In summary
Buy this camera if:
– You’re looking for a well-built snapshooter’s camera with interchangeable lenses and HD video recording.
– You want an optical viewfinder.
– You have Nikkor lenses that wouldn’t be out of balance on the smaller body but could provide benefits through longer effective focal lengths.
Don’t buy this camera if:
– You require a pocketable camera (it’s only pocketable without a lens).
– You want full manual control over all camera functions.
Full review
When it was announced at the end of October 2012, the Nikon 1 V2 was almost lost in the wave of excitement created by the launch of Apple’s latest devices on the same day. Now the dust has settled, photographers are realising that, unlike the update to the J-series models, the V2 actually offers some significant improvements over its predecessor, the V1.
Angled front view of the Nikon 1 V2 with the 10-30mm kit lens and the new built-in flash popped up. (Source: Nikon.)
A new 14.2-megapixel (effective) sensor replaces the 10.1-megapixel chip in the V1, although the chip size remains relatively small, compared with rival mirrorless cameras. The new camera’s body has been re-designed to make it more SLR-like and a built-in flash is added to the EVF housing.
The autofocusing system, which was one of the key features of the Nikon 1 V1, is retained in the new model. Combining a standard, 135-point contrast-based system with a phase detection system based upon 73 sensors embedded in the surface of the image sensor, it is both fast and versatile. A new image processor chip (see below) provides some performance improvements.
Like its predecessor, the V2 is offered in black and white versions. We received a white camera, the preferable colour for outdoor shooting in sunny regions, for our review. Colour-matched lenses are available in most focal lengths. The table below outlines the main differences between the V2 and the V1.
|
|
V2 |
V1 |
|
Dimensions |
107.8 x 81.6 x 45.9 mm |
113 x 76 x 43.5 mm |
|
Weight (body only) |
278 grams |
294 grams |
|
Body material |
Magnesium alloy front panel, remainder unspecified |
Magnesium alloy top and front panel, remainder plastic |
|
Effective resolution |
14.2 megapixels |
10.1 megapixels |
|
Image processor |
EXPEED 3A |
EXPEED 3 |
|
Image sizes |
4608 x 3072, 3456 x 2304, 2304 x 1536, 4608 x 2592 (movie snapshot) |
3872 x 2592, 2896 x 1944, 1936 x 1296, 3840 x 2160 (movie snapshot) |
|
Movie format |
MOV, H.264/MPEG-4 AVC |
|
|
Movie sizes |
1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p), 1072 x 720 (60p – stills mode) plus slow-motion modes: 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) |
|
|
AF system |
135-point hybrid (phase/contrast detection) |
|
|
Focus modes |
AF, AF-S, AF-C, AF-A, AF-F, MF |
|
|
ISO sensitivity |
Auto, ISO 160, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, 6400 |
Auto, ISO 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200, Hi 1 (6400 equiv) |
|
Shutter speeds |
Mechanical: 30-1 /4000 sec + Bulb; Electronic to 1/16000 sec. |
|
|
Continuous shooting |
Max. 5 fps with mechanical shutter; 15, 30 or 60 fps with electronic shutter |
Max. 5 fps with mechanical shutter; 10, 30 or 60 fps with electronic shutter |
|
Aspect ratio settings |
Still image – 3:2; Motion snapshot – 16:9; Movie HD – 16:9, slow motion – 8:3 |
|
|
Flash |
Built-in GN 5 (m/ISO100) |
External via accessory port |
|
EVF |
0.47-inch colour TFT LCD with approx. 1,440,000 dots |
|
|
Monitor |
3-inch LCD with 921,000 dots |
|
|
Interface ports |
USB 2.0/AV out, HDMI, DC-in, multi-accessory port, 3.5 mm stereo mini jack |
USB 2.0/AV out, HDMI, DC-in, multi-accessory port |
|
Battery |
EN-EL21 |
EN-EL15 |
|
CIPA battery capacity |
Approx. 310 shots/charge or 65 minutes of HD footage at 1080/60i |
Approx. 400 shots/charge or 120 minutes of HD footage at 1080/60i |
|
Average street price |
AU$1090 or US$900 with 10-30mm VR 1 Nikkor Lens |
AU$600 or US$500 with 10-30mm VR 1 Nikkor Lens* |
* The Nikon 1 V 1 was listed as ‘discontinued’ on some online resellers’ sites in North America when this review was produced.
