Nikon 1 S1 Pro Reviews

Extremely competitive for photo and video quality, but fiddly controls and poor battery life lessen the appeal

The Nikon 1 S1 is a fine CSC, with a long list of admirable features. It may not be the best choice for low-light (with the lack of a proper VR system standing out as a particular disappointment), neither is it the ideal option around which to build a system of lenses and accessories, but if you just want a small, light and capable carry-around camera it's definitely one for the shortlist. With its speedy AF system, prompt shot-to-shot times and respectable overall image quality the Nikon 1 S1 is a welcome addition to the CSC sector, even if it doesn't really stand out from its J-series siblings for any particular reason. Having only recently been launched it's a little on the pricey side, but its price is slowly dropping - once it falls below the £400 it'll be a steal.

The Nikon 1 S1 is an attractive camera that I enjoyed using for the most part. It's conveniently small and lightweight. It has very good performance and excellent image quality, even at high ISOs. However its video was disappointing due to a consistent jittering effect. Also, it lacks several features present in the 1 J3, which is not that much more expensive. I really missed the mode dial, as being forced to access the menu every time I made a mode adjustment was annoying, especially in the absence of a touchscreen. The kit lens does not support vibration reduction, which might have resolved the video problem I encountered. Almost all digital cameras have a panorama mode, but it is lacking in the 1 S1. Overall, I can recommend the Nikon 1 S1 if there's a significant price difference between it and the 1 J3. If not, go for the 1 J3, which is the better camera.

All-in-all, though, the new S1 is a logical addition to the Nikon 1 family. Available at a slightly cheaper price than the J2 was on launch and offering most of the J3's features and performance, the Nikon 1 S1 should extend the appeal of Nikon's mirrorless range.

In the relatively short time since Nikon first introduced a compact system camera (CSC), it has managed to produce the best selling model, making serious dents into the sales figures of its nearest competitors, namely Panasonic and Sony. Despite having a much smaller sensor than all but the Pentax Q range of compact system cameras, Nikon has managed to capture the imagination of the buying public with a variety of easy to use and fun cameras, with cameras such as the Nikon 1 V2 even beginning to appeal to more advanced users.

While the Nikon 1 S1 may be the smallest mirrorless camera from Nikon, it also comes with a rather limited 2.5x optical zoom kit lens, that isn't very wide (30mm equivalent) nor does it give much telephoto reach (74mm equivalent), it also lacks image stabilisation, and for roughly £70 more you can purchase the higher specification Nikon 1 J3 with 10-30mm VR lens, or the J2 with twin lens kit for £429 (while still available). Alternatively other mirrorless cameras offer a larger sensor, IS as standard the majority of the time, wider kit lenses with 3x optical zoom, although none of them, apart from other Nikon 1 cameras, offer high speed continuous shooting at up to 60fps. The Nikon 1 S1 is a capable camera, producing pleasing images with lots of detail despite only having a 10 megapixel sensor, and it shoots at 60fps with a number of potentially useful high speed shooting modes, including the ability to save the best 5 shots taken in Smart Photo Selector mode, or see the scene in slow motion and pick a photo from it. Full HD video with stereo sound is included, as well as high speed video recording, although the lack of image stabilisation could be an issue for some. For someone looking for a fast, compact, and good looking compact camera, the Nikon 1 S1 could make a good choice, particularly if you'd be interested in changing lenses at a later date.