bought 4 sets of Nikon 1 J (not V) from Carousell. Unluckily I never get one set is fully functional even it is good in outlook. The problems I encountered: 1. Failure of the lens (incluede dual kit lens + prime lens, not only one) 2. LCD turn black in corner 3. Battery die (it is fine to me as it is old, but it is relatively rare for Sony and Canon original batteries). It should be careful to buy in 2nd market for this system.
I have an nx mini and was able to track down a 17 mm lens. It is a great camera and really showed some potential. First camera with a bsi sensor. I think it’s biggest failure was the lack of buttons. The touchscreen interface works great but I don’t think photographers were ready for it.
@@Localtraveler2376 I just buy a samsung nx300 and it is quite funny camera. Touch screen, bsi sensor, wifi, 20MP APSC. It is a powerful mirrorless cam in 10 years ago. Suggest Robin to play around Samsung camera in next days
I bought a white Nikon 1 J1 camera at a local general auction last week for £5. I had to buy a charger for it but once charged it sprang into life. Now I'm having a fun time using it and watching your videos is a big help.
I just bought a J1 after seeing this video. The autofocus on this camera is insanely good considering its age! The picture and video quality is impressive as well!
I started using the J5 with the 18.5 for street. It is so small and fast, its perfect for taking stealth photos. The sensor on the J5 was a huge leap forwards and finally competitive with sony. Ive strated using a a6100, but always go back to the j5 when i want go unnnoticed.
I definitely see a lot of potential for 1inch system, I think the product strategy from Nikon is wrong, there are many things they could have done. I shall discuss this in my coming video
Odd, maybe. 3 days ago I was totally unaware of the Nikon 1 system. I had never heard of it. Then I stumbled upon it while cruising a used photo dealers web site. I was intrigued. After looking at several models of the Nikon 1 they had for sale I bought a 1j5 and the 18mm f/1.8 lens. And at a very low price I might add. Now, waiting for it to arrive, here comes your video on the Nikon 1 system. Great minds think alike.😎 A week before that I bought a new in the box Samsung NX3000. A beautiful little camera. But it was body only so I am looking for a lens for it.
I have J1,J4,J5,S1,V1,V2,V3 and AW1 underwater version. There is even a 32mmF1.2 lens but like many N1 lens the aperture control breaks with time as the nylon gears harden and crack. You can get replacement brass gears but they are non trivial to change. My favorite is the J5 with its BSI sensor, its a big step up in IQ. Bodies are great, esp the V series with their evfs and larger batteries.
@@ivanmaz2847 I know the feeling, it was my least used lens due to its cost, and well cared for and protected. Also my 10-100 failed, so both the most expensive lenses for a few cent item. If you search dpreview for "nikon 1 lenses aperture" there is thread where you can buy metal gears to repair yourself.
It's very cool that you expose these cameras. I appreciate a good compact street-travel-doc-snap system. Cameras have only been getting bigger recently, so I'm losing a lot of hope for the future. Looking to the past my be the solution. ✌️
Interesting I own the Nikon one V1 I agree the AF is really good. Agree about build quality Also the adapter allows you to use any Nikon F mount lens on it.
I got pretty deep into the 1 system a few years back with a v1 and a bunch of lenses. AF was amazing and that little aptina sensor made some really pleasing images. I really enjoyed using the 18.5mm lens. I ended up selling them but I’m always tempted to buy another n1 camera
Watching this video while i was fixing up the 10-30mm lens for my Nikon 1 J2 as it was causing issues and wouldnt work. it is now working again and the camera is ready for some street photography again (i used to use it for street shots as it is small, portable and very capable for its size. Nice video and keep up the good work
I’ve owned most all the Nikon cameras for the past 15 years…From HUGE D4’s and 400mm 2.8’s all the way down to Nikon 1 V1. Along with many M 4/3, Sony FF and APS-C and their RX-100 line. To this day, the Nikon 1 system is most enjoyable system to shoot with. It was waaaay ahead of it’s time. It feels like an extension of your hand and can fit an entire system in small backpack. You can shoot equivalent 840 mm birds and 16 mm landscapes and 85mm portraits with background blur from a 1 inch sensor and waterproof on the beach with the aw1. So innovative. I wish they would have spent time to develop the sensor into what it could have been with more dynamic range, stacked and add ibis. I would still be using it for my everyday/hobby/vacation system to this day.
I’ve been watching your videos consistently for the last 2 years. If I may suggest, I would really appreciate if you can show SOOC or unedited raw before you show your final photo. It’s sometimes misleading how capable a camera is if you have a high level of editing skill. 😅 you have a pretty consistent “look” in all of your photos. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference even if you use your smartphone in taking the pictures.
I have, MANY times shown straight out of camera, people just did not see or even notice it. I even show you directly what was captured on the camera screen via a HDMI recorder, and that clearly shows how close the final image was compared to the one captured, and honestly, most of them are almost identical. I don't post-process my images much, to the point that if I did show you side by side before and after you probably won't be able to tell which from which.
I bought nikon 1 v1 several years ago,with nikkor 10-30mm,30-110mm. It is a very compact unit for daily photography. And I bought 18.5mm and 10mm from second hand markit in very low prices. All these nikkors have goog qualities just like others nikkors,and brought much fun for me. Thanks for your videos!
I have a J2 and a J5. The best thing is that you can put this camera with the kit zoom lens in your jacket pocket without problems. The bad thing is that the screen is hard to look at when the sun is shining. The picture quality is good enough for normal photografy, maybe not for posters. I also have the szoom telelens, but i hardly use that.
I just bought the Nikon 1 J5 and waiting for all of the lenses and adapters to come in. 6.7-13mm (18-35mm with 2.7 crop) and the Vivitar 500mm f/8 with adapters to Nikon F mount and Nikon 1 CX Mount. I'll be getting the 10-100mm , 70-300mm, 10mm, 18.5mm and the 35mm with the Leica M to Nikon 1 adapter. Waiting for the 10-30mm, 30-100mm, Nikon F to Nikon 1 adapter and last but least the dummy battery. Have the 1tb micro-Sd card and have 5 total batteries and charger. Cheers! I found out that they had the AW1 and V3 Nikon 1 cameras also.
I just ordered the 1v1 with the 28mm equiv lens. I wanted a backup street camera to my Leica Q2. Total cost was less than the Q2 battery! Looking forward to shooting it. Cheers!
I recently bought a Nikon 1 S2, I use it for street photography, I really like it, very fast, good colors. What I like most is that he always catches the shot.
I used to have the Nikon 1 J5 in silver, such a lovely camera to carry around and what lead me in the Panasonic micro 4 thirds cameras. It even had similar controls to the Panasonic GM and GX cameras.
Very nice! For a while I owned a Sony RX100V. I sold it again as I did not use it enough, and it is too expensive to sit on the shelf. Then I bought a Nikon 1 J5 for 20% of the price 🙂
You already know my stand point with the Nikon 1 Series. I started with the J1 but my legitimate photography was when I bought an Olympus EM10 Mk II. I decided photography was for me though with the Nikon 1 line. I miss them.
Thomas Stirr has used the Nikon 1 extensively with good results for landscape, wildlife, and macro, as shown on his "small sensor photography" website. I think he still uses it occasionally, though his main system is Olympus micro 4 3.
Thank you for this review, it's a terrific value for the price, I've been lurking a Nikon 1 j5 for street photography and now I'm convinced to go for it! Great photos!
A cousin on mine passed away and left a Nikon V1 and a set of lenses. I wound up with it and fell in love immediately. It is a fine street camera and takes very nice photos. I use it rather than my big Z cameras as a walk around and have taken some beautiful photos I couldn't have done with a large intrusive camera. I bought a couple more Nikon 1 series to put my lenses on. Great value!!!