Build and Ergonomics
The body re-design has made V2 a different looking beast from its predecessor. A moulded grip replaces the slim bar on the flat front panel of the V1. The new camera is also taller, partly because the EVF housing now carries the pop-up flash. While the width of the V2 is a bit less, its depth is slightly more than the V1’s, although it’s slightly lighter overall.
Like its predecessor, the V2 carries a ‘Made in China’ label (as does the 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.8 supplied with the camera for our review). Build quality is solid, as befits a camera with a body price of around $800. The general finish of the white model we received was quite classy.
Front views of the Nikon1 V1 (top) and V2 (below) cameras. (Source: Nikon.)
The new grip moulding and the re-location of key camera controls make the V2 more orientated towards photo enthusiasts than the V1. The grip should suit users with small-to-average sized hands and gives users more stability for shooting one-handed.
A pair of single-hole microphones sits astride the viewfinder housing. The V1, in contrast, had two, six-hole grilles in a similar position. We can’t say whether this changes the quality of movie soundtracks but you can attach an accessory microphone to the V2 via the 3.5 mm jack beneath the connector cover on the left hand side panel.
The shutter button is located at the front edge of the grip moulding. A surrounding lever switch is used for powering the camera on and off. Just behind it lies the movie button, which starts and stops recording. At default settings, HD movies can be up to 4 GB in size and 20 minutes in length.
A new command dial is inset into the top panel a little further back and easily accessed by the thumb of the right hand. The mode dial has been shifted from the rear panel to the top of the camera and gains four new settings ( P, A, S and M).
Top view of the Nikon 1 V2 with the 10-30mm kit lens. (Source: Nikon.)
The viewfinder housing has been enlarged to accommodate the new pop-out flash, which sits just above the lens mount. Pressing a button on the side of the housing makes the flash tilt up to position the tiny GN 5 (m/ISO100) tube approximately 5 cm above the lens axis.
The flash can cover the same angle of view as a 10mm lens and provides support for i-TTL flash control. Flash modes and output adjustments are the V1’s.
The accessory port has been moved from the left shoulder of the V1 to a more convenient spot on the top of the V2’s EVF housing. However, the choice of accessory flashes remains limited to the SB-N5 (GN10.8 at ISO 160) or the SB-N7 (GN 22.8 at ISO 160), which has an adjustable head.
The EVF itself is unchanged and has 1,440,000-dot resolution plus a dioptre-adjustment dial on the left hand side of the housing. Adjustments range from ““3 to +2 dpt, which isn’t over-generous but should be adequate for most potential purchasers.
Back views of the Nikon1 V1 (top) and V2 (below) cameras. (Source: Nikon.)
The fixed 3-inch monitor has the same specifications as the V1’s screen, with 921,000 dots and brightness adjustment. Like most of its type, it’s virtually unusable in bright sunlight. Fortunately, it’s easy to swap to the EVF, which is bright and clear.
Most button controls on the rear panel have been re-located to improve accessibility. The Play, Menu, Display and Delete functions have been moved from around the arrow pad on the V1 to line up vertically on the left hand side of the monitor. Moving the mode dial to the top panel has also enabled a more comfortable thumb pad to be placed above the arrow pad.
The directional buttons on the arrow pad have the same functions as on the V1 but the capabilities of the F (feature) button just above the top right hand corner of the monitor have been expanded, as shown in the table below.
|
Feature |
V2 |
V1 |
|
Shutter type (still image mode) |
n.a. |
Choose between mechanical and electronic shutter or shoot high-speed bursts with Electronic Hi. |
|
Live image control (Auto mode) |
Adjust exposure (Brightness control), contrast (Active D-Lighting), or depth of field (Background softening), or freeze or blur motion (Motion control). The effects can be previewed in the monitor. |
n.a. |
|
Quick menu access (P, S, A and M modes) |
Access Metering, White balance, ISO sensitivity, Picture Control, Focus mode and AF-area mode options |
n.a. |
|
Best moment capture |
Choose from Slow view and Smart Photo Selector |
n.a. |
|
Advanced movie |
Choose from high-definition (HD movie) and slow-motion (Slow motion) recording |
|
|
Theme (Motion Snapshot mode) |
Choose from Beauty, Waves, Relaxation and Tenderness |
|
|
Rating (playback mode) |
Rate pictures |
|
The battery and SD card slot still share a compartment in the base of the camera below the grip. It has a latched cover and there’s a connector for an optional power cable beneath a lift-up rubber cover beside it. Interestingly, the new battery in the V2 has slightly lower capacity than the V1’s.
