This article features some of my favourite Nikon 1 images in a range of photographic genres including birds, flowers and travel. Other subject matter is also included.
I find it rather bizarre that it has been over five years since the Nikon 1 product line was discontinued… and the system still gets criticized in 2023. For whatever reason Nikon 1 seems to be a camera system that many people love to hate. *shrugs*
Most of the criticisms out there today are the same, tired old comments that were prevalent when the system was first launched. Understandably many of the criticisms are from people who have little real expertise using the Nikon 1 system.
That’s not to say that Nikon 1 was perfect. It wasn’t. The small CX sensor did present some challenges… but the system was far more capable than reviews made it out to be. Unfortunately the Nikon 1 system was… and still is… misunderstood and underestimated.
Even after five years since Nikon 1 was discontinued, this website still attracts a reasonable number of readers interested in the Nikon 1 system. I still regularly get emails from folks who currently own and enjoy using Nikon 1 gear. Some are still hopeful that the system will somehow get resurrected by Nikon. That ship sailed long ago so I don’t think there is any possibility that Nikon 1 will ever be coming back.
If you are a Nikon 1 system owner who still enjoys using their equipment, this article is a bit of a photographic celebration for you. I won’t go into any commentary about the specifications and capabilities of Nikon 1 in this article. That seems like a pointless thing to do for a product line that’s been long discontinued. The featured images in this article are a reasonable illustration of the capabilities of the Nikon 1 system. It really is The Little Camera That Could.
My objective with this article is simple… I just want to share some of my favourite Nikon 1 images. This is the 450th article on this website that features Nikon 1 photography. I think it is doubtful that there is another website on the internet that has more Nikon 1 related articles than are featured here.
As you view the extensive selection of images in this posting you’ll find that they were captured between 2015 and 2019. You’ll also notice that I have a rather eclectic mix of subject matter.
NOTE: Click on images to enlarge.
Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 10 mm, efov 27 mm, f/4, 1/25, ISO-3200Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 43mm, efov 116.1mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO-3200, extension tube usedNikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 13mm, efov 35mm, f/8, 1/320, ISO-400Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 100 mm, efov 270 mm, f/8, 1/400, ISO-160Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO-800Belleek Castle Ireland, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 6.7-13 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 6.7 mm, efov 18 mm, f/3.5, 1/30, ISO-3200Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 50 mm, efov 135 mm, f/8, 1/50, ISO-400Glengarriff Blue Pool Walk Ireland, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 6.7-13 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 7 mm, efov 18.9 mm, f/8, 1/80, ISO-160Deirbhile’s Twist, Ireland, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 6.7-13 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 6.7 mm, efov 18 mm, f/8, 1/320, ISO-160Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 20 mm, efov 54 mm, f/8, 1/25, ISO-400Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 74 mm, efov 199.8 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO-360Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 60 mm, efov 162 mm, f/8, 1/80, ISO-1600Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/60, ISO-1600Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland, New Zealand, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 31.9 mm, efov 86.1 mm, f/5.6, 1/40, ISO-160Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO-1000Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 152 mm, efov 410 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-560Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 100 mm, efov 270 mm, f/5.6, 1/15, ISO-1600Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikkor 30-110 mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 110 mm, efov 297 mm, f/7.1, 1/25, ISO-1600Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikkor 30-110 mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 71.6 mm, efov 193.3 mm, f/5.6, 1/80, ISO-1600Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 60mm, efov 162mm, f8. 