ATTENTION: I HAVE NOT USED A NIKON 1v1. THIS "REVIEW" IS A LOGICAL ASSESSMENT/ARGUMENT REGARDING THE NIKON 1v1.My early conclusion with this new Nikon offering was that Nikon was looking to prey on wealthy suckers loyal to the Nikon brand who wanted something small and light and of quality... Even though it wasn't actually small or light and has plastic lens mounts just like cheapo DSLR kit lenses.
And for those of you who don't know, that cheapy plasticky Nikon kit 18-55 VR is a REALLY sharp and colorful lens with truly exceptional macro capability. It is a fantastic lens, is very light and relatively compact. A shortcoming is that the front element rotates.
What the 1V1 has is bragging rights to being expensive and at the top of one of Nikon's lines as opposed to being inexpensive and near the bottom of one of Nikon's lines as the D5100 is.
The breakdown vs. my own personal light gear:
NIKON 1v1 vs. LUMIX ZS7:
ZS7 was $235ish on Amazon when I got it, 1v1 with 2 zooms is $999 on Amazon after recent $150 price drop. SB-N5 flash costs $200. 1v1 costs $964 more (5.1x as expensive).
PRICE WIN: ZS7.
ZS7 weighs 218 grams and is a true pocket-sized camera, 1v1 weighs 409 grams with 10-30mm and 584 grams with both zooms and needs to be carried with a strap and a bag is needed for extra lens and 654 grams with both lenses and flash. 1v1 weighs 436 grams more (3x as heavy).
WEIGHT/BULK WIN: ZS7.
ZS7 has built-in Leica f/3.3-4.9 25-300mm equivalent range and minimum aperture of f/6.3 1v1 has plastic-mount Nikkor f/3.5-5.6 27-297mm equivalent range (carrying 2 lenses) with minimum aperture of f/16. Both cameras have tiny sensors so there will be substantial depth of field even wide open.
OPTICS WIN: If wide-open aperture is more important, ZS7 wins. If minimum aperture is more important, 1v1 wins.
ZS7 has a built-in GN 17.4ft flash, 1v1 has external $200 70g GN 27.9ft. flash.
FLASH WIN: If POWER is your concern and price, weight and bulk don't matter, 1v1 wins. If ZERO PRICE, SIZE AND WEIGHT INCREASE is your concern and power isn't, ZS7 wins.
ZS7 has good quick autofocus/focus-tracking. It is not infallible and sometimes gets tricked. 1v1's autofocus/focus-tracking is being greatly touted in the way DSLRs are. I'll accept at face value that it is superior to the ZS7.
AUTOFOCUS/TRACKING WIN: 1v1.
ZS7 has a 12.1MP 6.12mm x 4.51mm sensor and records JPG only. 1v1 has a 10.1MP 13.2mm x 8.8mm sensor and can record in RAW. 1v1's sensor is 4.2x as large as ZS7's.
IMAGE QUALITY WIN: 1v1. (Granted, I've never used the 1v1 but I will readily accept that its image quality is superior.)
SUMMARY: 1v1 is 5x as expensive, 3x as heavy, way more bulky (not a pocket camera), has a more powerful flash and better image quality and autofocus. ZS7 is 1/5 as expensive, 1/3 as heavy, is a legitimate pocket camera, has basic flash and very good JPG-only image quality.
NIKON 1v1 VS. NIKON D5100:
D5100 with 18-55mm VR, 55-300mm VR, Nikon camera bag and instructional videos cost $1008 at Costco including tax, 1v1 with 2 zooms is $999 and SB-N5 flash costs $200 on Amazon, $1199 in total. 1v1 costs $191 more (19% more).
PRICE WIN: D5100.
D5100 with 18-55mm lens weighs 796.3 grams with battery and AN-4Y strap (I weighed mine and it's substantially lower than Nikon's stats). Long lens weighs 580g, 1376.3g total. (To accurately match the 1v1's zoom range, Nikkor 55-200mm VR weighs 335g, 1131.3g total) 1v1 weighs 493g with 10-30mm and flash (and strap). Long lens weighs 175g, 668g total. D5100 with 18-55mm is 303.3 grams (0.62x) heavier than 1v1 with 10-30mm and flash. With flash mounted, the 1v1 is an awkward bulky shape.
WEIGHT WIN: 1v1.