A standard, metal-lined tripod socket is located on the lens axis in the base plate. It’s just possible to change memory cards when the camera is tripod-mounted if you have a reasonably small quick-release plate. However, we would prefer a separate card compartment like the one in the D5200.
An HDMI port is situated below the microphone jack beneath a rubber-hinged cover on the left hand side of the camera, while a USB mini port has its own compartment just below. Both covers have rather flimsy, flexible plastic hinges.
Sensor and Image Processing
Upgrades to the sensor and image processor have given the V2 an effective resolution of 14.2-megapixels plus some improvements to overall performance. The EXPEED 3A processor and sensor’s built-in phase-detect AF system enable the V2 to record still images at 15 frames/second (fps) with full AF tracking for up to 45 Large/Fine JPEGs. This overcomes the 5fps limit of the V1. (Both cameras retain the ability to record at up to 60 fps using the electronic shutter, with focus and exposure fixed at the first frame.)
Like the V1, the V2 provides settings for shooting JPEGs, NEF.RAW files and RAW+JPEG pairs in the Image Quality section of the camera’s menu. Three JPEG compressions can be selected but RAW+JPEG files use only Fine compression for each image size.
The buffer memory in the new camera has been expanded slightly to handle the larger image files but actually accommodates slightly fewer files at most image sizes, although the maximum buffer capacity for JPEGs remains at 100 shots. The table below shows typical file sizes and buffer capacities for recording continuous bursts of shots.
|
Image quality setting |
Image size |
File size |
Buffer capacity |
|
NEF.RAW |
4608 x 3072 |
17.4MB |
50 |
|
RAW+JPEG |
4608 x 3072 |
26.6MB |
48 |
|
3456 x 2304 |
23.1MB |
48 |
|
|
2304 x 1536 |
20.5MB |
49 |
|
|
JPEG Fine |
4608 x 3072 |
9.2MB |
54 |
|
3456 x 2304 |
5.6MB |
60 |
|
|
2304 x 1536 |
3.1MB |
71 |
|
|
JPEG Normal |
4608 x 3072 |
4.6MB |
63 |
|
3456 x 2304 |
2.9MB |
76 |
|
|
2304 x 1536 |
1.6MB |
98 |
|
|
JPEG Basic |
4608 x 3072 |
2.4MB |
80 |
|
3456 x 2304 |
1.5MB |
100 |
|
|
2304 x 1536 |
0.8MB |
100 |
Aside from a new 720/30p mode, the V2’s video capabilities are identical to the V1’s. HD recording is supported at both 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 pixel resolutions and high-speed movies can be recorded for ‘slow-motion’ playback with an aspect ratio of 8:3 at 640 x 240-pixel and 320 x 120-pixel resolution. Recording is initiated and ended in both modes by pressing the movie button on the top panel. The table below shows the movie options available , the recording rates and maximum clip lengths.
|
Movie Setting |
Pixels |
Recording rate |
Bit rate |
Max. clip length |
|
1080/60i |
1920 x 1080 |
59.94 fields/sec |
24Mbps |
20 minutes |
|
1080/30p |
1920 x 1080 |
29.97 frames/sec |
24Mbps |
20 minutes |
|
720/60p |
1280 x 720 |
59.94 frames/sec |
16 Mbps |
29 minutes |
|
720/30p |
1280 x 720 |
29.97 frames/sec |
12 Mbps |
29 minutes |
|
Slow Motion |
640 x 240 |
400 fps |
1.8 Mbps |
1 hour, 4 minutes |
|
320 x 120 |
1200 fps |
0.6 Mbps |
2 hours, 8 minutes |
By default, when the HD movie mode is selected the camera automatically selects an appropriate scene mode, based on the type of subject detected. However, if you select the Advanced Movie Mode on the mode dial, the P, S, A and M exposure controls become available and you can adjust frame rates, metering, focus modes, white balance, ISO and Picture Control settings.