1/320, ISO-160Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, efov 810mm, f/5.6, 1/2500, ISO-720Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/3200, ISO-360Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 100mm, efov 270mm, f/8, 1/320, ISO-1600Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO-200Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 20.3 mm, efov 54.8 mm, f/8, 1/10, ISO-160Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 201 mm, efov 543 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-250Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/8000, ISO-4000Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-360Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600, ISO-280Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810mm, f/5.6, 1/400, ISO-800Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 6.7-13 mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 6.7 mm, efov 18 mm, f/8, 1/160, ISO-160Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO-400Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikon 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 non-PD, @ 30mm, efov 81mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO-3200Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 57.2mm, f/5.6, 1/60, ISO-1600, extension tube usedNikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm @ 10mm, efov 27mm, f/8, 1/50, ISO-400Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 22.9mm, efov 61.8mm, f/8, 1/125, ISO-160Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 10mm, efov 27mm, f/8, 1/400, ISO-160Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 272mm, efov 734mm, f/5.6, 1/2000, ISO-280Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 32mm f/1.2, efov 86.4mm, f/1.2, 1/4000, ISO-160Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 32mm f/1.2, efov 86.4mm, f/1.2, 1/1000, ISO-800Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100 mm f/4-5.6 @ 10 mm, efov 27 mm, f/16, 1/2, ISO-160Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 64mm, efov 173mm, f/5.6, 1/10, ISO-3200, Vello Deluxe Extension TubesNikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 246mm, efov 664mm, f/8, 1/2000, ISO-900Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 49mm, efov 133mm, f/8, 1/250, ISO-3200, 16mmNIKON 1 J5 + 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 71.6mm, efov 62mm, efov 167.4mm, ISO 3200, 1/30, f/8.0, MOVO 16mm and 21mm extension tubesKaka Point, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 10mm, efov 27mm, f/8, 1/1000, ISO-800Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 10mm, efov 27mm, f/8, 1/640, ISO-160Purakaunui Falls, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 6.7-13mm, f/3.5-5.6mm @ 8mm, efov 21mm, f/8, 1/4, ISO-160Te Anau, New Zealand, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 13mm, efov 34mm, f/8, 1/100, ISO-800Nikon 1 V2 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300mm, efov 810mm, f/5.6, 1/80, ISO-3200Nikon 1 J4 + 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 PD zoom at 30mm, efov 81mm, f/6.3, 1/640, ISO-160, WP-N3 Waterproof HousingHobbiton, New Zealand, Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 6.7-13mm f/3.5-5.6 @ 8mm, efov 22mm, f/8, 1/320, ISO-800Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 208mm, efov 562mm, f/5.6, 1/1600, ISO-800Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 10-100mm f/4-5.6 @ 24mm, efov 65mm, f/8, 1/40, ISO-800Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 110mm, efov 297mm, f/5.6, 1/30, ISO-3200Nikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 @ 46mm, efov 123mm, f/5.6, 1/60, ISO-800, extension tubesNikon 1 J5 + 1 Nikon CX 70-300mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 204mm, efov 552mm, f/5.6, 1/40, ISO-3200
Like any camera system, Nikon 1 required some time to experiment with it and learn about its strengths… and some of the challenges when using it. I loved the Nikon 1 system and used it exclusively for 4 years. During that time all of my client video projects as well as my personal photography was done with the system.
Back then I was hopeful that Nikon would take the 20.8 MP BSI sensor from the J5 and design an updated V-Series sports/nature body with an integrated grip and EVF, along with a comprehensive set of external controls. That was not in the cards and the system was discontinued.
I hope you enjoyed this photographic stroll down memory lane as much as I did putting this selection of images together for you. At the end of the day the camera gear that we happen to own isn’t as important as what we are able to create with it. That’s truly where the joy of photography resides.
Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 300 mm, efov 810 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO-450
Technical Note
Photographs were captured using camera gear as noted in the EXIF data. Images were produced from RAW files using my standard process. This is the 1,304 article published on this website since its original inception in 2015.
Nikon 1 V3 + 1 Nikkor CX 70-300 mm f/4.5-5.6 @ 224 mm, efov 605 mm, f/5.6, 1/1250, ISO-1000
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26 thoughts on “Favourite Nikon 1 Images”
Hello Thomas. I have just started on the cx trail (I know it is a bit late!) and find it quite addictive. I came across your website in my learning process. I wonder if you have any tips on post processing the Nikon 1 output that you would share especially in terms of sharpening settings and on noise reduction?
If you look under the Post Processing heading in the menu you’ll find quite a few articles about these subjects. The earlier ones will be more focused on Nikon 1. In terms of noise reduction I use DxO DeepPRIME to a maximum setting of 15, then use Topaz Denoise AI as needed as a second round of noise reduction.
I set up about 3 dozen custom presets in DxO to handle various subject matter with various cameras and lenses. Some of these presets had some minor adjustments to sharpening and micro-contrast, while others did not. It really comes down to the needs of a specific image.
Hello Thomas, what a coincidence; I just bought a J5! My 1V1 was producing so much more noise, I have to retire it.
It’s still such a unique and fun system to use, although I have ‘better’ cameras.
