The 1-inch pinch
Nikon's been reinventing its 1-number of compact system camera having a whole batch of recent releases recently. The Nikon 1 V2 may be the top-spec model within the series which includes a built-in electronic viewfinder and it is, evidently from it, specific in the more enthusiast snapper. The ?749 cost would likely suggest so.
However with its more compact-than-most 1-inch CMOS sensor can this interchangeable lens camera advance beyond its V1 predecessor, appeal up to the more conventional enthusiast market and, most significantly, stand mind and shoulders over the competition within the performance and picture quality stakes?
Design concept
Once we layed out within our initial Nikon 1 V2 hands-on?in October 2012, the most recent V-series is greater than a simple refresh from the original V1 model.
READ: Nikon 1 V1 review
The initial we discovered to be uninspired, further compounded by the possible lack of exterior control dials more demanding photography enthusiasts might expect. The cost point, too, appeared to become at odds from the items - but that did not decelerate sales, because of a remarkable advertising campaign which was directed right audience.
Go into the V2 even though the look has transformed, the general sentiment has not - we still just don't find this slice of plastic very inspiring. The whitened model we have got set for review sure does alleviate a few of the more brutish edges from the black version, but it is still similar to a superzoom from the couple of in the past and also the ?749 selling price is steeper than a Nikon D5200 Digital slr package.
READ: Nikon D5200 review
The V2's design, however, is promoting and it is certainly one step within the right direction. It adds a primary mode dial to the top camera to quick-jump between modes and also the rear button arrangement appears like a combination approximately compact camera and Nikon Digital slr. You will find now four buttons left from the screen, in addition to a function button and d-pad around the rear. The d-pad rotates, while another spinning dial that lips the trunk from the body may also be used to regulate controls.
This type of layout makes, say, switching from aperture priority to full manual fast and simple - something which didn't have within the original V1 - which we love to a great deal. But that is praise for something that's common in each and every other manufacturers' cameras - including Nikon's own DSLRs - which must have been present in the getgo.
The relaxation from the new menu system, however, still seems like an excessive amount of a faff despite its enhancements. Simple such things as switching focus type require an excessive amount of digging, as the rear function button can not be designated to some multi-menu style according to other compact system cameras.
There's some obvious progression, it's getting there, however the V2 now seems like it's morphed approximately the standard and Nikon's own cool priority. It's an excessive amount of undecided it's lost sight of whether or not this really wants to appease advanced photographers or attract less started snappers, so it feels somewhat conflicted.
Speed daemon
But when there's one factor the Nikon 1 V2 will get right then it is the rate. And that we mean really right.
The hybrid autofocus system - which couples a 135-point contrast-identify AF system having a 73-point on-sensor phase-recognition AF system - is super-fast. One half depression from the shutter and also the subject whizzes into focus.
With faces round the room the face area priority mode also rapidly latches on too. It's impressive and, when not your factor and also you want additional control, then it may be turned off from inside the menus.
Focus mode options feature single (AF-S), continuous (AF-C), AF-A that is a mixture of the prior two, or manual focus. It is a shame there is no AF turn on the ten-30mm package lens provided, as digging in to the menus to regulate focus type is really a nuisance that, in certain respects, takes away from the camera's otherwise immense speed.
Focus points could be left to auto in which the camera helps make the judgements or perhaps a single place selection could be manoeuvred round the screen for additional specific tasks. The main one factor we'd want to see added will be a Panasonic G-series-style "pinpoint" focus mode to provide a much finer mix-hair point which zooms in the loop for additional precision. Maybe the next time?
READ: Panasonic Lumix G5 review
The V2's burst mode can capture full-resolution 14-megapixel shots at as much as 15 fps (15fps) that is seriously fast. Combined using the Expeed 3A processor - able to chomping through images at 850-mega pixels per second based on Nikon's specs - and also the camera can certainly reel off images at super speed. And more. Within our test we shot 48 raw and JPEG shots without any let in speed whatsoever. Which was 1.23GB of files clicked in three seconds. Incredible stuff.
You will find additional features which make best utilization of this speed too. Similar to the relaxation from the Nikon 1 range, the V2 includes Motion Snapshot and Wise Photo Selector modes. The previous can shoot an "animated" still and also the second will auto-choose the very best shots from instant frames, that has now been tweaked for enhanced performance in comparison towards the original V1. Additionally, there are the brand new Slow View mode which shoots 40 shots and replays these questions slow-mo slideshow.
