I already mentioned in my last post (Nikon D80) that I replaced my Nikon D80 with a Nikon 1 V1. I am quite in love with this camera and will keep it for the time being. But I have to say it is one of the most quirky cameras I have ever owned.
The Nikon 1 system was supposed to be an upgrade for people using simple point and shoot cameras. Back then, smartphones were still pretty awful. It was the first mirrorless interchangeable lens camera from Nikon with a "decent" sensor. The 10 megapixels resolution was behind its competitors, and the smallish sensor wasn't the best for low light. It also had no image stabilization except for a few select lenses. But the camera was pretty fast and still is. Autofocus is incredibly quick, as are subject tracking and burst shooting.
But this camera is also quirky and stupid. Because Nikon intended the whole Nikon 1 system for casual photographers upgrading from simple cameras, the Nikon 1 is way too simplified. Instead of the usual mode dial, aperture and shutter speed controls, the camera offers weird "snapshot" modes designed to automatically take like 20 pictures and select the best five. Other modes made little videos only accessible with Nikon software. For normal shooting, one has to use a special "mode" and then dive into the menu for further settings.
More infuriatingly, the camera would always display the last image for review. This really slows down shooting between images or bursts. Neither the display nor the viewfinder would actually show the exposure compensation. That is one of the main features of mirrorless cameras compared to a DSLR. So you still rely on the metering of the camera and the image review in difficult lighting.
Weirdly enough, I like these quirks. Modern cameras seem to be overly complex with so many features and functions available in hundreds of menu items. The Nikon 1 V1 in contrast has very few settings. You just set it up and shoot. Without exposure compensation, it is like shooting with an old-fashioned viewfinder. The forced image review makes you shoot more slowly and with deliberation. And it is a very beautiful camera that is a joy to hold and use, even though it is not very ergonomic.
I enjoy using such a strange and ultimately failed product. It just looks so beautiful with a solid build quality. I think the Nikon 1 cameras and especially the V1 are little gems to discover and they are (still) rather cheap on the used market.