I was looking to buy a good compact, but those have become hard to find, and/ or have downsides like too slow, no viewfinder etc. So it’s back to my beloved Nikon 1, for bringing along in my handbag.
I’ve been following your posts for a long time, and found them inspiring. Thanks!
Thank you, Thomas,
for the this website. It has driven me to get into Nikon 1 system a few years back. I still find a joy in using the V1, V3, J5 and all the nice lenses. Event though I have a FF set I still mostly grab the V3, 32mm , 10-100 and 70-300 when I go out. even in my hands the set is capable to produce pictures comparable to the bigger camera.
Not comparable to the BiF you have here though :).
I’m glad that you have been enjoying the website and your Nikon 1 equipment. A camera system that is a joy to use becomes a source of inspiration when it is in our hands. We hope you have many more years of enjoyment with your Nikon 1 equipment.
This was a nice elegy for the “Little Camera That Could,” but it’s far from dead for me. I continue to regularly use my V2 and my 10-100 zoom for my newspaper work when I want to travel light and/or shoot in settings where I need to be quiet and unobtrusive. The lenses in the Nikon 1 system perform well for my needs. As long as the gear keeps working and delivering the goods, I’ll keep using it. And thanks again for turning me, and the rest of the Nikon 1 fans out there, on to the possibilities of this system.
I like to think of the article as a Nikon 1 celebration! There are many folks out there that love and use the Nikon 1 system… and plan to do so for many years to come. My wife and I have a lot of many positive memories associated with the Nikon 1 system. I still think it was one of the most capable and underrated camera systems around.
Hi Tom,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful collection of great images ..they really show off your photography skills and the amazing capabilities of the Nikon 1 system. I believe you have done more to show off its capabilities than anyone else. I was fascinated with the system but chose the Olympus system when I left Canon. Like you, I’m enjoying it. I also purchased a used Sony RX10 iv, another very capable camera with a 1″ sensor and incredible lens. Its another camera that would serve a professional photographer very well. It is amazing the IQ that the small sensor delivers and the autofocus system is outstanding. Like the Nikon 1, it has not developed a huge fan base. Your website would be a great place for Rx10 iv users to share and learn.
I am very grateful to you for this website and hope its readership will grow.
I’ve always found it interesting how many people focus only on sensor size without considering actual sensor performance, as well as other camera attributes like frame rate and auto-focus speed/accuracy.
The Nikon 1 J5 has a very good 1″ BSI sensor with 12 stops of dynamic range according to DxO, which is better performance than some Canon cameras with larger sensors. Some full frame Canon cameras like the 6D Mark II (11.9), 5D Mark III (11.9) and APS-C cameras such as the 7D Mark II (11.8), 7D (11.7), and M3 (11.8) all scored lower on DxOMark sensor testing than did the Nikon 1 J5. It’s funny… but I don’t recall hearing about owners of those Canon cameras complaining about the dynamic range of their cameras. 🙂 Makes one think that there may be some sensor bias in the market… lol.
Beautiful images from an excellent photographer using a superb system. Nikon missed the boat when they discontinued the Nikon 1 line. I have a lot of MFT gear, mostly Olympus, but fear that Panasonic will drop the format in favor of full frame.
We’ll never know what could have been with Nikon 1. I can only assume that Nikon had some market research, and detailed financial analysis of the product line, to make the decision to discontinue it. Like many people, I was very disappointed.
I have a jaded view of Panasonic and I don’t worry about Panasonic leaving the M4/3 format. I perceive that the brand is mainly video centric with a muddled market position. Back in 2015 I had a brief and quite negative experience with a GH4 and a couple pro Panasonic lenses. After returning the gear for credit (and paying a small restocking fee) I decided that I would never buy anything from that brand again.
If Panasonic left M4/3 it may be beneficial for OM Systems in terms of gaining some orphan customers from that brand. As computational photography technology continues to advance it is likely that photographers will need to buy ‘same brand’ lenses to get all of the potential out of their camera body as manufacturers will likely tailor their firmware so that certain capabilities will only work with an integrated ‘same brand’ system.
I think OM System is following a very clear strategic direction and focusing its marketing efforts on where it has decided strengths… i.e. on nature, birding, outdoor adventure/travel, and macro. I think this strategic direction makes absolute sense and will help the OM System brand attract buyers from other camera formats.
