Nikon announcement inc (has to be..) I AM COMING (ohh err?)

[Andy90]

Interesting Camera, quite clearly aimed at trying to mop up sales from people who are purchasing the Micro 4/3rds systems from other manufacturers.

It will be interesting to see how the prices convert to the pound - if they convert one dollar to the pound then they're going to have a hard time shifting them since there are far better SLR's around.

Now if Nikon had released a Crop Sensor or a Full frame mirrorless system with compatability with the existing Nikon mount then that would have been nice.

Nice enough design though, quite plain and business like - but bright pink what where they thinking of!

 

[Mr Jones]

Silent shooting? You haven't laid hands on one of Olympus' PEN cameras, right?

I have (EPL-1 and EP-2) and the EP-3 is a lot quieter now - compare that to mirror slapping, it's a godsent when you have commuters next to you and you want to discretely shoot in the tube or something.

Not saying it's dead silent, it's silent enough for shooting in the library and no one will blink an eye lid to that.

 

[bigredshark]

Who's going to pick this over 4/3 or nex kit? the sensor will have to have some magical capture capabilities.

If I wanted a mirrorless then I would, it's smaller, it has an adaptor to AF F mount lenses, it's got what appears to be a serious processor in it. Depth of field is useless on all these cameras (sorry, I have full frame, if I'm concerned about DoF I'll use that) so that's not an argument. Yet to see image quality obviously but I'm going to guess it'll be as good as 4/3rds currently as 4/3rds image quality has somewhat stagnated since launch.

I think, for Nikon it's a obvious and well executed product. it'll sell well (most buyers aren't photo geeks, don't know what depth of field is and will like that it's like a DSLR but smaller). It doesn't hurt their DSLR product lines in terms of competition. While I don't think anybody here will like it, I think it'll sell nicely.

 

[bigredshark]

Interesting Camera, quite clearly aimed at trying to mop up sales from people who are purchasing the Micro 4/3rds systems from other manufacturers.

Of course, that product segment is a license to print money, particularly in the far east. Panasonic and olympus are gaining market share plenty on the back of them.

It will be interesting to see how the prices convert to the pound - if they convert one dollar to the pound then they're going to have a hard time shifting them since there are far better SLR's around.

There are better SLRs around than any mirrorless camera. That's not the point, it's a casual users camera, not a DSLR alternative.

Now if Nikon had released a Crop Sensor or a Full frame mirrorless system with compatability with the existing Nikon mount then that would have been nice.

For a small number of users. Yes, I'd have loved it, but I'd love a FM2n or an F3 with a FX sensor inside and no other changes but I don't imagine they'd sell very many. 'I want' doesn't equal commercially viable, the online photo geeks have no concept of this. The full frame and pro markets in general are tiny, Nikon sell more D3100s in a month than Leica M9s have *ever* been sold.

 

[bigredshark]

Trusted reviews are quoting the prices as

Looking at the cost, the V1 with the 10-30mm kit lens will set you back £829 while the J1 with the same kit lens will cost £549. Lenses on their own will cost: 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 (£179.99); 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 (£229.99); 10mm f/2.8 (£229.99) and 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 PD-ZOOM (£679.99). The cameras and lenses will be available from 20 October.

The F-mount adapter will cost £229 (available from 1 December), the GPS unit will cost £109.99 (available 20 October) while the SB-N5 Speedlight will set you back £129.99 (available from 20 October).

J1 is just about all right but as for the rest, ouch. The V1 is more than a D7000, yes it's different target markets but that's a big ask.

 

[Rich]

Think ill skip this one. Will be interesting to see what Canon do. So far, ill either keep my GF-1 or hop across to the NEX-7 (bloomin expensive but Focus Peaking turns me on ).

 

[bigredshark]

Depends on the image quality surely? if the Nikon D adapter works well and the quality's good, i can see quite a few people who wouldn't mind strapping their 70-200 2.8's onto a 2.7x crop for wildlife.

I was going to rubbish that initially on cost grounds alone but actually it's an interesting prospect, I don't own a super tele myself as I can't justify it but there are times I'd like one. Turning my 70-200 into a 190-540 f/2.8 is an intriguing prospect, the glass probably has the resolving power in the center to support that too. If you had a 300 f/4 then you'd have an 800 f/4. I wonder what image quality would be like....

 

[Mr Jones]

Until I see the IQ from this new Nikon (even with the fancy Nikon F mounts using the adaptor (Wide angle will be crippled by the 2.7x), I suspect Olympus Pen Mini will thrumph it.

A mirrorless that isn't pocketable with a smaller sensor to MFT, and slower lens range. Selling well for consumers, I struggle to see that even from brand buyers.

Have a look at what's to come - Pen Mini! (Imagine that the the pancake zoom!)
http://www.olympus.co.uk/corporate/1696_14495.htm

 

[Andy90]

There are better SLRs around than any mirrorless camera. That's not the point, it's a casual users camera, not a DSLR alternative.QUOTE]

I don't think its aimed at Casual users - they're the ones that will pay up to a couple of hundred pounds for a Compact. Anything more than that and you're looking at fairly advanced users.

 

[D.P.]

Who's going to pick this over 4/3 or nex kit? the sensor will have to have some magical capture capabilities.

Well, the sensor could easilly be far better than the 4/3rds sensors which are rather poor. The Nex sesnors are fine but the lenses are massive, a Nikon D3100 is a better buy than a NEX really.


The Nikon 1 cameras should offer IQ similar (maybe better than) to m43rds in a smaller body with smaller lenses, which sounds good to me.
I may well be picking one, will wait a few months first. Should have the perfect compromise of size and IQ, and with an F-mount available it would be fun for some wildlife shoots when travelling light.

