Nikon goes mirrorless

Sorry if there's a thread already running, but thought some would be interested to wake up today's news of a new system from Nikon.

Video here: http://youtu.be/Z8qEDYEIO2E
I think it looks pretty interesting, more so than the current competition because they've gone all out in smaller sensor / portability area of these micro interchangeable lens cameras (Except for the Pentax Q). The V1 has got a built in EVF too. But the internet already seems to be grumbling about the tiny sensors.
 
this excites me alot :love: I am sure when they release prices I will slowly deflate :nuts:

AF system sounds interesting, and a modest 10mp is good, shows they will be after the 'Photographer' market instead of the '10mp is that it, my mates got a phone camera better than that' market..
 
The blog Engadget also has a "hands nearly on" of the lower spec J1 here, and brief mention of the lenses.
 
a 2.7x crop sensor lol

tis a point and click interchangable lens camera system
 
On one hand, I admire the technology. On the other I can't help wondering what's going to happen to photography. Missed the decisive moment? Doesn't matter, now you can choose which moment that was. :(

Yeah, I'm probably a luddite in that regard.
 
strumstrum said:
Panny/Olys are m4/3rds and have the same 2x crop that the mirrored 4/3rds had.. and IIRC the Sony NEX system uses the same APS-C sized sensor as their cropped DSLRs.
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Yep, pretty sure the NEX is the D90 sensor.
 
Pretty underwhelming. Hard to see how they equal, let alone better any of the existing MILC competition.
 
Had a look through some flickr shots taken with it. They seem pretty sharp and clear even the ones in poor light.

I guess the proof is owning one / using one and seeing how you'd get on with it, looks a good walkabout for some.
 
I think the biggest revelation is the fact you can use f-mount lenses, purchase a 70-200 f2.8 and you now own a 189-540 f2.8. If you have something like a 600mm f4 it is even better 1620mm f4 super zoom. Perfect for bird photographers if the performance of this new sensor can match m4/3,nex.
 
jacob12_1993 said:
Perfect for bird photographers if the performance of this new sensor can match m4/3,nex.
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And if the lenses can resolve that well.

If they can, then you've got a 10.1 Mpx image on 2.7x crop - so you could crop a 27 Mpx full frame to the same effect.

If you have a 24.5 Mpx D3x, then you're pretty close to having the same thing, albeit at a larger cost.
 
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The Nikon 1 V1 and Nikon 1 J1 feature a Motion Snapshot (MSS) option, which "brings a photo to life in just one click." By selecting MSS, users simultaneously record a slow motion movie and still image that are then combined to create "a photo that moves and captures the story of a moment as never before - a living picture."


OMG it's just like Harry Potter!!
 
The cameras themselves are a bit meh, will have to wait for hands on to say anything about them.

But the implications of the tech they've used are huge for DSLRs.
 
Lot of info on DPReview's news pages, starting with this http://www.dpreview.com/news/1109/11092119nikonJ1.asp

There's quite a lot of feedback from readers there already, and underwhelmed pretty much sums it up.

If this had come from a third division brand, I think it would have been dismissed without a second thought. You have to take Nikon seriously, but I'm still wondering what I've missed - it seems neither fish nor fowl :thinking:

A key part of it seems to be Nikon's obsession with protecting their existing business, ie compacts at one end and DSLRs at the other. Which reminds me of a one time stated strategy from Sony, which was 'to make our own products redundant' working on the principle that if you don't do it then someone else will.

In which case this is a spectacular fail from Nikon. I think it's interesting that those companies who started with a (relatively) blank sheet in the CSC sector like Samsung, Panasonic etc, all opted for MFT or something quite similar.

What is Nikon doing?!? Prices to make you weep as well :bang:
 
That sensor is absolutely tiny. The picture comparing the NEX-C3 sensor to it is absolutely ridiculous! Lens selection is pretty underwhelming as well.
 
A bit expensive. I would like to see the size of it compared to my GF1. Some of the primes might be interesting, plus the F mount adaptor could be good.

I can just see my 300+1.4tc hanging off the end of this.:naughty:
 
Musicman said:
And if the lenses can resolve that well.

If they can, then you've got a 10.1 Mpx image on 2.7x crop - so you could crop a 27 Mpx full frame to the same effect.

If you have a 24.5 Mpx D3x, then you're pretty close to having the same thing, albeit at a larger cost.
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10.1MP on 2.7 crop is more like 75MP on full frame (crop is wrt linear dimensions, not area). So still a ways to go.

It's the focal plane phase detect and sensor data at 60fps that has me curious, because if that spreads upwards, that heralds big things for the DSLRs (well, they may well technically stop being so very soon).
 
Not interested, EVFs are horrible, and I like to be able to frame my shots in poor light without having the view being smeary as the sensor captures 1 frame every couple of seconds - and on an EVF it's even worse than a decent sized LCD.

If this is the way the industry is going, it's going to annoy a lot of photographers. As a high-end bridge/compact, fair enough, but to think this is going to replace a SLR? No, sorry, I'll switch to some other brand if you want to force this on us Nikon.
 