Multi-view
Area of the Nikon 1 V2's cost premium originates from the truth that it offers a built-in electronic viewfinder (EVF). Were it with an optional EVF as another compact system cameras perform the accessory may likely cost approximately ?150-250. It isn't an inexpensive addition, so its presence may be the pivot reason for purchase. Still, the kind of the Panasonic Lumix G5 have the ability to undercut the V2 cost by a few hundred pounds.
The Nikon's finder provides single.44-million us dot resolution that, although it sounds a great deal, is not as high definition as some current compact system cameras available. The Fujifilm XE-1 or similarly matched up The new sony NEX-6 offer yet greater resolution sections, each of which are OLED instead of LCD for lower energy consumption.
READ: Hands-on: The new sony NEX-6 review
Still the proof was the utilization. The V2's finder is affordable, although not the very best preview experience we have seen due to juddery, ghosting when panning. Low light also shows lots of noise in preview. Nevertheless the physical size and overall brightness allow it to be easily functional because it stands and it'll be an important for many.
The camera's rear screen is really a 3-inch, 921k-us dot LCD panel that's fixed in to the body. Although there is no tilt- or vari-position bracket for individuals more unusual preview positions, we suspect this could haved mixed in much bulk towards the body.
One-inch pinch
The V2's decision to go for 14-mega pixels - a greater-resolution sensor than its V1 predecessor - is definitely an oddity since the 1-inch sensor size has under another from the area of Nikon's own APS-C sensor Digital slr range, and roughly half the area of Micro Four Thirds sensors.
That's significant since it means individual sensor nodes - which basically translate to individual pixels - need to be physically more compact around the sensor surface (presuming like-for-like resolution obviously). Which makes the overall game of having light to go in for any good, obvious signal that rather more tricky. Consequently there should be more amplification towards the signal which, consequently, has a tendency to generate more visible image noise.
ISO 360, popped image proven at 100 percent scale
Which is the situation. The V2 can shoot sharp images at pace, there's without doubt about this, even though JPEG processing at greater ISO configurations is quite effective, the greater demanding shooter will not want the subtle degree of noise that's apparent in raw files to become there. We'd the V2 is greater than a stop behind the very best-in-class Micro Four Thirds system, similar to the Olympus OM-D E-M5.
READ: Olympus OM-D E-M5 review
Base level ISO 160 right through to ISO 400 holds the standard, but we found even some ISO 320 sample images revealed very slight colour noise in shadow areas. Image noise does not hurtle unmanageable rapidly, however, as even four-figure ISO shots a lot more than held their very own and JPEG processing is nice where colour is worried.
ISO 2200 image sample
The V2's raw files will also be far punchier than their processed JPEG alternatives. Although grainy noise is much more visible there's more detail available and also the levels aren't as pressed as with JPEGs which provides a far more casual contrast that's less flat.
Overall the V2 is really a tool that may shoot great images, however the more pixel-peeping snappers available might find it to less than result in the grade. If product dimensions are of vital importance then your V2's small size and proportionally more compact contacts might have some impact that causes it to be worth the money - but it's with slight compromise to quality.
Verdict: The Nikon 1 V2 is definitely an interesting concept. It tries to right a number of its predecessor's wrongs with the addition of a classical mode dial towards the redesign, however the interior menu system still feels alien and could be a faff to navigate.
Exactly what the camera really will get right is speed. Autofocus is actually, really fast - it baby wipes the face area from the Canon Eos 550d M with a country mile - and also the burst mode totally knocked our socks off.
READ: Canon Eos 550d M review
However picture quality - which we'd consider one of the primary causes of purchasing an interchangeable lens camera - will not match up with bigger sensor compact system cameras. Will still be fine enough - there's lots of detail, and also the 10-30mm lens is sharp - there is however just less wiggle room in individuals raw files in comparison to a lot of your competition. That, together with these conflicting menu system and cost - it's more costly than the usual Nikon D5200 Digital slr package - are our noticably bookings.
The V2 is really a definite improvement within the V1, however the greater resolution sensor does not push picture quality forward and also the overall style of your camera ain't too pretty either. This could flick the Versus up to the more conventional compact system camera market, however this model feels midway between original and conventional. We are nearly as undecided about that one because the camera itself - you will find some excellent points but, ultimately, it feels somewhat conflicted and situated against the kind of the Panasonic Lumix G5, to give an example, its difficult for that Nikon's cost to become justified.
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Cameras Compact system cameras Nikon Nikon 1 V2
Nikon 1 V2 initially made an appearance on http://world wide web.pocket-lint.com on Thu, 07 February 2013 17:21:00 +0000
