Today, Nikon unveiled 3 products in their mirrorless cameras range, the Nikon 1 brand : a new updated version of the Nikon J1 with the Nikon J2, a new compact 2.5x lens, the 1 Nikkor 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 and a tough waterproof casing for the Nikon J1 and J2, the Nikon WP-N1.
Nikon 1 J2
One year after having announced a “revolution”, Nikon gently updates its amateur mirrorless camera with the Nikon 1 J2 that will be sold starting early september. The Nikon V1 will remain in Nikon’s catalog for one more year. The J2 is very similar to the J1 and inherits of the main technical specs like the 10.1 effective CMOS sensor of 1″ featuring a 2.7x crop ratio compared to 35mm foca lengths, a Full HD 60i or 30p video recording mode, the same 10 fps burst rate in full definition (with AF on), but also the same fast hybrid autofocus system with 135 contrast detection areas and 75 phase detection sensors, and the same fun modes Nikon introduced with the Nikon J1 and V1. So what’s new on the J2 ? Well, not so much :
- New camera body colors
- digital filters
- Better resolution screen : 3″ / 921,000 dots
- Easier access to PSAM modes
- A metal body
Nothing that will turn the J1 in an obsolete camera but I like the new screen which will enhance the user experience, for sure. I am a bit sorry for Nikon they did not seized the opportunity of a new model to offer what almost all competitors do offer : swipe panoramas and multi-images HDR… The J1 was not such a revolution, the J2 is a very timid evolution, a minimal effort has been made on the new generation mirrroless camera. We know Nikon can be more ambitious than that.
Fortunately, they cut down the J2 price compared to the J1 introduction price which was, I think, way too expensive : $549 / €499 with the 1 Nikkor 10-30mm VR lens and $529 / €479 with the new 1 Nikkor 11-27.5mm lens.
1 Nikkor 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lens
More compact than the 10-30mm originally launched along with the Nikon 1 J1 and V1 last year, the new 1 Nikkor 11-27.5mm f/3.5-5.6 lens offers a tiny 2.5x focal range which will become a 30-74mm once mounted on a Nikon CX mount mirrorless camera. Its optical built gets one ED glass lens and one aspherical element. It has a metal body and can be locked when not used so that it remains pretty compact : 30mm thick only. That is not a real pancake yet but it is better than the 10-30mm VR. Yet, it has lost the optical stabilizer of the 10-30mm. The good thing is that it is VERY light : 83 grs. only. It wil be available in all the vibrant J2 colors, even the new ones.
It will be available on Sept. 6th against $189 / €179.
Nikon WP-N1 underwater casing
Sold for more than the J2, the 40m waterproof underwater casing designed for the J1 and J2 with the 1 Nikkor 10-30mm VR lens will cost $749.95 / €749. It is quite a professional grade underwater photography casing, able to go as deep as 40m / 130ft. It offers the benefit of practically all buttons that will allow underwater photograhers to use almost every functions of their mirrorless camera. The WP-N1 will only suite the J1 or J2 with the 1 Nikkor 10-30mm VR lens on.