Yes I love my Nikon V1 which shares the same sensor with a lot more options. The later version J5 is the last offering from Nikon with a 20 mpx Sony sensor and with that 18.5 1.8 lens you have it is an awesome combo. I don’t understand why it didn’t catch on with the public because it was a great system way ahead of its time. The 6.7-13 lens is also a great walk around lens as well as the 30-110 lens for a great all inclusive package especially for Travel photography in a small Fanny pack it works well as it also has a built in flash like the J1. Glad to see you appreciate this old timer and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Regards Gerry
I have J1 with the 10-30mm and 30-110mm lenses. I’ve been looking for the 10mm or the 18.5mm, but they seem impossible to find here in Canada. And most I’ve seen on eBay are going for more than I paid for the camera and the other two lenses combined.
I am looking to buy one used off fb marketplace. One person is selling one with 10-30 mm and one is selling it with 30-110 mm. Which is the better lens to have ? I mostly want to focus on photography while travelling (landscape and architecture)
@@michelleklassen1227 For landscape and architecture I'd recommend going with the 10-30mm. It offers a wide angle to medium telephoto range (28-80mm full frame equivalent).
Oh, just want also mention, a few lenses in the system has issue with plastic gear breaking issue resulting in stuck aperture. Nikon was doing repair and recall for a while (which may contributed to the demise of the system). However, there is a repair shop in Taiwan that will still repair it and even sell you the replacement metal gear + instructions if you want to do it yourself.
Hello Robin love you RUclips channel I’m amazed people don’t mind you taking a picture of them compare to Melbourne Australia You been great you love your photography and share your experience
I have two Nikon 1 AW1 cameras - which are a J model inside an underwater metal body. The AF and continuous focus are amazing at 15fps and that technology is over 10 years old! Very good at video as well. The main limitation is that higher ISO kills it pretty quickly and certainly no IBIS or OIS on the kit zoom. RAW files are best option as DR is limited especially in very bright conditions. Has got some of my favourite photos over the last few years.
Another bit of signature Robin Wong street work. I bought one of these with the 2 " kit zooms" in 2016 from a friend who was in need of cash. I was hoping it was something my sons would use on their outdoor adventures. but they only used it a couple of times. I will admit I was very impressed with the fast focus and also some of the shooting modes. If I had purchased the prime lens I may have enjoyed it more. My original 10-30 zoom went defective after only a few months and I bought another off Ebay and it also went bad before long...and by that time I was full on MFT, I always felt that Nikon didn't really have their heart into the system..It was mostly unknown in the US....Looks like it just needed the right user to bring out it's best... As always..a great find by Robin.
Great thoughts as always Robin! I was eyeing a Nikon 1 J3 camera with dedicated underwater housing, but the set came with a "wrong" lens, not fitting the housing. And while entire kits can be super cheap here in Australia, lenses get expensive fast, even above A$200. I read up a bit on limitations in lower light and failing lenses and stuck to my Olympus TG-6 for underwater shots and EM1.2 and EPM2 combo for all other needs. Second hand prices and availability fepend very much on demand when new and Nikon1 doesn’t seem to have been popular in Oz. Unlike M43, I see so many dirt cheap deals that I often buy then just because they're cheap, test, clean, split and sell on eBay, usually at a small markup (still auction, so market price).
I picked up a J5+10-30mm while I was looking for a tele-converter for my D7100 a few years ago. And soon it displaced my RX100IV. Since then, I picked up a 18.5mm f/1.8, 10-100mm, V1+10mm. It's my light travel, street, walk-around setup. 40mm DX Micro on V1 (with FTZ) make a great light weight Macro photography set. And Nikon 1 body + 55-200mm DX makes great light weight telephoto wild life setup that I can take on any hiking trip. I have even gone birding using J5+Sigma 100-400 with a loupe. It's a shame that the system is now discontinued.
Not enough dials and controls for me personally, but looking at how fast that auto focus is and the crop factor, and such nice images, I wonder if one of the models with more mechanical stuff would make a fantastic cheap wildlife option! I'd probably stick with F mount of 43 mount but it definitely looks fun and a good camera to learn on
I love my Nikon 1 system and I couldn’t agree with you more. I was truly disappointed when Nikon decided to stop development. I have three Nikon 1 cameras and several lenses; my “Photo Walk” and travel system.
I have a few of these with many bodies but the bummer was that 10-100 VR motorized lens PD Zoom which I bought for $750 malfunctioned. Another 10-100 VR lens blacks out as the aperture gear is stripped. That was $500. I ws going to buy the 32mm 1.2 aperature lens but I heard that was fails and it is not cheap...I kind of lost interest..back to my Old Canon EOS 1D with many lens I bought over the years...never had a problem.
I am still using a Nikon 1 V1 that I bought used in 2015 (in Argentina, the V model did not officially come to the market, just the J). I got it with the 10-30, the 30-110, and the little external flash. A beautiful camera-light and small, with a viewfinder, super-fast and reliable AF, and it uses the same battery as my D7200. I love it. It was my go-to camera for vacations and street photography. But it has some cons. The annoying force-chimping of the photo taken (I guess that it could be fixed by a firmware update, but it never was), and the mode wheel is a little flimsy; it can be easily moved without knowing. Also, the lenses, at least the zoom lenses 10-30 and 30-110, have a very short lifespan. Both have problems with flex cables. But the primes, 10mm (got it also used) and 18.5mm (the only part of the system I bought new), are still working (cross fingers). I even got the FT1 adapter for F lenses and a FotodioX Hand Grip. I was so happy with this system that I gifted my, at the time, girlfriend, a brand new white J1. I never guessed that Nikon was going to discontinue the system in 2018.
I once considered the Nikon 1 system but there were 3 things holding me back. First, I didn't like the early sensors they used: they were clearly behind rival 1-inch sensors Sony used in their RX100 cameras. The other issue is the same one I had with the Canon M mount: their heart were not in it. you could feel it with the types of cameras they would release and how slow new lens releases were. Constant rumors about a "real" mirrorless system to replace their DSLR lines didn't help either. As a result, I never bought a Nikon 1 camera but I did buy a Nikon Z camera. :)
I just use in auto mode (I know its lazy , but i find it hard to understand all the other settings ) had some great pics with it . she's getting old now but i love it .
I like your review a lot, it really shows and explains the unique features of these tiny cameras! I use the same lens on a V1 and love it very much as it is really tiny and can be taken everywhere. I also use the FT1 adapter on my v2 with a 70-300, which is ideal for birding because of the 2.7x crop factor. And I have other lenses which I plan to test (I've bought a second v2 😅). As you say, they are really pretty cheap and so small, that's really a blessing for traveling.
Got mine for super cheap due to the yellow battery stopper being broken and the battery door spring being loose, but tinkering the spring fixed the issue. Handy to have nikon camera usable with battery door not part of the electronics like canon does. Currently using this camera with C-mount lenses. Kinda defeats the purpose of compactness but with super zoom capabilities.
Love the system, I have 5 of them with nearly all the lenses. 3x V1 and 2x V3. I've never owned a DSLR, I went from F5 film straight to V1 mirrorless. 👍📷
Thanks for the video. I bought a Nikon 1 camera + lenses when they were discontinued to try it. I found the sensor too small for my needs as I tend to do a lot of concert photography and the pictures were quite grainy. For street photography, when its sunny, the Nikon 1 probably does okay. However, my Lumix GM1 with 12-32mm lens is pretty close to the same size and since I have bought into the micro 4/3 system, it doesn't make sense for me.
I have one of these, also great for ultra macro, and has built in altimeter/gps if you press the info button. Took me 2 years to notice that lol. I highly recommend buying a filter ring adapter and keeping a UV filter on it if you havent done so.
TG-6 is an excellent camera. Unfortunately the image sensor is also too small for the type of photography that I do. At least with the 1 inch system camera, I can still achieve a bit of subject separation with background blur.
I played with one when they came out and loved it. I thought the interchangeable lenses were great! I didn't understand the hate at the time. I never got one because I was deep into Nikon big bodies already.