BULK WIN: D5100.
D5100 has VR Nikkor f/3.5-5.6 27-450mm equivalent range in 2 zooms and the entire Nikkor 35mm, FX and DX lens catalog to select from. 1v1 has VR Nikkor f/3.5-5.6 27-297mm equivalent range in 2 zooms and a 10mm f/2.8 1-series fixed pancake lens to choose.
OPTICS WIN: D5100.
The D5100's Live View autofocus/focus tracking is very fast and accurate. The 1v1 is touted to also autofocus and track very fast and accurately.
AUTOFOCUS/TRACKING WIN: Tie/draw???
D5100 has built-in flash with Guide Number 43ft and standard Nikon hot shoe that can take any post-F3 Nikon-compatible flash. 1v1 has external 70g $200 SB-N5 flash with Guide Number 27.9ft.
FLASH WIN: D5100.
D5100 has a 16.2MP 23.6mm x 15.6mm sensor. The same sensor as the D7000 and produces very exceptional images. 1v1 has a 10.1MP 13.2mm x 8.8mm sensor. The D5100's sensor is 3.17x as large and widely regarded as the best APS-C sensor.
IMAGE QUALITY WIN: D5100.
SUMMARY: 1V1 costs $191 (19%) MORE and the body + standard zoom + flash weighs 303.3g (10.7oz. or 38.1%) less but is MORE bulky (with flash). It only has 2 lenses outside of the 2 standard zooms to choose from. The 10mm f/2.8 pancake lens is the same minimum focal length (!) as and only 2/3-stop (!) faster than the standard zoom. The other lens being a $750 slow f/4.5-5.6 10-100mm zoom that covers just short of the same range as the 2 standard zooms together. It costs about the same as and covers not quite the same equivalent range as the outstanding and revered Nikkor DX 18-200mm VR... but is 2/3-stop SLOWER wide open and not quite as long! The 1v1 ONLY has a $200 weaker-than-DSLR-pop-up GN 28ft awkwardly bulky flash as a lighting option! And Nikon didn't even have the sense to mount it on top of the finder (SLR-style) to get a little more height for organic red-eye reduction.
The D5100 costs $191 (16%) LESS, weighs 303.3g (10.7oz. or 61%) more, is SMALLER (vs. 1v1 with flash), has DSLR controls and is better at everything (photo, not video), has a full swivel/tilt screen, very extensive catalog of lenses and flashes to choose from and superior image quality.
I don't really know why anyone would buy a 1v1 over a D5100. Or even a D3100, for that matter. Somebody's going to have to explain this to me because a D5100 with 18-55mm is small and light already. The only thing I see that's intriguing about the 1v1 is the 10/30/60fps Electronic Hi continuous shooting mode. I think it would be cool for sports. Um, how often will this mode get used by someone buying a 1v1? Ever?
CONCLUSION: I personally think Nikon royally screwed up with the 1v1 (not necessarily Nikon 1/CX format) and it will go down as a total WTF failure in their history. The 1j1 is smaller, and less expensive than a small DSLR and not much bigger/heavier than a PNS but the 1v1 with flash is bulky and WAY overpriced. The 1j1 with both standard zooms and built-in flash for $746.95 here at Amazon is interesting... Potential there. I would rather have the 1j1 with those 2 lenses than the 1v1 with those lenses AND flash, at whatever price. I just don't want the 1v1 at any price. The 1v1 killed itself with no internal flash, period. If I'm gonna carry or mount an external flash out of NECESSITY, it won't be for/on a tiny sensor camera. Lol, aside from the 1v1 and top-end DSLRs, I cannot think of a digital camera that doesn't have a built-in flash... The 1j1 is a better camera and it's WAY cheaper ($764.95 vs. $1199 for 1v1, 2 zooms & flash) as you don't need to buy and mount a bulky external flash.
And what about vs. the Nikon P7100? P7100 comes with built-in 28-200mm equivalent lens, built-in flash, can take REAL Nikon Speedlights with GNs WAY above 27.9 and/or less expensive than $200, shoots RAW, has great image quality, is built tough, is almost a pocket camera, has a tilt screen and is less than half as costly...
But I'm sure there will be those who love the 1v1 and I'm happy for everyone who finds something they love. :)
Review by 7 "7Steven"
No comments:
Post a Comment