Like the V1, the V2 supports high ISO and long-exposure noise reduction, although processing can only be switched on and off. Active D-Lighting processing is also available and the camera provides three levels of microphone sensitivity adjustment.
The menu includes settings for suppressing both wind noise and the flicker produced by fluorescent, mercury vapour and sodium lights. For slow-motion movies, the camera defaults to Programmed AE and audio recording is disabled.
In exposure modes other than Scene auto selector, you can lock exposure by pressing the AE/AF-Lock button (arrow pad up). Depending on the capacity and speed of the memory card, users can record up to 20 minutes of video or 4GB in a single clip.
The V2 can also record still pictures in JPEG format while recording a movie clip ““ and the movie recording isn’t interrupted. Unlike the V1, these shots are recorded with a 3:2 aspect ratio to produce a file measuring 4608 x 3072 pixels with 1080i and 1080p movies or 1280 x 720 pixels with 720p clips.
Shooting Controls
The menu system is essentially unchanged since the previous model, although the improved mode dial provides quicker access to the P, A, S and M shooting modes. A new Slow View setting on the mode dial records a rapid sequence of up to 40 frames when the shutter-release button is half-pressed and replays them in a continuous loop over approximately six seconds.
When the frame you wish to keep is displayed, pressing the shutter all the way down stores it in memory and discards the remaining frames. This mode ““ and the more automated Smart Photo Selector (SPS) mode, which carries over from the V1 ““ are for hard-to-time occasions like blowing out candles and fleeting facial expressions as well as avoiding shots of the subject blinking.
The menus in the V2 are similar to those in the V1. (Source: Nikon.)
The V2 retains the other automated shooting modes provided by its predecessor, including the full auto mode, which includes auto scene selection. The Motion Snapshot mode is also available for recording short, movie clips with still pictures. Two file formats are supported: NMS, which can only be viewed on the camera or with the bundled ViewNX 2 software and MOV, which can be viewed in a variety of computer applications.
NMS clips are recorded as a 1.6-second file, which plays back over four seconds followed by the JPEG image. MOV clips are recorded as a 10-second MOV file, which isn’t displayed automatically when shooting ends. Soundtracks aren’t recorded in MSS mode but users can choose from four ‘canned’ background music soundtracks: Beauty, Waves, Relaxation or Tenderness, which play for approximately ten seconds.
Six Picture Control pre-sets are provided for changing the look of photos: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait and Landscape. You can fine-tune brightness, contrast, sharpening in all modes. Saturation and hue are adjustable for the colour modes, with toning and filter effects available in the monochrome mode. Modified Picture Controls can be saved as Custom options.
While you can’t choose between the mechanical and electronic shutters in most shooting modes, selecting the silent photography setting in the menu automatically engages the electronic shutter and mutes camera control sounds. This setting is useful in situations where camera noise is unacceptable.
Live image control lets you preview what the image will look like before shots are taken. It’s engaged by pressing the Feature button and turning the command dial to select the adjustment. Pressing the dial shows the effect. Adjustments available for this function include Active D-Lighting, background softening, motion control (via shutter speed adjustment) and brightness control (via aperture adjustment). The flash is disabled in this mode and continuous shooting isn’t supported.
What’s Missing?
Bracketing still isn’t available. When in doubt about exposure or white balance settings, you’re forced to bracket shots using manual adjustments, which is comparatively slow.
The option to choose between Mechanical and Electronic shutters is no longer available on the V2; the camera does this automatically. Also gone is support for interval timer shooting.
The infrared remote sensor on the rear panel has also been removed, although the one on the front panel remains. Self-timer options have been reduced from two, five and ten second delays to two and ten seconds but the control options for the optional ML-L3 wireless controller are unchanged. (View NX2, which is required to convert raw files from the camera into editable formats (TIFF or JPEG), can be downloaded free of charge from any Nikon website.)
Finally, there still aren’t many lenses for Nikon 1 cameras. Only eight (two primes and six zooms) were listed on Nikon’s websites when this review was written. Wikipedia adds a 32mm f/1.2 prime lens but has no details for it. It also states Nikon has filed patents for two zooms ( 9-25mm and 9-43mm), a 14mm f/2.4 prime and three macro lenses (37mm, 40mm and 60mm).