Hello Robin. Try to buy some kind of cheap apc dslr from 2010-14 . For example canon 550d (rebel t2i) or nikon 3200. In those years, it was popular among young people to buy such cameras. And then they were put on the shelf because very soon they got tired of carrying such a weight and size. And they switched to mobile phones. The secondary market is filled with them at ridiculous prices and in good condition (on average 5-10 thousand shutter releases with a resource of 100k). And in terms of their basic parameters, even now they can do a lot + a huge fleet of inexpensive optics from the secondary market.
I actually bought this camera in December 2011. I really liked the colors, and it was fun taking slow motion videos of kids. I don´t think any smartphones had that good slow-mo back then. I sold the J-1 to a friend in the middle of 2013 and bought the original Olympus E-M5 with a few lenses. Now I have a few more lenses and I recently got the OM-1. 10 years ago, micro 4/3 had a lot more lenses to choose from so I am happy that I switched system back then.
@@felixtang3711 I was talking about Nikon jpeg colors. Coincidentally, I have the EPL9 in black which I also love. Agree with you on the Jean blue color!
I got the AW1, pretty much entirely for it being the only digital, interchangeable lens camera that is underwater out of the box. So far, its served me well, but ive only done a bit of underwater with it.
I have one of these with two lenses, the 10-30mm and 30-110mm with the 2.7 crop factor, it's a really compact set up and not too bad. I also picked up a J2 for my wife. That one is 14MP vs. 10MP.
I am looking to buy one used off fb marketplace. One person is selling one with 10-30 mm and one is selling it with 30-110 mm. Which is the better lens to have ? I mostly want to focus on photography while travelling (landscape and architecture)
@@michelleklassen1227 the 10-30 will give you a more normal angle of view, so I would go with that first. The 30-110 is a telezoom for capturing scenes at a distance.
It's good to see the Nikon 1 system getting some love. I remember checking it out in 2011 when it came out and almost bought one. However, I think I made to right decision to go with Micro 4/3 instead. Unfortunately, it was the wrong camera at the wrong time for Nikon. But what if Nikon had made this camera with a Micro 4/3 sensor?
Was MFT an open standard at the time? And would Champions-League finalist Nikon be ready to share the market with "second-tier players" like Olympus and Panasonic back in 2011? Remember that was the time when even Sony wasn't taken seriously by many. Oh how the times have changed.
Nice to see - I had J1 and really enjoyed it, but ultimately had to accept that the RX100 trumped it. If only Nikon had fitted a flip up screen and mic socket they would have cleaned up.
I think it depends on what you do. Having the 18.5mm F1.8 lens, and ability to switch lens trumps the RX100. And have you seen that LCD screen on RX100? It is so laggy and stuttery (even RX100 Mark III), the J1's screen was bright, smooth and crisp!
I love the Nikon 1 system, and I am not sure why it failed at the time. The variations I have are the V models which included an EVF and were considered the professional versions of their J counterparts. The V1 was my entry to the system, the V2 has the best ergonomics hands down, and the V3 has the highest pixel density out of the V series bodies at 18 megapixels on such a small sensor, and while it lacks a built-in EVF you can purchase one separately and it is terrific. The only non-V variant that I have is the J5 again because of the highest resolution in the entire system, which is 20 megapixels. While I enjoy the system mostly because of how compact it is, the best thing about it is that you have a Nikon F to Nikon 1 mount adapter that opens up endless possibilities including professional expensive glass. I have wanted to do an experiment with my J5 for some time now to shoot the moon using a 1000mm Nikkor mirror lens and compare the result to an equally cropped moonshot with my Z7II and D800E using the same lens to see which will have the best resolution and rendering.
I'd say the more obscure cameras like this and perhaps the EOS M system are the under-rated street cameras. The only issue with the Nikon 1 system is that since there aren't many out there and the lenses are harder to find, they bring a higher price. But you can find a basic zoom (kkit zoom, like a 10-30) for a reasonable price. Not as cheap as m4/3 though. However, I would still say that the m4/3 system (even a 5 year old m4/3 camera and lens) would probably be better than the 1" sensor in the Nikon 1 system. I'd probably rank them (from best to last) to be the Canon EOS M, some m4/3 system, and then the 1" Nikon 1 or really,. any older 1" sensor camera).
Of course, once you start comparing outside of the 1 inch format, there are so many "better" options to choose from. I think Nikon could have done better with the product strategy and marketing.
If rank eos m, m43 and nikon 1. I will rank m43 first because of the varieties, from GM1 to EM1X/OM-1, even Panasonic LX100/100 II. If I need to pick one cam from eosm, m43 and nikon 1, EOS M6 II is my choice. It is a good working horse.
I have both a J2 and a V1, which I really like(d). Reliability was a bit of an issue, which is why I am not currently using them. The J2 died and, after a lot of searching I got a new mainboard which I fitted, however the inbuilt flash doesn't work. I used an LED movie light with it where otherwise I would use flash -- it actually gave better cover than an inbuilt flash, but was a bit awkward. While I was trying to get the J2 sorted, I got the V1, which has the advantage of the EVF and is a little more capable. The J2 had come with a 10-30 lens, which I supplemented with a screw in 2x fitting, which actually worked better than I had anticipated; however for some reason this adaptor gave worse results on the same lens attached to the V1! I never worked that one out. Most of my photography was with the V1 and the short lens, but it died suddenly a couple of years ago and I haven't gotten around to getting it fixed. You are right, though, that both are very useful holiday or street camera (I don't do a lot of the latter.) I wouldn't bother trying to photograph night skies or low light streets at night, as such shots tended to get grainy. However, using normal street lighting I got some quite useful street photos, and some lovely ones around the river near where I lived, using moonlight on the water. Lovely cameras, too expensive when new, needed a moveable screen, too many options in a system just launching. I have been looking at the RX100 and wondering if there is one that actually works without sucking dirt into the interior (I doubt it) and noticeing that they got to the Version VII, I think, before they gave you more than a 3x zoom. Nikon could have started with the two "standard" zooms and a 20mm or thereabouts prime, and built on that as demand increased. I'll get that lens fixed.
I love my Nikon 1 J2 and made enough good family trip photos and also used it for some cheap product photography sessions, but i hate many of N1 lenses as i had bad luck with their aperture failure after a while. Of course there have been a few other very good lenses, but with stupid prices for a 1 inch sensor... and using other than Nikon FT1 adapters (which cost and aren't easy to find new) is a pain for needing to shoot something in hurry. With other lens adapters camera will become bigger and requiring longer subject distance due to 2.7 crop factor or will lose aperture ability control and won't shoot in A/S/P modes nor use the scene templates although it can be used only in manual mode, meaning probably loosing many good shooting moments. Yet i still love that camera and still use it for some macro or product photos with some weird old lenses i own... and a couple of times i got good results shooting LensFree with Helios 44-2 lens, but having other cameras with acceptable good lenses makes more easy for me to use those other cameras. Nice video and nice photos you got with Nikon1
I have a LX10 and an fz1000ii. They are enough for me on the digital side but sometimes I would like a bit of bokeh. I cannot justify going up to mft as I still mainly use film, having multiple film camera, 2 contax ii rangefinders with full set of lenses among them. I may be tempted as they use 40.5 mm filters and I have plenty of those.
Bought this camera for $49 at Value Village , came complete with 10 mm x 30 lens and a 30 mm x 110 lenes , all white with lens hood and all white camera stap ,
KL must be great for street photography. Been there a few times. But I'm afraid I'm too shy. :) Anyway, I have an RX100 V, but I don't love it. It's a technical marvel but every time I pick it up, I have to think about how to use it. It's just not intuitive. Which might also be why I don't love it for underwater photography. So I'm looking at options, and there are underwater housings for some of the models.
