Anyone got a Nikon J1

[Barks]

I am seriously tempted to buy a Nikon J1 + 10mm f2.8 Pancake Lens kit.

I have a Canon 550D and a Tamron 17-55 f2.8 which are absolutely fantastic. I purchased those largely due to recommendations on here and I can't stress how grateful I have been for the advice.

Why the J1? I want a smaller, portable camera for various situations and I'm travelling South America in May/June - It unfortunately will not be practical to take the bulky 550D with me but I do want SLR quality pictures. On a daily basis I'd mostly be using the J1 for portrait stuff so I have no need for the longer zoom lenses right at this moment.

Am I mad or for £380 is it not a bad buy?

Any thoughts?

 

[D.P.]

The Nikon 1 series camera support a very modern sensor and very fast processor with an innovative hybrid phase+contrast AF system, which makes it quite special. They are very responsive, quick, snappy, they have the best AF of any mirrorless camera. The images happily keep up with the the M43 cameras and despite the smaller sensor it is still relatively easy to get a shallow DoF if desired.

The controls are orientated towards beginners currently, but that is not really a big issue. The Nikon 1 cameras are not aimed for professional use so having a dozen dedicated hardware buttons is not really needed.

It is all a bit of a tossup between these EVIL cameras. The Sony Nex are nice and small with the best IQ, but the APS-C sensor means bigger or heavier lenses. There is only a small lens collection and although you can add Sony alpha mount lenses, the AF performance is very poor. The M43 Panasonic/Olympus have the most complete system but the sensor and AF systems are poor, and the sensor size you end up in a midpoint between truly small or no image compromise, and I don't think it is good to be in the mid-ground.
The Nikon 1 doesn't have many lenses but it is the newest, and moreover, Nikon F mount lenses work really really well, with fast AF.
Samsung are a mixed bag.
Fuji EVIL cameras seem to be doing well, but are not cheap.

 

[Skynet-T800]

I've got the J1 and think it's ace as mentioned above not many buttons so getting to manual controls takes a few menu changes.

Great for people shots as it tracks faces so fast and in general is rapid in everything it does, only gripe it low light focus can get lost hunting and noise degrades images a touch but nothin major.

Video mode is top notch to never losing focus of moving subjects.

 

[Barks]

Thanks for the replies.

To be honest I'd don't need much functionality. I have my SLR which is fantastic. I just want something which I can use for social occasions/travelling/on-the-move.

I want a camera that takes good photos even in the hands of someone completely inept at photography. Trying to get my mates to take good pictures skiing with my SLR was impossible!

So from what you guys have said, I think I'll be placing an order. A certain company are offering £50 cashback too!

 

[DanF]

The J1 should be pretty good if your planning to leave it in auto mode for most of the time. The 10mm lens is equivalent to a 27mm lens on full frame or about 17mm on your Canon so fairly wide, might be worth looking to pair it with another lens for travelling. I did Italy with just a 20mm pancake on a GF1 (40mm in FF) and found it a bit tough for some shots. I think a wide plus normal length primes would be perfect for travelling.

 

[Barks]

The J1 should be pretty good if your planning to leave it in auto mode for most of the time. The 10mm lens is equivalent to a 27mm lens on full frame or about 17mm on your Canon so fairly wide, might be worth looking to pair it with another lens for travelling. I did Italy with just a 20mm pancake on a GF1 (40mm in FF) and found it a bit tough for some shots. I think a wide plus normal length primes would be perfect for travelling.

That's what I want to hear.

Cheers mate. I've ordered the J1 with the pancake lens. I'll look at adding the 30-110 to my arsenal for when I go travelling