However, all that said. This camera has some incredible new features, especially with regards to video, video/still hybrid, capture rates, and it's auto-focus system. Not every photographer cares about video, but for those that do, the Nikon 1 introduces some fantastic stuff. One thing that all photographers should appreciate though, is the auto - focus system. It looks to me like this new phase detection / contrast hybrid AF with so many focal points may be one of the fastest AF's out there.
Yep, that's the great thing about freedom of choice though, we are all grown up enough to determine what equipment might help some aspect of our photography.
I have personally been very frustrated by the AF of anything non D3/1D4 class out there on moving subjects/dark conditions, but from the reactions here and elsewhere on the web, either/or:
- very few people shoot moving subjects (kids,...),
- most people have given up on the hope that cameras might be able to focus in such situations,
- most people didn't read about the J1/V1 beyond the size of its sensor,
- they don't believe Nikon's marketing talk about the AF's abilities,
- they don't feel that image quality is as much the result of accurate focusing as it is the result of native sensor image quality,
- they feel that even if an image is sharp, it is unusable if it has too much DoF (yet, they use a compact camera...),
- they don't like Nikon as a brand or like another brand so much more than buying/looking objectively at a Nikon is not an option.
I believe that in the end, it is all about putting together a coherent/optimal set of cameras, my personal dream line up is:
- iPhone 4s in terms of pocket camera,
- Nikon J1 when I have larger pockets/anticipate an opportunity for pictures of the kids or in a party (AF matters)/carry even a small pouch/belt pack,
- Nikon D7000 for the photographic outings when weight is a serious concern/I don't want to stand out too much (like this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bernardlanguillier/sets/72157627781481847/),
- Nikon D3x/D800 for the serious photography.
Stitching, either hand held or on a tripod, is of course available to increase the resolution of any of these cameras when an un-expected need occurs.
In this line up, I just don't see space for a high end compact like a S100, nor for a less compact mirrorless system like the NEX.
Cheers,
Bernard