Today, Nikon announced the 14MP Nikon 1 V2 mirrorless digital camera, the latest addition to Nikon 1 series with Interchangeable Lens System. It's a total overhaul of its predecessor with a bigger body, a higher-resolution sensor and the addition of a Command Mode Dial to provide easy access to features and controls.

Here are the main highlights:

• 14.2MP 13.2 x 8.8mm CMOS CX Image Sensor
  
• EXPEED 3 Image Processor
  
• 3.0" LCD Display
  
• 15 Frames/Second Burst Shooting
  
• Electronic Viewfinder
  
• Built-in flash
  
• Nikon 1 Lens Mount
  
• Wireless-Capable
  
• 1920 x 1080/60p Movie Capture
  
• Advanced Hybrid AF
  
• i-TTL Hot Shoe for Optional Speedlight

If only it would do C-AF with the FT-1 it would make a really cool little 2.7x TC for my Nikon 400 and 200-400, with 15 FPS to boot.

Sadly it seems from the specs I can find it still only does AF-S when using the adapter

Bummer....

Growing isn't a great idea. Not very pocket size, and heading towards the smaller DSLR.
I'm sure the images will be great, but I'm not convinced about the size of it.

I think the size isn't the point with the V series. More so with the V1, but I suppose the feedback was that the V1 was too close to the J1 in size, and that for more serious use, a better haptic experience was more important.

Very neat camera though, very high specs all around (except sensor size of course).

First impression on looks alone: looks like an ungainly cross of a Sony NEX-7 with a chunky Ricoh GXR, not that I buy cameras based on looks.

Fast frames per second burst shooting is interesting but I can't see me - speaking as a dad not a photographer of things that don't need fast frame rates - purchasing such a camera just for the odd kids sports image although I can think of some fun things to do with the ability.

For $200 more I think I'd rather buy a camera with a larger sensor such as the NEX-6 and lens or for $300 less the NEX-5N and lens. If I wanted a small sensor pocket camera, maybe a RX100 ($100 less) although a GRD IV for $200 less also tugs at me. If I specifically wanted a smaller sensor fast focus interchangeable lens camera I'm pretty sure I'd pony up a few more dollars for an Olympus OM-D instead. Looks nicer than most of them, too.

My wife needs a small camera so I've been watching the V1 price drops while looking around at other cameras.

Here are some preview / hands on links:

Engadget, hands on with video: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/24/nikon-v2-mirrorless-compact-hands-on/

Imaging resource (article only): http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/nikon-v2/nikon-v2A.HTMhttp://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/nikon-v2/nikon-v2A.HTM

CNET (hands on): http://asia.cnet.com/product/nikon-1-v2-46728393.htm

There are 3 reasons to buy this camera.

Pixel density

Pixel density

Pixel density

What does pixel density matter, unless you are trying to use the same lens to see further?

In the end all those pixels will be distributed across the image anyway, and no one frames according to sensor size.

Pixel density is nice. You can run into diffraction so soon.

Its stupidly small sensor, period. And thanks to no manual focus help, not really useful for.. um anything.

They should have do 1.3x crop camera with small overall size and dominate mirrorless market.

Mescalamba wrote:
Its stupidly small sensor, period. And thanks to no manual focus help, not really useful for.. um anything.



Its useful for everything if all people ever do is upload their images online.

Those who make large prints, already got their large sensor cameras.

Mescalamba wrote:
Pixel density is nice. You can run into diffraction so soon.

Its stupidly small sensor, period. And thanks to no manual focus help, not really useful for.. um anything.

For alt users you mean. For normal people it would be tremendously useful. I will guess that this camera has the best non-DSLR auto-focus of any camera, possibly excepting the Olympus MFT cameras, and it has very high frame rates and some great video options. Very cool.

Nikon does NEX with a tiny sensor - wrong direction guys. Better luck next time, in maybe 2015.

philip_pj wrote:
Nikon does NEX with a tiny sensor - wrong direction guys. Better luck next time, in maybe 2015.


I don't know where they're going with this.

The bodies and lenses don't seem all that much smaller than MFT for how Slow they are. Sure they were first to market with PDAF on sensor but we all know Olympus will be adding that in soon and Sony already has on the NEX.

Unless the high frame per second rates and consumer-oriented user interface are of particular interest to a buyer, there are plenty of other cameras of the same size that offer bigger sensors for less, for the same price, or for a little more.

Probably Nikon was too late with the intro of the original 1 series, or too early - perhaps had they waited a while they'd have brought out a PDAF camera using a larger sensor which you'd think would garner more interest from a broader range of potential buyers.

Can a shape change and logical update achieve success where the original 1 series didn't?

Seems doubtful.

But it is shaped like NEX, which is popular, and has Nikon prominently displayed up front, which will help it be popular. Who knows, stranger things have happened. And if the shape alone doesn't work, expect discounts to get larger before Christmas!

Man, the F4 is getting kind of odd-looking in its elder years. I guess old people do shrink...

More expensive than Olympus E-PM2 + VF-3 viewfinder. Approximately same size and weight. But much smaller sensor, and the system has fewer lenses.

Besides the 15 FPS trick, I don't understand why anyone would buy it.

Because it says Nikon.

alundeb wrote:
There are 3 reasons to buy this camera.

Pixel density

Pixel density

Pixel density


Quite the opposite: If they had given the V2 a m4/3 sized sensor with the same 10MP of the V1 (so LESS pixel density), it would have been an attractive camera.

Thorsten wrote:
alundeb wrote:
There are 3 reasons to buy this camera.

Pixel density

Pixel density

Pixel density


Quite the opposite: If they had given the V2 a m4/3 sized sensor with the same 10MP of the V1 (so LESS pixel density), it would have been an attractive camera.

Well, I am speaking about this camera as it is, reasons to buy it as it is. Of course you are entiltled to have the opinion that you want another camera. And of course I agree with you that highly specced cameras with small sensors are not attractive.

This camera is unique with it's AF-S capablity combined with high pixel density. The only place this camera is more useful than other cameras, is as a teleconverter for long Nikon lenses.

alundeb wrote:


This camera is unique with it's AF-S capablity combined with high pixel density. The only place this camera is more useful than other cameras, is as a teleconverter for long Nikon lenses.


If only it wouldn't be seriously crippled by the missing continuous AF...