We ended up finding new homes for all of our Nikon 1 kit in the second half of last year.
This decision was driven by two factors. The major one was when my wife and I decided to close our corporate entity at the end of last year. This necessitated selling some camera equipment so we could deal with our equipment amortization schedule in order to wind down the corporate business. The second factor was needing to retain gear that was best aligned with the needs of our clients, and with the future focus of my photography.
We had not used any of our Nikon 1 gear for client work since July 2019 when we shifted to Olympus M4/3 gear (it is capable of 4K video which our Nikon 1 kit was not). For as much as we loved our Nikon 1 kit, we did not have any viable business rationale to justify keeping it given the business decisions we needed to make.
My photography is now heavily skewed towards using computational photography technologies like Pro Capture, in-camera focus stacking, in-camera HDR, handheld hi res, and intelligent subject tracking. None of these technologies is possible with Nikon 1.
From a straight business perspective it would have made sense for us to sell all of our Nikon 1 gear back in July 2019 rather than waiting until 2022. We had a very strong emotional attachment to our Nikon 1 kit, and we kept it far longer than the business case for retaining it could actually justify. Sometimes business decisions are very difficult from an emotional standpoint.
I understand getting emotionally attached to this system….I still have mine, and I don’t know why I keep it since it’s rarely used, anymore..it was my first venture into mirrorless and holds some fond memories 🙂
My wife and I have so many travel memories that are deeply associated with Nikon 1 that they formed a powerful link to the system. Nikon 1 also created a sense of creative freedom in me when I used it. I was coming out of a full frame system which I found very restricting… so that feeling of freedom was truly liberating.
I think these photos and others that you have published effectively dispel the criticisms of the Nikon 1 system’s capabilities.
I bought a J5 in advance of a trip to South African. I had long used 35mm and later D format SLRs and had grown tired of the weight and bulk resulting in them spending most of their time in the cupboard whilst I carried a small compact. I chose the J5 in 2016 and was considering buying additional lenses when word of the system’s demise started to appear. In searching for alternative small systems, I stumbled across your blog and seeing what could be done with the Nikon 1 system, I decided to stick with it and seek out further lenses (including the magnificent CX70-300) and a V2.
Still more than happy with it and do not envisage changing, it will be accompanying me on my retirement travels.
Big thank you for your blog which continues to inspire, and for anyone who hasn’t got a copy already, I thoroughly recommend “The Little Camera That Could”
I still use my J5 and V3., and especially the V3 with the 70-300mm for bird photography. That combination is almost unbeatable regarding image quality when light is good.
I also took some of my very best images with the J5 and particularly the 32 mm f/1.2 even though I have owned some of the best Nikon DX and FF cameras.
It was really a shame that Nikon ditched Nikon 1 and also the DL-series that could have been perfect travel cameras.
Thanks for sharing your experiences with Nikon 1 system. Like you, I also was able to capture some wonderful images with the J5. I’ve never been skewed towards prime lenses for photography, so I used mine (i.e. 10mm, 18.5mm and 32mm) primarily for my video business where they did a stellar job.
Love the images! I still use Nikon 1 gear. My V1 just died, but I still have a J5 and a V3 and many lenses. Thank you for this homage to this great little camera that could.
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Hello Thomas. I have just started on the cx trail (I know it is a bit late!) and find it quite addictive. I came across your website in my learning process. I wonder if you have any tips on post processing the Nikon 1 output that you would share especially in terms of sharpening settings and on noise reduction?
Hi Boris,
If you look under the Post Processing heading in the menu you’ll find quite a few articles about these subjects. The earlier ones will be more focused on Nikon 1. In terms of noise reduction I use DxO DeepPRIME to a maximum setting of 15, then use Topaz Denoise AI as needed as a second round of noise reduction.
I set up about 3 dozen custom presets in DxO to handle various subject matter with various cameras and lenses. Some of these presets had some minor adjustments to sharpening and micro-contrast, while others did not. It really comes down to the needs of a specific image.
Tom
Thank you Tom. I have now read the articles you mentioned. Very helpful as I use DxO & Topaz too.
Hi Boris,
I’m glad the articles were helpful for you.
Tom
Hello Thomas, what a coincidence; I just bought a J5! My 1V1 was producing so much more noise, I have to retire it.
