Review on Nikon 1 J1 10.1 MP HD Digital Camera System with 10-30mm and 30-110mm VR NIKKOR Lenses (Red): Top-Quality Photography Equipment by Mike Castro

IMAGE QUALITY Out of a variety of digital cameras, both DSLRs and point-and-shoots, this camera is one of the best in terms of image quality. Color rendering in low light is particularly good. I took pictures of the cathedral AFTER they turned off most of the lights and the photos were great. Nikon 1, like everything else, has a very fast focus. The overall package seems geared towards capturing the action. Between Fast Burst Mode, Nikon's new Motion Snapshot mode, Smart Photo and high-speed video, little escapes the lens. VIDEO QUALITY. On the plus side is the fact that it auto-focuses when shooting normal-speed video. A quick tip: you need to change the video format to one of 60i if you want to watch it directly on your iPad. 30p is not translated. High speed video (an amazing 400 fps and a very slow 1200 fps) is one of my favorite features as it is a rare feature in cameras. It does reduce resolution, so don't expect to recreate Discovery Planet Earth moments, but it's fun to play with. SIZE I think Nikon struck a good balance between camera size and SLR quality with the Nikon 1. I really, really like the size. However, it has a slightly awkward shape, and by that I mean it's not a DSLR or compact camera. As such, finding the right camera bag and a second lens that isn't bulky can be a challenge. Holding it makes you feel just right. Taking photos is easy enough, but you have to be sure not to cover the autofocus sensor while adjusting the lens. CONTROLS The most basic controls (flash, timer, etc.) are right at your fingertips, but that's true of almost all cameras. DSLRs and some compact cameras typically have a mode dial that selects shooting modes, but Nikon has chosen to keep the front end simple and only the Nikon 1's mode dial offers just 4: Auto, Motion Snapshot, Video and Smart Photo (takes multiple photos and chooses the best one). It's great for beginners and hobbyists who prefer not to know about the added complexity, but if you're used to DSLRs and can switch modes quickly, you're missing out on this camera. The camera has all the usual modes and manual controls, but to change them you need to go to the second level menu. Luckily, the 4-way button is also a wheel, allowing you to quickly navigate through the menu. However, I would have preferred at least a dedicated button for instant mode switching, or a fifth option on the mode wheel that you can customize, or the ability to customize the F-key, which I find underused. One area in particular is very weak. : Manual focus. First you have to put your camera in manual mode, then you have to activate manual focus and finally you have to use the tiny button in the corner to adjust the focus. It's so distressing that you only want to do it as a last resort. However, it is rare that you will need it. The autofocus is very, very good! LENSES Two main lenses 10-30mm and 30-110mm. 10-110 is effectively close to the typical SLR range of 18-200 due to Nikon 1's 2.7x crop factor. I did notice that the wide-angle (10mm) has a noticeably smaller field of view than I'm used to, but that's good enough for most images. Changing lenses is just as easy, if not easier, than on the SLR due to the smaller size, but with one problem: the rear caps need to be aligned in order to attach them. I want them to snap on or screw on like every other lens I have. The retract and lock button takes a little getting used to. It's good that the lens is pushed back to make the camera more compact, but it's an extra step that's easy to forget when you're in a hurry. The camera will warn you when the lens is retracted, but until then you've missed it. The camera also turns on automatically when you flip it out - a nice feature once you learn how to use it. It currently doesn't have an option to turn itself off when stowed, but perhaps a future firmware update will allow for that. That being said, you can always just leave it extended. The camera aggressively attempts to conserve battery life by offering a sleep mode and fairly quick on/off times, so leaving it on on the go is perfectly fine. BATTERY LIFE If you're shooting more than 200 shots a day, I would recommend an extra battery. The battery indicator has three segments that do not appear to be the same. The first and second serve for a long time. When you reach the last segment, the power is low and the camera will turn off at any time without warning. No red flashing or other very low battery indicators like most DSLRs. You can usually get a shot or two out of him if you let him rest a bit, but that's about it.