Never had a Nikon camera before (in 4 decades of photographing) so recently I decided I wanted to try out Nikon in the form of a Nikon1 V1 with a standard zoom (10-30mm); no complains about the camera: compact and indeed build like a little tank! The lens however was another thing: in the end it was a malfunctioning aperture, and by looking on the world-wide-web, it appears that a lot of these zoomlenses (PLUS other Nikon1 lenses) have a small cogwheel in the aperture fail over time! So: do be warned while looking for a Nikon1 set! Needless to say I was disappointed by my trial side-step into Nikon :-/
I bought a new 1J2 with kit zoom for under GBP200 when they were on clearance a good many years ago. Picked up the 30-110 zoom for just over £100 and they allfit into a small bag that can be carried under my arm, very discretely. Great shame that Nikon discontinued the 1 system but if this video boosts their used prices I may be tempted to sell
I bought a J1 when they came out. Still have it with the 10mm lens. Also have a V1. Thought the AF was way ahead of its time and very quick and sure footed. Got some lovely shots out of the J1 as long as the iso isn’t too high. Shame it never took off. Was criticised for its small sensor but others were lauded with similar chips. Still, i like it and feel it has its place in the evolution of the mirrorless world! Great video; thankyou.
Thanks, I thought the 1 System was quite ok, maybe it was marketed wrongly, and maybe the product strategy was not done with the right target market in mind.
I can see I'm not the only one who is totally excited about the Nikon1 J1. The Nikon 1 J1 has always been a top camera and is still one of the good cameras today. Too bad Nikon gave up the Nikon1 series. I always have it with me, unless I have the goal of taking photos, in which case I usually take the Sony a7 III with me. You can get them used at a good price. If you don't have it, it's your own fault.
Hi Robin and thank for your videos (great as always) ! I don't understand why the nikon 1 + 10-30 is the same size than the lumix gm1 or olympus pen mini with a pancake zoom ? If there's no difference with micro 4/3, why choose a smaller senor ? I guess it's the reason why it wasn't a success. Too bad because I love small cameras and I'm sorry manufacturers don't develop small cameras anymore.
Probably will get a Nikon 1 camera since it was in my collection list for years... but that dial on the J1, i don't understand why Nikon did not put manual or priority modes in the Nikon 1 J series dials, accessing those modes from the menus are far than intuitive. I know that camera series was targeted to beginners but didn't hurt to have the access to manual and priority modes more easily.
bonjour excellente chaine video youtube, j utilise aussi nikon j1 -5 et surtout avec le convertisseur optique nikon , il est excellent pour la macrophotographie, merci du partage hello excellent youtube video channel, I also use nikon j1 -5 and especially with the nikon optical converter, it is excellent for macro photography, thank you for sharing
I was able to pick up a V1 and the 10-30 / 30-110 combination pretty cheap. Having discovered what these cameras can do I’ve now acquired V2, V3, and J5 along with the full collection of native lenses. Had my first lens failure recently with the 10-100 PD but an unloved 18-105 DX with an FT1 is currently filling that gap while I figure out whether to fix it or just source another. Cheap DX lenses perform really well on Nikon 1s but with the limitation of single point AF. That 18.5mm on a V1 is my street combination, along with the add on grip handle. My V1 is white which for some reason seems to create less of a reaction from people, compared to using the Z50.
Huge killer is absence of IBIS. So you attach various other lenses with adaptor, but you have no means how to stabilize it. Pentax Q was better with this. Unfortunately they decided to use smaller sensors starting with pathetic 1/2.3" later change into a bit better 1/1.7". But both died because of M4/3. MFT can also be very small, but has IBIS and large amount of lenses starting with affordable low-end and going up to things like hi-end 150-400/4.5 or 300/4 + adaptors with lenses from basically all other systems. Small EPL-5/6 are also very cheap today, but will do the job for most users.
I appreciate this video! It helped me purchase my first camera! Very impressed by its specs on paper and the lens recommendation will be a game changer. I am having trouble finding that lens for that price tho. Could you help me? Thanks!
It's not about the camera, it's all about the eyes and the minds of the photographer. J1 is cheap, low-profile, and simple while versatile and capable.
I found a 1J1 with a 10 and 18.5mm lenses at a thrift store for a super price. Great little camera that can produce beautiful shots despite the low mpxl count. I have several cameras but I find myself picking the 1J1 up more than I ever thought I would. Seriously thinking about finding a 1 system zoom lens that would make this little jewel even more fun to use.
I am looking to buy one used off fb marketplace. One person is selling one with 10-30 mm and one is selling it with 30-110 mm. Which is the better lens to have ? I mostly want to focus on photography while travelling (landscape and architecture)
My first mirrorless camera was a Nikon 1. I kind of miss it in a way. It has really icky dynamic range and you're not going to get a lot of shallow depth of field even with the 50 mm equivalent lens but it was just a fun little camera
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Correction - There is another interchangeable lens system for 1 inch cameras, which was Samsung NX Mini, but that was terribly short-lived.
Yes, I was thinking about that too, while watching the video 😄
I recently got a 2nd hand Samsung NX Mini which I find very small that it is really a deck of cards. The 9mm f3.5 (24mm FF equivalent) lens that come with it does not even has lens cap. The bright prime lens is super rare and I think it is not on sale in my country at all but I might later get the zoom lens to try.
I like this video but dislike the camera.
In last 12 months, I bought 4 sets of Nikon 1 J (not V) from Carousell. Unluckily I never get one set is fully functional even it is good in outlook. The problems I encountered:
1. Failure of the lens (incluede dual kit lens + prime lens, not only one)
2. LCD turn black in corner
3. Battery die (it is fine to me as it is old, but it is relatively rare for Sony and Canon original batteries).
It should be careful to buy in 2nd market for this system.
I have an nx mini and was able to track down a 17 mm lens. It is a great camera and really showed some potential. First camera with a bsi sensor. I think it’s biggest failure was the lack of buttons. The touchscreen interface works great but I don’t think photographers were ready for it.
@@Localtraveler2376 I just buy a samsung nx300 and it is quite funny camera. Touch screen, bsi sensor, wifi, 20MP APSC. It is a powerful mirrorless cam in 10 years ago. Suggest Robin to play around Samsung camera in next days
I bought a white Nikon 1 J1 camera at a local general auction last week for £5. I had to buy a charger for it but once charged it sprang into life. Now I'm having a fun time using it and watching your videos is a big help.
I just bought a J1 after seeing this video. The autofocus on this camera is insanely good considering its age! The picture and video quality is impressive as well!
Reason number 7:
- You can adapt AF-S and AF-P Nikon DSLR lenses with the native adapter for full autofocus and aperture control
Yeah true, but then the lenses would become so huge!
FT1 cost 3x than the camera itself
I started using the J5 with the 18.5 for street. It is so small and fast, its perfect for taking stealth photos. The sensor on the J5 was a huge leap forwards and finally competitive with sony. Ive strated using a a6100, but always go back to the j5 when i want go unnnoticed.
It sad that the 1in cameras have been deserted. I think there is a lot of potential in them.
I don’t think this is a true statement
@@greysuit17 I hope they have not been. Would like to be wrong.
I definitely see a lot of potential for 1inch system, I think the product strategy from Nikon is wrong, there are many things they could have done. I shall discuss this in my coming video
@@robinwong Looking forward to it.
Odd, maybe. 3 days ago I was totally unaware of the Nikon 1 system. I had never heard of it. Then I stumbled upon it while cruising a used photo dealers web site. I was intrigued. After looking at several models of the Nikon 1 they had for sale I bought a 1j5 and the 18mm f/1.8 lens. And at a very low price I might add. Now, waiting for it to arrive, here comes your video on the Nikon 1 system. Great minds think alike.😎
A week before that I bought a new in the box Samsung NX3000. A beautiful little camera. But it was body only so I am looking for a lens for it.
Yeah this shows how bad the marketing was from Nikon, and how the 1 System has failed.
NX3000 is a funny cam. I recommend you to consider the pancake lens instead of the kit lens.
NX's are so good with their that 20-50mm kit
I still use V1 with 18.5mm to wait Fujifilm x100m6. The colour of V1 is still outstanding and i didn't adjust it.
