Nikon 1 V1 and J1: Sexy, but are they too small for their own good?

I really want to like the Nikon 1 cameras. They are small, cute, and fun to use. I dream of the day that I can get a fully functional D-SLR equivalent in such a light and small package. Unfortunately the Nikon 1 doesn’t quite fit the bill. To accommodate the small form factor, it features a small (1/2.7, “CX” format) sensor – smaller than either its competitors’ micro-4/3 cameras or Sony’s NEX. And being mirrorless, the photographer needs to live with the LCD for composing images on the Nikon 1 J1, or an electronic viewfinder on the V1. Neither is a great substitute, unfortunately, for a real, through-the-lens, look at the scene. But the Nikon 1 does have a lot to recommend it, and will be perfect as a weekend or vacation camera for many Nikon shooters, so I’ll layout the pros and cons to help you decide if it is the right camera for you…

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