Tamron has also filed a patent for several prime lenses (28mm, 35mm, 38mm and 40mm) designed for a camera with 1-inch sensor but has yet to produce them. With roughly 50 lenses available for Micro Four Thirds cameras, Nikon has a lot of catching up to do if it wants the Nikon 1 system to be competitive in the mirrorless market.
Playback and Software
Playback settings and bundled software are the same as for the V1.
Performance
The camera we received was supplied with the 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.8 lens, which is reviewed separately (INSERT LINK). We also received the FT1 Mount Adaptor, which allows Nikkor DX and FX lenses to be fitted to Nikon 1 camera bodies. This allowed us to run Imatest tests using the 50mm f/1.8G lens, which was supplied for our review of the D5200 (INSERT LINK). Results are included in the review of that lens. (INSERT LINK)
While the review camera recorded a normal tonal range in most lighting conditions, it showed a tendency for highlights to ‘blow out’ in bright, contrasty conditions. This is likely to be caused by the relatively small sensor and densely-packed photosites. The Active D-Lighting went part of the way towards addressing the issue but couldn’t completely solve it.
Not unexpectedly, we had similar issues with the focusing and metering systems on the V2 to those we experienced with the V1. In bright conditions with stationary subjects, autofocusing was very fast and accurate; but in low light levels, hunting was common and often continued for several seconds. AF speed and accuracy with moving subjects depended on how well the subject contrasted with its background and the speed and consistency of subject movement.
The built-in flash delivered excellent exposures in the auto and P modes with the 18.5mm f/1.8 lens at sensitivity settings up to (and including) ISO 800. Thereafter, shots became progressively over-exposed. Flash shots taken at ISO 3200 and ISO 6400 were effectively unusable.
As with the V1, test shots after dark had to be taken in the manual exposure mode, with manual focusing and between +0.7 and +1.3EV of exposure compensation the overcome the tendency of the metering system to under-expose in low light levels. When both focus and metering were spot-on, shots from the review camera were as sharp as those from the V1.
Imatest showed a distinct improvement in resolution, partly because of the higher inherent resolution of the sensor but more importantly because the camera was able to meet expectations for the sensor’s resolution with JPEG files and exceed them slightly with raw files. The latter were converted into 16-bit TIFF format with the supplied View NX2 software because, although Adobe lists the V2 among the cameras supported in the latest versions of its Camera Raw plug-in for Photoshop, we were unable to open the V2’s NEF.RAW files in our preferred file converter.
We obtained the best results with the 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.8 prime lens at f/4. Resolution declined slowly as ISO sensitivity was increased, although the discrepancy between JPEGs and raw files remained relatively constant, rather than dropping noticeably at the highest ISO settings as with the V1. The graph below shows the results of our tests.
Long exposures after dark showed little evidence of noise up to ISO 3200 and only slight softening at ISO 6400. Applying high-ISO noise-reduction processing tended to increase sharpening, which made both colour and pattern noise slightly more noticeable.
Auto white balance performance has improved since the V1. While the review camera failed to suppress the colour cast of incandescent lighting, it came very close to neutral colour rendition under fluorescent light. Both presets over-corrected slightly for their respective lighting types. Manual measurement delivered neutral colour rendition.
The flash handled low ISO settings competently with the 18.5mm lens but the camera was unable to compensate for exposures from ISO 800 on at the relatively short camera-to-subject distance involved. Shots taken at ISO 1600 were roughly a stop over-exposed, while those taken at ISO 3200 were unusable.
Video quality was better than we obtained from the V1 we reviewed. HD clips were generally detailed and colour reproduction was accurate although, with the default settings colours were slightly less vibrant than the previous camera produced.
The two slow motion modes were fun to use but their resolution is only just large enough for playback on a computer screen and even then not at full screen size. We experienced no problems grabbing reasonably sharp frames from the clips shot in any of the modes, including the high-speed settings.
Improvements were also found in the quality of the soundtracks, which were noticeably clearer and more engaging. Wind noise was also less of a problem and the wind cut filter did a better job of reducing it, although couldn’t totally eliminate ‘white noise’ in very windy conditions.
For our timing tests we used the same Verbatim 16GB Class 6 SDHC card as we used with the V1. It took just under a second to power-up the camera with the 18.5mm prime lens. Shut-down was virtually instantaneous.
Average capture lag was 0.13 seconds, reducing to below 0.1 seconds with pre-focusing. Shot-to-shot times in single-shot mode averaged 1.45 seconds.