I have J1,J4,J5,S1,V1,V2,V3 and AW1 underwater version. There is even a 32mmF1.2 lens but like many N1 lens the aperture control breaks with time as the nylon gears harden and crack. You can get replacement brass gears but they are non trivial to change. My favorite is the J5 with its BSI sensor, its a big step up in IQ. Bodies are great, esp the V series with their evfs and larger batteries.
Robin should get the V1.
my 32mm breaks just last month for the same reason:( I cannot change the gear cause the screws are ruined and cannot open it
@@ivanmaz2847 This lens is not the easiest to repair.
@@ivanmaz2847 I know the feeling, it was my least used lens due to its cost, and well cared for and protected. Also my 10-100 failed, so both the most expensive lenses for a few cent item. If you search dpreview for "nikon 1 lenses aperture" there is thread where you can buy metal gears to repair yourself.
Hi I have the J- 1, what would be the best settings to take baseball photos in the evening?
It's very cool that you expose these cameras. I appreciate a good compact street-travel-doc-snap system. Cameras have only been getting bigger recently, so I'm losing a lot of hope for the future. Looking to the past my be the solution. ✌️
Interesting I own the Nikon one V1 I agree the AF is really good. Agree about build quality Also the adapter allows you to use any Nikon F mount lens on it.
I got pretty deep into the 1 system a few years back with a v1 and a bunch of lenses. AF was amazing and that little aptina sensor made some really pleasing images. I really enjoyed using the 18.5mm lens. I ended up selling them but I’m always tempted to buy another n1 camera
Yeah the sensor though small, does produce some pleasing images
Watching this video while i was fixing up the 10-30mm lens for my Nikon 1 J2 as it was causing issues and wouldnt work. it is now working again and the camera is ready for some street photography again (i used to use it for street shots as it is small, portable and very capable for its size. Nice video and keep up the good work
I’ve owned most all the Nikon cameras for the past 15 years…From HUGE D4’s and 400mm 2.8’s all the way down to Nikon 1 V1. Along with many M 4/3, Sony FF and APS-C and their RX-100 line. To this day, the Nikon 1 system is most enjoyable system to shoot with. It was waaaay ahead of it’s time. It feels like an extension of your hand and can fit an entire system in small backpack. You can shoot equivalent 840 mm birds and 16 mm landscapes and 85mm portraits with background blur from a 1 inch sensor and waterproof on the beach with the aw1. So innovative. I wish they would have spent time to develop the sensor into what it could have been with more dynamic range, stacked and add ibis. I would still be using it for my everyday/hobby/vacation system to this day.
I’ve been watching your videos consistently for the last 2 years. If I may suggest, I would really appreciate if you can show SOOC or unedited raw before you show your final photo. It’s sometimes misleading how capable a camera is if you have a high level of editing skill. 😅 you have a pretty consistent “look” in all of your photos. Honestly, I wouldn’t be able to tell the difference even if you use your smartphone in taking the pictures.
I would appreciate this, too!
I have, MANY times shown straight out of camera, people just did not see or even notice it. I even show you directly what was captured on the camera screen via a HDMI recorder, and that clearly shows how close the final image was compared to the one captured, and honestly, most of them are almost identical.
I don't post-process my images much, to the point that if I did show you side by side before and after you probably won't be able to tell which from which.
@@robinwong Apologies, I didn't notice!
I bought nikon 1 v1 several years ago,with nikkor 10-30mm,30-110mm. It is a very compact unit for daily photography. And I bought 18.5mm and 10mm from second hand markit in very low prices. All these nikkors have goog qualities just like others nikkors,and brought much fun for me.
Thanks for your videos!
Yup I had j5 with 10-30 lens,it's a nice compact camera, I also had meike mf lens 35mm
I have a J2 and a J5. The best thing is that you can put this camera with the kit zoom lens in your jacket pocket without problems. The bad thing is that the screen is hard to look at when the sun is shining. The picture quality is good enough for normal photografy, maybe not for posters. I also have the szoom telelens, but i hardly use that.
You will be surprised, the screen is BETTER than some latest screens from modern cameras from Fuji, Sony or even that famous Ricoh GR III
I just bought the Nikon 1 J5 and waiting for all of the lenses and adapters to come in. 6.7-13mm (18-35mm with 2.7 crop) and the Vivitar 500mm f/8 with adapters to Nikon F mount and Nikon 1 CX Mount. I'll be getting the 10-100mm , 70-300mm, 10mm, 18.5mm and the 35mm with the Leica M to Nikon 1 adapter. Waiting for the 10-30mm, 30-100mm, Nikon F to Nikon 1 adapter and last but least the dummy battery. Have the 1tb micro-Sd card and have 5 total batteries and charger. Cheers! I found out that they had the AW1 and V3 Nikon 1 cameras also.
I just ordered the 1v1 with the 28mm equiv lens. I wanted a backup street camera to my Leica Q2. Total cost was less than the Q2 battery! Looking forward to shooting it. Cheers!
That's the main appeal, it is so cheap, and the image quality and performance isn't that bad either.
I recently bought a Nikon 1 S2, I use it for street photography, I really like it, very fast, good colors. What I like most is that he always catches the shot.
I used to have the Nikon 1 J5 in silver, such a lovely camera to carry around and what lead me in the Panasonic micro 4 thirds cameras. It even had similar controls to the Panasonic GM and GX cameras.
Yeah the Panasonic Micro Four thirds are way more advanced and feature rich too
Very nice! For a while I owned a Sony RX100V. I sold it again as I did not use it enough, and it is too expensive to sit on the shelf. Then I bought a Nikon 1 J5 for 20% of the price 🙂
Yeah the RX100 cameras are great, but also super expensive!
I bought the older version of RX100 ii, not only is cheaper and is more compact to me than a Nikon DSLR.
You have a good eye for capturing the moment and your subjects are beautiful.
You already know my stand point with the Nikon 1 Series. I started with the J1 but my legitimate photography was when I bought an Olympus EM10 Mk II. I decided photography was for me though with the Nikon 1 line. I miss them.
Thomas Stirr has used the Nikon 1 extensively with good results for landscape, wildlife, and macro, as shown on his "small sensor photography" website. I think he still uses it occasionally, though his main system is Olympus micro 4 3.
I think the 1 System is very good, but not for professional environment, that I'd trust my Micro Four Thirds more.
Thank you for this review, it's a terrific value for the price, I've been lurking a Nikon 1 j5 for street photography and now I'm convinced to go for it! Great photos!
A cousin on mine passed away and left a Nikon V1 and a set of lenses. I wound up with it and fell in love immediately. It is a fine street camera and takes very nice photos. I use it rather than my big Z cameras as a walk around and have taken some beautiful photos I couldn't have done with a large intrusive camera.
I bought a couple more Nikon 1 series to put my lenses on. Great value!!!
Yes I love my Nikon V1 which shares the same sensor with a lot more options. The later version J5 is the last offering from Nikon with a 20 mpx Sony sensor and with that 18.5 1.8 lens you have it is an awesome combo. I don’t understand why it didn’t catch on with the public because it was a great system way ahead of its time. The 6.7-13 lens is also a great walk around lens as well as the 30-110 lens for a great all inclusive package especially for Travel photography in a small Fanny pack it works well as it also has a built in flash like the J1. Glad to see you appreciate this old timer and thanks for sharing your thoughts. Regards Gerry
I have J1 with the 10-30mm and 30-110mm lenses. I’ve been looking for the 10mm or the 18.5mm, but they seem impossible to find here in Canada. And most I’ve seen on eBay are going for more than I paid for the camera and the other two lenses combined.
I am looking to buy one used off fb marketplace. One person is selling one with 10-30 mm and one is selling it with 30-110 mm. Which is the better lens to have ? I mostly want to focus on photography while travelling (landscape and architecture)
@@michelleklassen1227 For landscape and architecture I'd recommend going with the 10-30mm. It offers a wide angle to medium telephoto range (28-80mm full frame equivalent).