It’s still such a unique and fun system to use, although I have ‘better’ cameras.
I was looking to buy a good compact, but those have become hard to find, and/ or have downsides like too slow, no viewfinder etc. So it’s back to my beloved Nikon 1, for bringing along in my handbag.
I’ve been following your posts for a long time, and found them inspiring. Thanks!
Hi Petra,
I agree that Nikon 1 is unique and fun system to use. I’m glad you’ve been enjoying the website.
Tom
Thank you, Thomas,
for the this website. It has driven me to get into Nikon 1 system a few years back. I still find a joy in using the V1, V3, J5 and all the nice lenses. Event though I have a FF set I still mostly grab the V3, 32mm , 10-100 and 70-300 when I go out. even in my hands the set is capable to produce pictures comparable to the bigger camera.
Not comparable to the BiF you have here though :).
Hi Jiri,
I’m glad that you have been enjoying the website and your Nikon 1 equipment. A camera system that is a joy to use becomes a source of inspiration when it is in our hands. We hope you have many more years of enjoyment with your Nikon 1 equipment.
Tom
Tom,
This was a nice elegy for the “Little Camera That Could,” but it’s far from dead for me. I continue to regularly use my V2 and my 10-100 zoom for my newspaper work when I want to travel light and/or shoot in settings where I need to be quiet and unobtrusive. The lenses in the Nikon 1 system perform well for my needs. As long as the gear keeps working and delivering the goods, I’ll keep using it. And thanks again for turning me, and the rest of the Nikon 1 fans out there, on to the possibilities of this system.
Hi Randy,
I like to think of the article as a Nikon 1 celebration! There are many folks out there that love and use the Nikon 1 system… and plan to do so for many years to come. My wife and I have a lot of many positive memories associated with the Nikon 1 system. I still think it was one of the most capable and underrated camera systems around.
Tom
Hi Tom,
Thank you for sharing this wonderful collection of great images ..they really show off your photography skills and the amazing capabilities of the Nikon 1 system. I believe you have done more to show off its capabilities than anyone else. I was fascinated with the system but chose the Olympus system when I left Canon. Like you, I’m enjoying it. I also purchased a used Sony RX10 iv, another very capable camera with a 1″ sensor and incredible lens. Its another camera that would serve a professional photographer very well. It is amazing the IQ that the small sensor delivers and the autofocus system is outstanding. Like the Nikon 1, it has not developed a huge fan base. Your website would be a great place for Rx10 iv users to share and learn.
I am very grateful to you for this website and hope its readership will grow.
Hi Glen… thanks for adding to the discussion.
I’ve always found it interesting how many people focus only on sensor size without considering actual sensor performance, as well as other camera attributes like frame rate and auto-focus speed/accuracy.
The Nikon 1 J5 has a very good 1″ BSI sensor with 12 stops of dynamic range according to DxO, which is better performance than some Canon cameras with larger sensors. Some full frame Canon cameras like the 6D Mark II (11.9), 5D Mark III (11.9) and APS-C cameras such as the 7D Mark II (11.8), 7D (11.7), and M3 (11.8) all scored lower on DxOMark sensor testing than did the Nikon 1 J5. It’s funny… but I don’t recall hearing about owners of those Canon cameras complaining about the dynamic range of their cameras. 🙂 Makes one think that there may be some sensor bias in the market… lol.
Tom
Beautiful images from an excellent photographer using a superb system. Nikon missed the boat when they discontinued the Nikon 1 line. I have a lot of MFT gear, mostly Olympus, but fear that Panasonic will drop the format in favor of full frame.
Hi Woody,
Thank you for your kind words… much appreciated.
We’ll never know what could have been with Nikon 1. I can only assume that Nikon had some market research, and detailed financial analysis of the product line, to make the decision to discontinue it. Like many people, I was very disappointed.
I have a jaded view of Panasonic and I don’t worry about Panasonic leaving the M4/3 format. I perceive that the brand is mainly video centric with a muddled market position. Back in 2015 I had a brief and quite negative experience with a GH4 and a couple pro Panasonic lenses. After returning the gear for credit (and paying a small restocking fee) I decided that I would never buy anything from that brand again.