 

[D.P.]

$649.95 Nikon J1 and the $899.95 Nikon V1

ah

Can't see that translating well....

The Nikon RRP is not what you will see on the street, let alone the web. PRices will rpobablly settle to $400 and $500, maybe less in time.

 

[Raymond Lin]

Whilst I see the appeal of a smaller system. I do not share the enthusiasm if you already have a DSLR set up.

For one thing, you are buying a whole new system, lenses and flash.

Secondly, if you are going to carry around this, which does not fit into your pocket, then it'll need a bag. You might as well (which I do) travel with a DSLR. I travel with my 5Dii + 35L all the time and it fits in my messenger bag.

It is in a kind of no man's land of camera.

Granted, if you only have a compact and want to get something like this and stay a bit fashionable. Sure.

If you care about IQ first and foremost then you won't even think about one of these in between system.

 

[D.P.]

Sample Images here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nikonphotostream/sets/72157627593834027/

Looks good but we need to see some full size shots.

 

[a1ex2001]

Secondly, if you are going to carry around this, which does not fit into your pocket, then it'll need a bag. You might as well (which I do) travel with a DSLR. I travel with my 5Dii + 35L all the time and it fits in my messenger bag.

It is in a kind of no man's land of camera.

What you miss is that these will fit into the average handbag with a zoom lens attached for flexibility without weighing the earth! While your 5D and prime combo will always shoot better quality images especially backed by your great eye for an image it will never appeal to the casual user who is intimidated by size, price and lots of buttons!

These cameras are not aimed at harcore photography obsessives like those who frequent most of the major forums they are aimed at casual enthusiasts who want better images without the weight and percieved complexity of an SLR.

Hell I'm an SLR fan and I want one for my next holidat in the far east just to save my aching back in the mindblowing heat and humidity!

 

[lsg1r]

Saw this earlier today too, thought that's a nice camera (v1) to sling in the 'work kit' bag...then saw the supposed prices for the camera (literal $ to £!!) and the f mount adapter (£250). After seeing that I was like sod that I'll get a high end compact and a d700 body (got lenses) for better quality work as it comes out cheaper lol.

 

[bigredshark]

I don't think its aimed at Casual users - they're the ones that will pay up to a couple of hundred pounds for a Compact. Anything more than that and you're looking at fairly advanced users.

Depends, do you classify the people buying D3100s as fairly advanced users? If you do then you're correct. But most of them are never taking it out of green button super automatic mode and using it. Those people are the market and they don't care about depth of field and the like. They're 'casual' users in my view.

 

[Mr Jones]

Hell I'm an SLR fan and I want one for my next holidat in the far east just to save my aching back in the mindblowing heat and humidity!

Then why not the Micro FourThird offering?
There ae better primes, there are better and now smaller zooms and not to mention an established version that's not go quite the 'new system' issues when it first came out.

Plus, with the Pen Mini which is even smaller than the EP-L series.

I'm just confused as to why? It is because it's a Nikon, it's automatically perceived as on par with their strong DSLR branding?

 

[D.P.]

Then why not the Micro FourThird offering?
There ae better primes, there are better and now smaller zooms and not to mention an established version that's not go quite the 'new system' issues when it first came out.

Plus, with the Pen Mini which is even smaller than the EP-L series.

I'm just confused as to why? It is because it's a Nikon, it's automatically perceived as on par with their strong DSLR branding?

Becasue the m43 cameras are between a rock and a hardplace. The sensor is small leading to an IQ cost compared to the NEX cameras, but the lenses are still too big too be truely portable. The Nikon 1 series can offer similar maybe better IQ with smaller lenses.

The sensor size is actualy the big selling point in reducing lens sizes, and Nikon can exploit the m43 sensor weakness and offer equivalent IQ.

 

[bigredshark]

Becasue the m43 cameras are between a rock and a hardplace. The sensor is small leading to an IQ cost compared to the NEX cameras, but the lenses are still too big too be truely portable. The Nikon 1 series can offer similar maybe better IQ with smaller lenses.

The sensor size is actualy the big selling point in reducing lens sizes, and Nikon can exploit the m43 sensor weakness and offer equivalent IQ.

I partially agree, I don't think the 4/3rds cameras have any advantages over the Nikon. The only really quantifiable one is the depth of field but if I wanted that I have a DSLR, the small difference isn't worth the increase in size of a 4/3rds camera.

There is possibly an argument about lens choice but for a camera like this I think you have a couple of lenses only - otherwise size comes into play and why not a DSLR etc?

The sticking point is a compact with still decent image quality is half the price, is either option really worth it.

 

[a1ex2001]

Then why not the Micro FourThird offering?
There ae better primes, there are better and now smaller zooms and not to mention an established version that's not go quite the 'new system' issues when it first came out.

Plus, with the Pen Mini which is even smaller than the EP-L series.

I'm just confused as to why? It is because it's a Nikon, it's automatically perceived as on par with their strong DSLR branding?

I didn't rule out the m4/3 option, the reality is I can't afford a smaller solution for travelling so have never actually been forced to decide.

m4/3 for me desperately needs some new sensors the high iso performance seems to have been stagnant for ages I would be very surprised if nikon can't match or even exceed the quality even with a smaller sensor and given a little time you can bet the glass will be good as nikon certainly know how to make a good lens.

Yes the dof control on a 2.7x crop factor isn't going to be fantastic but it will be better than the compact market and perfectly acceptable to most users who are used to everything from 1 foot to infinity being crisp anyway.

For me the real news in this announcment is the arrival of one of the big players into this market place and you can be sure that canon will follow. Having both the big players at the party should increase competition drive inovation up and prices down which can only be a good thing for the consumer.