Oh, just want also mention, a few lenses in the system has issue with plastic gear breaking issue resulting in stuck aperture. Nikon was doing repair and recall for a while (which may contributed to the demise of the system). However, there is a repair shop in Taiwan that will still repair it and even sell you the replacement metal gear + instructions if you want to do it yourself.
I have a Nikon J1 and I love the system. I wish they had continued improving it!
Same here!
Hello Robin love you RUclips channel I’m amazed people don’t mind you taking a picture of them compare to Melbourne Australia
You been great you love your photography and share your experience
People in Malaysia seem incredibly sociable and friendly. I think us westerners are becoming ever more insular.
Thanks, we are nice people here in Malaysia!
I have two Nikon 1 AW1 cameras - which are a J model inside an underwater metal body. The AF and continuous focus are amazing at 15fps and that technology is over 10 years old! Very good at video as well. The main limitation is that higher ISO kills it pretty quickly and certainly no IBIS or OIS on the kit zoom. RAW files are best option as DR is limited especially in very bright conditions. Has got some of my favourite photos over the last few years.
I still using Nikon V1 with 10mm Len up-to date. Still loving it.
Another bit of signature Robin Wong street work. I bought one of these with the 2 " kit zooms" in 2016 from a friend who was in need of cash. I was hoping it was something my sons would use on their outdoor adventures. but they only used it a couple of times. I will admit I was very impressed with the fast focus and also some of the shooting modes. If I had purchased the prime lens I may have enjoyed it more. My original 10-30 zoom went defective after only a few months and I bought another off Ebay and it also went bad before long...and by that time I was full on MFT, I always felt that Nikon didn't really have their heart into the system..It was mostly unknown in the US....Looks like it just needed the right user to bring out it's best... As always..a great find by Robin.
They had the potential to be something great, using the fast sensor readout with the small telephoto lenses, to make the ultimate soccer mom camera
Great thoughts as always Robin! I was eyeing a Nikon 1 J3 camera with dedicated underwater housing, but the set came with a "wrong" lens, not fitting the housing. And while entire kits can be super cheap here in Australia, lenses get expensive fast, even above A$200. I read up a bit on limitations in lower light and failing lenses and stuck to my Olympus TG-6 for underwater shots and EM1.2 and EPM2 combo for all other needs. Second hand prices and availability fepend very much on demand when new and Nikon1 doesn’t seem to have been popular in Oz. Unlike M43, I see so many dirt cheap deals that I often buy then just because they're cheap, test, clean, split and sell on eBay, usually at a small markup (still auction, so market price).
Yeah and it does not help that 1 system has been discontinued with no support from Nikon. I am lucky to find mine rather cheap.
I picked up a J5+10-30mm while I was looking for a tele-converter for my D7100 a few years ago. And soon it displaced my RX100IV. Since then, I picked up a 18.5mm f/1.8, 10-100mm, V1+10mm. It's my light travel, street, walk-around setup. 40mm DX Micro on V1 (with FTZ) make a great light weight Macro photography set. And Nikon 1 body + 55-200mm DX makes great light weight telephoto wild life setup that I can take on any hiking trip. I have even gone birding using J5+Sigma 100-400 with a loupe. It's a shame that the system is now discontinued.
Not enough dials and controls for me personally, but looking at how fast that auto focus is and the crop factor, and such nice images, I wonder if one of the models with more mechanical stuff would make a fantastic cheap wildlife option! I'd probably stick with F mount of 43 mount but it definitely looks fun and a good camera to learn on
If you already have Micro Four Thirds, it also makes no sense to get the Nikon 1
The V series have more external controls, esp the V3. There is even a handgrip with extra controls available for it.
@@robinwong he might have four thirds (pre MFT) as he said 43 mount.
I love my Nikon 1 system and I couldn’t agree with you more. I was truly disappointed when Nikon decided to stop development. I have three Nikon 1 cameras and several lenses; my “Photo Walk” and travel system.
There is so much more they can do or make the 1 system more attractive to photographers!
Robin, I picked up this camera used few years ago for low price, not used it much yet but will break it out again to try street.
Yeah give it a spin!
I have a few of these with many bodies but the bummer was that 10-100 VR motorized lens PD Zoom which I bought for $750 malfunctioned. Another 10-100 VR lens blacks out as the aperture gear is stripped. That was $500. I ws going to buy the 32mm 1.2 aperature lens but I heard that was fails and it is not cheap...I kind of lost interest..back to my Old Canon EOS 1D with many lens I bought over the years...never had a problem.
I have one, with the 10 mm 2.8 lens, and love it and also have the J5.
I plan to get that lens next
I am still using a Nikon 1 V1 that I bought used in 2015 (in Argentina, the V model did not officially come to the market, just the J). I got it with the 10-30, the 30-110, and the little external flash.
A beautiful camera-light and small, with a viewfinder, super-fast and reliable AF, and it uses the same battery as my D7200. I love it. It was my go-to camera for vacations and street photography.
But it has some cons. The annoying force-chimping of the photo taken (I guess that it could be fixed by a firmware update, but it never was), and the mode wheel is a little flimsy; it can be easily moved without knowing.
Also, the lenses, at least the zoom lenses 10-30 and 30-110, have a very short lifespan. Both have problems with flex cables. But the primes, 10mm (got it also used) and 18.5mm (the only part of the system I bought new), are still working (cross fingers).
I even got the FT1 adapter for F lenses and a FotodioX Hand Grip.
I was so happy with this system that I gifted my, at the time, girlfriend, a brand new white J1.
I never guessed that Nikon was going to discontinue the system in 2018.
I have three J1 bodies and am using them with my old Canon FD lenses via an adaptor. It's fun photography....
I once considered the Nikon 1 system but there were 3 things holding me back.
First, I didn't like the early sensors they used: they were clearly behind rival 1-inch sensors Sony used in their RX100 cameras.
The other issue is the same one I had with the Canon M mount: their heart were not in it. you could feel it with the types of cameras they would release and how slow new lens releases were.
Constant rumors about a "real" mirrorless system to replace their DSLR lines didn't help either. As a result, I never bought a Nikon 1 camera but I did buy a Nikon Z camera. :)
I just use in auto mode (I know its lazy , but i find it hard to understand all the other settings ) had some great pics with it .
she's getting old now but i love it .
I like your review a lot, it really shows and explains the unique features of these tiny cameras! I use the same lens on a V1 and love it very much as it is really tiny and can be taken everywhere. I also use the FT1 adapter on my v2 with a 70-300, which is ideal for birding because of the 2.7x crop factor. And I have other lenses which I plan to test (I've bought a second v2 😅). As you say, they are really pretty cheap and so small, that's really a blessing for traveling.
Got mine for super cheap due to the yellow battery stopper being broken and the battery door spring being loose, but tinkering the spring fixed the issue. Handy to have nikon camera usable with battery door not part of the electronics like canon does. Currently using this camera with C-mount lenses. Kinda defeats the purpose of compactness but with super zoom capabilities.
Love the system, I have 5 of them with nearly all the lenses. 3x V1 and 2x V3. I've never owned a DSLR, I went from F5 film straight to V1 mirrorless. 👍📷
Your enthusiasm is amazinggg!!!
Love the Nikon 1. Upgraded from the J1 to J4. It's my"butterfly rig". Primary camera is the OM-5 w/40-150mm f 4. Keep up the good work.
Thanks for the video. I bought a Nikon 1 camera + lenses when they were discontinued to try it. I found the sensor too small for my needs as I tend to do a lot of concert photography and the pictures were quite grainy. For street photography, when its sunny, the Nikon 1 probably does okay. However, my Lumix GM1 with 12-32mm lens is pretty close to the same size and since I have bought into the micro 4/3 system, it doesn't make sense for me.
Great info!!!! Going to purchase this gorgeous camera😊
Nice presentation Robin. Must admit I still get a kick out of using my old Nikon P7800. Appreciate your work and efforts.