The average processing time for a JPEG file was 1.9 seconds, while NEF.RAW files averaged 2.7 seconds and RAW+JPEG pairs 3.2 seconds. In the 5 fps continuous shooting mode, the review camera captured 10 frames in 1.6 seconds, regardless of the file format. It took 8.1 seconds to process a burst of JPEGs, 13.2 seconds for the NEF.RAW files and 18.5 seconds for the RAW+JPEG pairs.
Swapping to 15 fps, the camera recorded 15 frames in 0.95 seconds. It took 11.5 seconds to process this burst. With the 30 fps the camera was able to capture 20 frames in 0.6 seconds. – 16.1 sec
When the electronic shutter was used in the 60 frames/second burst mode, the review camera performed to specifications, recording 40 frames at a resolution of 4608 x 3072 pixels in 0.6 of a second. It took to just over 30 seconds process this burst.
Conclusion
The V2 is a nice little camera for the average snapshooter who wants to take still pictures and movies that look good on the screen. It provides a decent range of adjustable controls and enough special effects to satisfy most users. And it delivers improvements in imaging and video performance.
The re-designed interface makes the V2 much more comfortable to hold and operate than its predecessor and it can boast some improved functionality. Nevertheless, it doesn’t compete with models from Olympus, Panasonic or Sony that have similar price tags but larger sensors.
The high-speed movie modes are fun to use but you quickly realise they are too low-res to be really useful. And their novelty soon fades. Nikon, like Canon, has still to produce a mirrorless interchangeable-lens camera that can truly satisfy serious photographers. Let’s hope it happens soon.
We’re not sure where Nikon is going with its CX system, particularly since the company has just announced a Coolpix camera with a fixed prime lens plus a DX sensor, probably as a competitor to the Fujifilm X100S and Sony RX1. Nikon has been slow to release lenses for its 1 mount cameras with only two primes and six zooms on the market so far.
An FT-1 Mount Adapter allows users to fit certain legacy F-Mount lenses to the camera bodies. But it’s a clumsy solution that compromises the small size of the Nikon 1 bodies, the main feature that attracts buyers.
Buy this camera if:
– You’re looking for a well-built snapshooter’s camera with interchangeable lenses and HD video recording.
– You want an optical viewfinder.
– You have Nikkor lenses that wouldn’t be out of balance on the smaller body but could provide benefits through longer effective focal lengths.
Don’t buy this camera if:
– You require a pocketable camera (it’s only pocketable without a lens).
– You want full manual control over all camera functions.
SPECS
Image sensor: 13.2 x 8.8 mm CMOS sensor with 15.13 million photosites (14.2 megapixels effective)
Image processor: EXPEED 3A
A/D processing: 12-bit losslessly compressed
Lens mount: Nikon 1 mount
Focal length crop factor: Approx. 2.7x
Image formats: Stills ““NEF.RAW, JPEG (Exif 2.3), RAW+JPEG; Movies ““ MOV with H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding, AAC audio recording
Image Sizes: Stills ““ 4608 x 3072, 3456 x 2304, 2304 x 1536, 4608 x 2592 (movie snapshot); Movies: 1920 x 1080 and 1280 x 720 at 60 / 30 fps; 640 x 240 at 400 fps and 320 x 120 at 1200 fps (plays at 30 fps)
Image Stabilisation: Lens-based
Dust removal: Image sensor cleaning
Shutter speed range: 30 to 1/4000 second in 1/3EV steps plus Bulb; Time (requires optional ML-L3 remote control) for up to 2 minutes; max. 1/16,000 sec. with electronic shutter
Exposure Compensation: +/- 3EV in 1/3EV steps
Self-timer: 2 or 10 seconds delay
Focus system: Hybrid autofocus (phase detection/contrast detect AF with 135 focus areas; the centre 73 areas support phase-detection AF )
Focus modes: Single AF (AF-S); continuous AF (AF-C); auto AF-S/AF-C selection (AF-A); fulltime AF (AF-F) and Manual options; single-point, auto-area, subject tracking modes; face priority available