If Panasonic left M4/3 it may be beneficial for OM Systems in terms of gaining some orphan customers from that brand. As computational photography technology continues to advance it is likely that photographers will need to buy ‘same brand’ lenses to get all of the potential out of their camera body as manufacturers will likely tailor their firmware so that certain capabilities will only work with an integrated ‘same brand’ system.
I think OM System is following a very clear strategic direction and focusing its marketing efforts on where it has decided strengths… i.e. on nature, birding, outdoor adventure/travel, and macro. I think this strategic direction makes absolute sense and will help the OM System brand attract buyers from other camera formats.
Tom
Fond memories of a terrific little camera system!!
🙂 I have many found memories of Nikon 1!
Tom
Do you still have all your Nikon 1 gear? If I’m not mistaken, you were culling it down some time ago?
Hi Lisa,
We ended up finding new homes for all of our Nikon 1 kit in the second half of last year.
This decision was driven by two factors. The major one was when my wife and I decided to close our corporate entity at the end of last year. This necessitated selling some camera equipment so we could deal with our equipment amortization schedule in order to wind down the corporate business. The second factor was needing to retain gear that was best aligned with the needs of our clients, and with the future focus of my photography.
We had not used any of our Nikon 1 gear for client work since July 2019 when we shifted to Olympus M4/3 gear (it is capable of 4K video which our Nikon 1 kit was not). For as much as we loved our Nikon 1 kit, we did not have any viable business rationale to justify keeping it given the business decisions we needed to make.
My photography is now heavily skewed towards using computational photography technologies like Pro Capture, in-camera focus stacking, in-camera HDR, handheld hi res, and intelligent subject tracking. None of these technologies is possible with Nikon 1.
From a straight business perspective it would have made sense for us to sell all of our Nikon 1 gear back in July 2019 rather than waiting until 2022. We had a very strong emotional attachment to our Nikon 1 kit, and we kept it far longer than the business case for retaining it could actually justify. Sometimes business decisions are very difficult from an emotional standpoint.
Tom
I understand getting emotionally attached to this system….I still have mine, and I don’t know why I keep it since it’s rarely used, anymore..it was my first venture into mirrorless and holds some fond memories 🙂
Hi Lisa,
🙂 memories are heavily coloured by our emotions.
My wife and I have so many travel memories that are deeply associated with Nikon 1 that they formed a powerful link to the system. Nikon 1 also created a sense of creative freedom in me when I used it. I was coming out of a full frame system which I found very restricting… so that feeling of freedom was truly liberating.
Tom
I think these photos and others that you have published effectively dispel the criticisms of the Nikon 1 system’s capabilities.
I bought a J5 in advance of a trip to South African. I had long used 35mm and later D format SLRs and had grown tired of the weight and bulk resulting in them spending most of their time in the cupboard whilst I carried a small compact. I chose the J5 in 2016 and was considering buying additional lenses when word of the system’s demise started to appear. In searching for alternative small systems, I stumbled across your blog and seeing what could be done with the Nikon 1 system, I decided to stick with it and seek out further lenses (including the magnificent CX70-300) and a V2.
Still more than happy with it and do not envisage changing, it will be accompanying me on my retirement travels.
Big thank you for your blog which continues to inspire, and for anyone who hasn’t got a copy already, I thoroughly recommend “The Little Camera That Could”
Hi David,
Thank you for adding your experiences to the discussion… much appreciated as are your supportive comments on this website and our Nikon 1 eBook.
Tom
Lovely collection of images.
I still use my J5 and V3., and especially the V3 with the 70-300mm for bird photography. That combination is almost unbeatable regarding image quality when light is good.
I also took some of my very best images with the J5 and particularly the 32 mm f/1.2 even though I have owned some of the best Nikon DX and FF cameras.
It was really a shame that Nikon ditched Nikon 1 and also the DL-series that could have been perfect travel cameras.
Hi Anders,
Thanks for sharing your experiences with Nikon 1 system. Like you, I also was able to capture some wonderful images with the J5. I’ve never been skewed towards prime lenses for photography, so I used mine (i.e. 10mm, 18.5mm and 32mm) primarily for my video business where they did a stellar job.
Tom
Love the images! I still use Nikon 1 gear. My V1 just died, but I still have a J5 and a V3 and many lenses. Thank you for this homage to this great little camera that could.
Hi Ray,
I’m glad you enjoyed the images! I had a blast going through my files to put the collection together.
Tom