These old cameras are super awesome!
Hi! I just bought a secondhand Nikon 1 V2. Love it! Thank you Robin, cheers from Indonesia
Just bought the TG6 Olympus... discrete and functional. Also good for my next holiday, in the water!!
I have one of these, also great for ultra macro, and has built in altimeter/gps if you press the info button. Took me 2 years to notice that lol. I highly recommend buying a filter ring adapter and keeping a UV filter on it if you havent done so.
TG-6 is an excellent camera. Unfortunately the image sensor is also too small for the type of photography that I do. At least with the 1 inch system camera, I can still achieve a bit of subject separation with background blur.
Vivo a Roma e proprio oggi 8 ottobre la sto comprando a 50 euro...Grazie a te ed alle tue divulgazioni. Ti seguo con attenzione.
I played with one when they came out and loved it. I thought the interchangeable lenses were great! I didn't understand the hate at the time. I never got one because I was deep into Nikon big bodies already.
I shall explore the reasons for the hate in my coming video.
@robinwong I look forward to it. Man, was this the lightning rod of hate in the camera world for the life of it.
Hello Robin. Try to buy some kind of cheap apc dslr from 2010-14 .
For example canon 550d (rebel t2i) or nikon 3200.
In those years, it was popular among young people to buy such cameras. And then they were put on the shelf because very soon they got tired of carrying such a weight and size. And they switched to mobile phones.
The secondary market is filled with them at ridiculous prices and in good condition (on average 5-10 thousand shutter releases with a resource of 100k). And in terms of their basic parameters, even now they can do a lot + a huge fleet of inexpensive optics from the secondary market.
I actually bought this camera in December 2011. I really liked the colors, and it was fun taking slow motion videos of kids. I don´t think any smartphones had that good slow-mo back then. I sold the J-1 to a friend in the middle of 2013 and bought the original Olympus E-M5 with a few lenses. Now I have a few more lenses and I recently got the OM-1. 10 years ago, micro 4/3 had a lot more lenses to choose from so I am happy that I switched system back then.
Excellent presentation Chinito! Love your work!
The colors from the J1 are so beautiful.
I have one along with the 10mm lens.
I plan to get the 10mm lens next.
@@robinwong Awesome
For the color, I think the best one is Olympus M43 EPL9 jean blue. I see this in Robin's blog.
@@felixtang3711 I was talking about Nikon jpeg colors. Coincidentally, I have the EPL9 in black which I also love. Agree with you on the Jean blue color!
I got the AW1, pretty much entirely for it being the only digital, interchangeable lens camera that is underwater out of the box. So far, its served me well, but ive only done a bit of underwater with it.
Another great content filled video...many thanks to you Robin..from New York City
I have one of these with two lenses, the 10-30mm and 30-110mm with the 2.7 crop factor, it's a really compact set up and not too bad. I also picked up a J2 for my wife. That one is 14MP vs. 10MP.
Sounds like an awesome setup!
I am looking to buy one used off fb marketplace. One person is selling one with 10-30 mm and one is selling it with 30-110 mm. Which is the better lens to have ? I mostly want to focus on photography while travelling (landscape and architecture)
@@michelleklassen1227 the 10-30 will give you a more normal angle of view, so I would go with that first. The 30-110 is a telezoom for capturing scenes at a distance.
It's good to see the Nikon 1 system getting some love. I remember checking it out in 2011 when it came out and almost bought one. However, I think I made to right decision to go with Micro 4/3 instead. Unfortunately, it was the wrong camera at the wrong time for Nikon. But what if Nikon had made this camera with a Micro 4/3 sensor?
Was MFT an open standard at the time? And would Champions-League finalist Nikon be ready to share the market with "second-tier players" like Olympus and Panasonic back in 2011? Remember that was the time when even Sony wasn't taken seriously by many. Oh how the times have changed.
Yeah Nikon's timing was definitely wrong, it came out too late. Micro Four Thirds offers so much more, and not asking too much either.
Nice to see - I had J1 and really enjoyed it, but ultimately had to accept that the RX100 trumped it. If only Nikon had fitted a flip up screen and mic socket they would have cleaned up.
I think it depends on what you do. Having the 18.5mm F1.8 lens, and ability to switch lens trumps the RX100. And have you seen that LCD screen on RX100? It is so laggy and stuttery (even RX100 Mark III), the J1's screen was bright, smooth and crisp!
Nikon did exactly that on the Nikon 1 V3! Great camera. I don't think they cleaned up.
I love the Nikon 1 system, and I am not sure why it failed at the time. The variations I have are the V models which included an EVF and were considered the professional versions of their J counterparts. The V1 was my entry to the system, the V2 has the best ergonomics hands down, and the V3 has the highest pixel density out of the V series bodies at 18 megapixels on such a small sensor, and while it lacks a built-in EVF you can purchase one separately and it is terrific. The only non-V variant that I have is the J5 again because of the highest resolution in the entire system, which is 20 megapixels. While I enjoy the system mostly because of how compact it is, the best thing about it is that you have a Nikon F to Nikon 1 mount adapter that opens up endless possibilities including professional expensive glass. I have wanted to do an experiment with my J5 for some time now to shoot the moon using a 1000mm Nikkor mirror lens and compare the result to an equally cropped moonshot with my Z7II and D800E using the same lens to see which will have the best resolution and rendering.
Sounds like a fun experiment, but I'd imagine the handling would be a nightmare, adapting such a huge lens on a small body.
I'd say the more obscure cameras like this and perhaps the EOS M system are the under-rated street cameras. The only issue with the Nikon 1 system is that since there aren't many out there and the lenses are harder to find, they bring a higher price. But you can find a basic zoom (kkit zoom, like a 10-30) for a reasonable price. Not as cheap as m4/3 though. However, I would still say that the m4/3 system (even a 5 year old m4/3 camera and lens) would probably be better than the 1" sensor in the Nikon 1 system. I'd probably rank them (from best to last) to be the Canon EOS M, some m4/3 system, and then the 1" Nikon 1 or really,. any older 1" sensor camera).
Of course, once you start comparing outside of the 1 inch format, there are so many "better" options to choose from. I think Nikon could have done better with the product strategy and marketing.
If rank eos m, m43 and nikon 1. I will rank m43 first because of the varieties, from GM1 to EM1X/OM-1, even Panasonic LX100/100 II.
If I need to pick one cam from eosm, m43 and nikon 1, EOS M6 II is my choice. It is a good working horse.
I have both a J2 and a V1, which I really like(d). Reliability was a bit of an issue, which is why I am not currently using them.
The J2 died and, after a lot of searching I got a new mainboard which I fitted, however the inbuilt flash doesn't work. I used an LED movie light with it where otherwise I would use flash -- it actually gave better cover than an inbuilt flash, but was a bit awkward.
While I was trying to get the J2 sorted, I got the V1, which has the advantage of the EVF and is a little more capable. The J2 had come with a 10-30 lens, which I supplemented with a screw in 2x fitting, which actually worked better than I had anticipated; however for some reason this adaptor gave worse results on the same lens attached to the V1! I never worked that one out.
Most of my photography was with the V1 and the short lens, but it died suddenly a couple of years ago and I haven't gotten around to getting it fixed.
You are right, though, that both are very useful holiday or street camera (I don't do a lot of the latter.)
I wouldn't bother trying to photograph night skies or low light streets at night, as such shots tended to get grainy. However, using normal street lighting I got some quite useful street photos, and some lovely ones around the river near where I lived, using moonlight on the water.
Lovely cameras, too expensive when new, needed a moveable screen, too many options in a system just launching. I have been looking at the RX100 and wondering if there is one that actually works without sucking dirt into the interior (I doubt it) and noticeing that they got to the Version VII, I think, before they gave you more than a 3x zoom. Nikon could have started with the two "standard" zooms and a 20mm or thereabouts prime, and built on that as demand increased.
I'll get that lens fixed.