I can see the sense of it from Nikon. The upcoming mirrorless market isn't just populated by camera enthusiasts wanting to get a more compact body and not sacrifice image quality too much, if it was then it would be a niche market in global terms and Nikon would be foolish to offer an alternative to their already exisitng product. The companies already competing in the market don't, in my opinion, have the same legacy as Nikon do in the SLR business and so are freer to offer cameras that can compete directly with entry level DSLRs.

From what I have seen around me in Hong Kong, these mirrorless cameras are predominantly bought by people in the 20s to 30s age range who have disposable cash and are mostly likely female (to explain the obligatory pink). This also seems to be the what the advertisers target, and explains the colour options of camera bodies. For the larger market these cameras are a step up in quality from point n shoots, at the sacrifice of physical size - which is a different perspective from what is normally found on photo forums where it is a step down in size but at the expense of image quality compared to an DSLR. And so while a disappoint for us here, the new Nikons should be seen to make business sense, as they (presumably) offer better quality than a point n shoot and aren't as large as Panasonic's and Olympus'. That is to say, whilst we may be shocked at the price of such a small sensor, others might be pleased at the price of such a small camera (although it does seem a tad pricey).
 
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I don't see any indication that Nikon are looking to replace their DSLR range with mirrorless systems, but there is no doubt there is a market there for them following on from the success of Olympus and Panasonic systems.

Personally I really do want one, [and have been looking at all the mirrorless systems for while, with the Olympus system winning the battle until today]not as a replacement for my DSLR but to run along side as a 'hobby' camera. I don't expect it to be anywhere near as capable as my 'big' cameras, but if I can pop along to a party or on holiday with something that is flexible but small enough to drop in my handbag then why not? Add in the ability to take video [something I have no desire to get in my 'working' bodies] it makes a lot of sense.


I will admit there is a small part of me that is fascinated with the idea of sticking my 120-300 on one though... :D ;)
 
It certainly gives people a lot of options in the mirrorless market now. Sony with its big sensor but DSLR sized lens, M4/3 which is kind of in the middle, and Nikon/Pentax with small sensors (but oddly, the lens don't seem that small)

If you want a 'travel sized' set up and think you will probably expand your lens collection M4/3 will be tough to beat, if you think you will only ever own a pancake Sony is probably the best choice. I'm struggling to see where Nikon fits, I guess brand name alone will take it a long way.
 
Rod.F said:
<snip>
From what I have seen around me in Hong Kong, these mirrorless cameras are predominantly bought by people in the 20s to 30s age range who have disposable cash and are mostly likely female (to explain the obligatory pink). <snip>
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With the arrival of the new Nikonette. :love:

Now that the weather is nice and misty most days, I think it's time for a comparison shoot-out between all these new CSCs. :cool:

We would not have to worry too much about image sharpness, colour, etc., and could concentrate on the relative merits of in-camera functions, to render a scene into an artistic picture. ;)

With precognition mode we could rate images before we even see them and declare our own favorite make the winner and clearly better than the oppositions rendering... :|

Then there is the aesthetics of these "pretty little things"! Surely that must be more important than Image Quality :)
 
NikkiA said:
Not interested, EVFs are horrible, and I like to be able to frame my shots in poor light without having the view being smeary as the sensor captures 1 frame every couple of seconds - and on an EVF it's even worse than a decent sized LCD.

If this is the way the industry is going, it's going to annoy a lot of photographers. As a high-end bridge/compact, fair enough, but to think this is going to replace a SLR? No, sorry, I'll switch to some other brand if you want to force this on us Nikon.
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Have you used an EVF recently? They're getting to the point where they're better in some ways to an OVF in good light, and in terrible light they at least give you the option to MF where AF will fail and the naked eye sees little.
Once 4MP AMOLED EVFs being driven at 120Hz become common (and they will as sensor ISO performance and datarates improve), they'll be superior in every way to an OVF except for the effect on battery life. I can't see why bulk and cost need to be spent on an OVF at that point.
 
Surprised no one has had a mental break down at the seeming lack of M A S on the mode dial :lol:
 
Rod.F said:
I
From what I have seen around me in Hong Kong, these mirrorless cameras are predominantly bought by people in the 20s to 30s age range who have disposable cash and are mostly likely female (to explain the obligatory pink).
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Only one of the two is available in girls' colours.

The more expensive comes only in more manly hues.
 
F-mount adaptor will cost £230... Seems a tad pricey!
 
ronnus said:
F-mount adaptor will cost £230... Seems a tad pricey!
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I think that's there for completeness more than anything else. Even if the adaptor has a screw drive as well as contacts for AF-S, the only lenses you'd put on this are maybe a 35 f2 or 50 f1.8 - anything else is big enough that you might as well take the DSLR you already own. You're (unless you're a birder who really wants pixels on a sparrow or something) not going to put a long tele on one of these.

WRT catering to enthusiasts, they misstepped. They should have gone the APS-C or micro 4/3s to do that properly.

WRT catering to P&S upgraders though, I think they may be onto a winner, if they can further miniaturise the lenses. That price point (if they can maintain it and generate sales) will make them bucketloads.
 
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