Exposure metering: TTL metering using image sensor; Matrix, centre-weighted average (4.5 mm circle in centre of frame) and spot (2 mm circle centred on selected focus area) modes
Shooting modes: Auto, programmed auto (P), shutter-priority auto (S), aperture-priority auto (A), manual (M), best moment capture (slow view and Smart Photo Selector), advanced movie (HD and slow motion), Motion Snapshot
Picture Style/Control settings: Standard, Neutral, Vivid, Monochrome, Portrait, Landscape; selected Picture Control can be modified; storage for custom Picture Controls
Colour space options: sRGB, Adobe RGB
ISO range: Auto, ISO 160″“6400 in steps of 1 EV
White balance: Auto, incandescent, fluorescent, direct sunlight, flash, cloudy, shade, preset manual; all except preset manual with fine tuning
Flash: Built-in manual pop-up; GN 5 (m/ISO100); i-TTL flash control using image sensor
Flash modes: Fill flash, fill flash + slow sync, red-eye reduction, red-eye reduction + slow sync, rear-curtain sync, rear curtain + slow sync
Flash exposure adjustment: +/- 3EV in 1/3EV steps
Sequence shooting: Approximately 5, 15, 30, or 60 fps
Storage Media: SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards
Viewfinder: 0.47-in., approx. 1,440,000-dot colour TFT EVF with approx. 100% frame coverage, 18mm eyepoint, eye start sensor, ““3 to +2 dioptre control and brightness adjustment
LCD monitor: Fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with approx. 921,000 dots and brightness adjustment
Playback functions: Full-frame and thumbnail (4, 9, or 72 images or calendar) playback with playback zoom, movie playback, slide show, histogram display, auto image rotation, and rating option
Interface terminals: USO 2.0, HDMI (Type C Mini); multi accessory port, 3.5 mm stereo mini jack
Power supply: EN-EL21 rechargeable lithium-ion battery; CIPA rated for approx. 310 shots
Dimensions (wxhxd): Approx. 107.8 x 81.6 x 45.9 mm
Weight: Approx. 278 grams (body only)
ASP: AU$800 or US$800 (MSRP) body only; AU$1090 or US$900 with 10-30mm VR 1 Nikkor Lens
Distributor: Nikon Australia; 1300 366 499; www.nikon.com.au
TESTS
JPEG images
NEF.RAW images converted with Nikon View NX2.
SAMPLES
Auto white balance with incandescent lighting.
Auto white balance with fluorescent lighting.
ISO 160; 13-second exposure at f/8; 18.5mm focal length.
ISO 400; 13-second exposure at f/10; 18.5mm focal length.
ISO 1600; 5-second exposure at f/11; 18.5mm focal length.
ISO 3200; 2.5-second exposure at f/10; 18.5mm focal length.
ISO 6400; 2.5-second exposure at f/14; 18.5mm focal length.
Flash exposure at ISO 160; 18.5mm focal length, 1/60 second at f/2.
Flash exposure at ISO 400; 18.5mm focal length, 1/60 second at f/2.
Flash exposure at ISO 1600; 18.5mm focal length, 1/60 second at f/2.
Flash exposure at ISO 3200; 18.5mm focal length, 1/100 second at f/2.
Normal morning lighting with 4/8 cloud cover; ISO 160, 18.5mm focal length, 1/640 second at f/8.
Blown-out highlights (clouds) in a strongly-backlit shot; ISO 160, 18.5mm focal length, 1/1000 second at f/5.6.
Close-up; ISO 100, 18.5mm focal length,1/1250 second at f/5.
Indoor shot, 18.5mm focal length, ISO 3200, 1/60 second at f/1.8.
Still frame from video clip recorded in the 1080p Full HD video mode at 60i.
Still frame from video clip recorded in the 1080p Full HD video mode at 30p.
Still frame from video clip recorded in the 720p HD video mode at 60p.
Still frame from video clip recorded in the 720p HD video mode at 30p.
Five consecutive frames from a video clip of a dripping tap, recorded at 400 frames/second.
Five consecutive frames from a video clip of a dripping tap, recorded at 1200 frames/second.
More sample images can be found with the review of the 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f/1.8 lens.
Rating
RRP: N/A; ASP: AU$800 or US$800 (MSRP) body only; AU$1090 or US$900 with 10-30mm VR 1 Nikkor Lens
- Build: 8.5
- Ease of use: 8.5
- Autofocusing: 8.5
- Still image quality JPEG: 8.8
- Still image quality RAW: 8.8
- Video quality: 8.5