I love my Nikon 1 J2 and made enough good family trip photos and also used it for some cheap product photography sessions, but i hate many of N1 lenses as i had bad luck with their aperture failure after a while. Of course there have been a few other very good lenses, but with stupid prices for a 1 inch sensor... and using other than Nikon FT1 adapters (which cost and aren't easy to find new) is a pain for needing to shoot something in hurry. With other lens adapters camera will become bigger and requiring longer subject distance due to 2.7 crop factor or will lose aperture ability control and won't shoot in A/S/P modes nor use the scene templates although it can be used only in manual mode, meaning probably loosing many good shooting moments.
Yet i still love that camera and still use it for some macro or product photos with some weird old lenses i own... and a couple of times i got good results shooting LensFree with Helios 44-2 lens, but having other cameras with acceptable good lenses makes more easy for me to use those other cameras.
Nice video and nice photos you got with Nikon1
I have a LX10 and an fz1000ii. They are enough for me on the digital side but sometimes I would like a bit of bokeh. I cannot justify going up to mft as I still mainly use film, having multiple film camera, 2 contax ii rangefinders with full set of lenses among them. I may be tempted as they use 40.5 mm filters and I have plenty of those.
I'll have to check it out I love my Sony rx100
Go for it
Had the v1 with some lenses and enjoyed it but later moved to the Nikon D5300 apsc format and from there to MFT.
yeah Micro Four Thirds is definitely superior in every way
Bought this camera for $49 at Value Village , came complete with 10 mm x 30 lens and a 30 mm x 110 lenes , all white with lens hood and all white camera stap ,
KL must be great for street photography. Been there a few times. But I'm afraid I'm too shy. :)
Anyway, I have an RX100 V, but I don't love it. It's a technical marvel but every time I pick it up, I have to think about how to use it. It's just not intuitive. Which might also be why I don't love it for underwater photography. So I'm looking at options, and there are underwater housings for some of the models.
Robin don't forget to mention the built in flash.
Never had a Nikon camera before (in 4 decades of photographing) so recently I decided I wanted to try out Nikon in the form of a Nikon1 V1 with a standard zoom (10-30mm); no complains about the camera: compact and indeed build like a little tank! The lens however was another thing: in the end it was a malfunctioning aperture, and by looking on the world-wide-web, it appears that a lot of these zoomlenses (PLUS other Nikon1 lenses) have a small cogwheel in the aperture fail over time! So: do be warned while looking for a Nikon1 set! Needless to say I was disappointed by my trial side-step into Nikon :-/
I had the same problem on the 10-30, but send it back to Nikon service they repair it at no cost out of the guarantee because is a common fault.
I only got the J1 after I have acquired the 18.5mm F1.8 lens. If I did not have the 50mm equivalent I probably would have bought the J1
I bought a new 1J2 with kit zoom for under GBP200 when they were on clearance a good many years ago. Picked up the 30-110 zoom for just over £100 and they allfit into a small bag that can be carried under my arm, very discretely. Great shame that Nikon discontinued the 1 system but if this video boosts their used prices I may be tempted to sell
I doubt my video will change anything in the market, after all the Nikon 1 is a failed system which has been long discontinued with no support!
I bought a J1 when they came out. Still have it with the 10mm lens. Also have a V1. Thought the AF was way ahead of its time and very quick and sure footed.
Got some lovely shots out of the J1 as long as the iso isn’t too high. Shame it never took off. Was criticised for its small sensor but others were lauded with similar chips. Still, i like it and feel it has its place in the evolution of the mirrorless world!
Great video; thankyou.
Thanks, I thought the 1 System was quite ok, maybe it was marketed wrongly, and maybe the product strategy was not done with the right target market in mind.
I have the S2 version takes nice Sharp colourful pictures
I can see I'm not the only one who is totally excited about the Nikon1 J1.
The Nikon 1 J1 has always been a top camera and is still one of the good cameras today.
Too bad Nikon gave up the Nikon1 series.
I always have it with me, unless I have the goal of taking photos, in which case I usually take the Sony a7 III with me.
You can get them used at a good price.
If you don't have it, it's your own fault.
Hi Robin and thank for your videos (great as always) ! I don't understand why the nikon 1 + 10-30 is the same size than the lumix gm1 or olympus pen mini with a pancake zoom ? If there's no difference with micro 4/3, why choose a smaller senor ? I guess it's the reason why it wasn't a success. Too bad because I love small cameras and I'm sorry manufacturers don't develop small cameras anymore.
Probably will get a Nikon 1 camera since it was in my collection list for years... but that dial on the J1, i don't understand why Nikon did not put manual or priority modes in the Nikon 1 J series dials, accessing those modes from the menus are far than intuitive. I know that camera series was targeted to beginners but didn't hurt to have the access to manual and priority modes more easily.
Agreed, the controls and dials were too simplistic in nature, I'd prefer more physical controls on the body.
bonjour excellente chaine video youtube, j utilise aussi nikon j1 -5 et surtout avec le convertisseur optique nikon , il est excellent pour la macrophotographie, merci du partage
hello excellent youtube video channel, I also use nikon j1 -5 and especially with the nikon optical converter, it is excellent for macro photography, thank you for sharing
I have a one a s2 and several lenses to go with it< takes great pics and is easy to take everywhere
I was able to pick up a V1 and the 10-30 / 30-110 combination pretty cheap. Having discovered what these cameras can do I’ve now acquired V2, V3, and J5 along with the full collection of native lenses. Had my first lens failure recently with the 10-100 PD but an unloved 18-105 DX with an FT1 is currently filling that gap while I figure out whether to fix it or just source another. Cheap DX lenses perform really well on Nikon 1s but with the limitation of single point AF. That 18.5mm on a V1 is my street combination, along with the add on grip handle. My V1 is white which for some reason seems to create less of a reaction from people, compared to using the Z50.
I had J1, he didn't have hot schue, but he is the reason that I have two Nikons today 😊
Huge killer is absence of IBIS. So you attach various other lenses with adaptor, but you have no means how to stabilize it.
Pentax Q was better with this. Unfortunately they decided to use smaller sensors starting with pathetic 1/2.3" later change into a bit better 1/1.7".
But both died because of M4/3. MFT can also be very small, but has IBIS and large amount of lenses starting with affordable low-end and going up to things like hi-end 150-400/4.5 or 300/4 + adaptors with lenses from basically all other systems. Small EPL-5/6 are also very cheap today, but will do the job for most users.
I appreciate this video! It helped me purchase my first camera! Very impressed by its specs on paper and the lens recommendation will be a game changer. I am having trouble finding that lens for that price tho. Could you help me? Thanks!
here an owner of this system with the common broken kit lens (10-30) as has happened to many who bought it. Luckily it works with adapted lenses
Mine was repaired out of guarantee.
Hopefully it does not happen to my 18.5mm lens
It's not about the camera, it's all about the eyes and the minds of the photographer. J1 is cheap, low-profile, and simple while versatile and capable.
Thanks, you are too kind!
I found a 1J1 with a 10 and 18.5mm lenses at a thrift store for a super price. Great little camera that can produce beautiful shots despite the low mpxl count. I have several cameras but I find myself picking the 1J1 up more than I ever thought I would. Seriously thinking about finding a 1 system zoom lens that would make this little jewel even more fun to use.
Thanks for this Robin. I just discovered there!
Great video. Suggestion: have a look at Nikon Coolpix A. DSLR like control with 28 mm
I don't think it is available in the market.
I am looking to buy one used off fb marketplace. One person is selling one with 10-30 mm and one is selling it with 30-110 mm. Which is the better lens to have ? I mostly want to focus on photography while travelling (landscape and architecture)
Hey 👋.
What do you think about wloging on this camera (with another lens, of course)?😏🧐
Thank you & nice black & white bit :)
My first mirrorless camera was a Nikon 1. I kind of miss it in a way. It has really icky dynamic range and you're not going to get a lot of shallow depth of field even with the 50 mm equivalent lens but it was just a fun little camera