Nikon 1 S1 review

The compact system camera (CSC) market is getting increasingly crowded and homogenised, but there’s no risk of the Nikon 1 system blending in. These cameras are smaller and lighter than rival CSC systems, but that’s mostly because their 13.2×8.8mm sensors are quite a bit smaller than the 17.3x13mm and 23.5×15.6mm sensors used elsewhere. And whereas most CSCs offer SLR-like control, the more affordable models in the Nikon 1 range are unashamedly point-and-shoot devices.

This is all the more true of the S1, which establishes a new entry-level line below the J3 and V2 models. It swaps the J3’s aluminium body for plastic, and omits a mode dial. Instead, its various modes are selected by pressing the F button and spinning the rear wheel. As with the J3 and its predecessors, the available options are quirky scene presets rather than conventional PASM shooting modes, which are hidden away as a subset of the Creative mode.

The S1 introduces a new 11-27.5mm kit lens, which gives a 35mm-equivalent focal length range of 30-74mm. It collapses down for transit, extending just 31mm from the camera – 10mm less than the kit lens bundled with other Nikon 1 cameras. The downside is a smaller 2.5x zoom range and a lack of optical stabilisation. This isn’t an absolutely crucial feature, but omitting it means faster shutter speeds are necessary to avoid camera shake. This in turn pushes up the ISO speed and noise levels.

This isn’t the only compatible lens, of course. The Nikon 1 system is growing fast, with nine lenses currently available. Still, that’s a long way behind the Sony NEX system (15 lenses) and Panasonic and Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds (38 lenses).

One compelling advantage of the S1 over its rivals is that fitting a telephoto lens doesn’t add significantly to its bulk. A dual lens kit is available for around £520 including VAT, which includes the 11-27.5mm plus a 30-110mm lens (81-297mm in 35mm-equivalent values) – a strong candidate for wildlife and sports photography. This lens is also remarkably small and light, at 180g and 61mm long when retracted for transit.

PERFORMANCE AND BATTERY

As with the rest of the Nikon 1 range, the S1 is particularly well suited to sports and wildlife photography because of its fast continuous performance. It can capture 15 frames at 15, 30 or 60fps, and is ready to go again a couple of seconds later. Even more useful is the ability to shoot at 5fps with continuous autofocus. It kept this speed up for an impressive 33 frames before slowing to 2.7fps. This mode is ideal for tracking moving subjects, and this performance is significantly faster than any of its rivals.

5fps shooting with continuous autofocus is ideal for wildlife photography. This shot was taken with the 30-110mm lens, but we had to dig in the menus for the shutter priority mode in order to freeze motion with a 1/1,000s shutter speed

Sadly, the S1 isn’t so nippy in normal use. We measured 1.4 seconds between shots, which is almost three times slower than the Panasonic GF6 and Olympus E-PM2. Meanwhile, the controls seem to be designed to prevent casual users stumbling upon conventional manual controls such as ISO speed, autofocus mode and white balance. There’s a bare minimum of buttons, no quick-access menu, and the most useful controls are inexplicably spread across different parts of the main menu.

CSC Shootout – SPEED TEST – Sony NEX-3N, Olympus Pen E-PM2, Nikon S1 and Panasonic GF6

Here we compare shooting speed, single drive and continuous (JPEG and RAW) between the four current budget CSCs

Another big disappointment is the battery life, which is quoted at 220 shots. Heavy use of the continuous shooting modes could mean it runs out in an hour or two. Spare batteries are reasonably priced at £36 but we’d say at least one is an essential purchase.

IMAGE QUALITY

Any lingering doubts about the relatively small sensor and its impact on image quality were dispelled by our test shots, which were conducted alongside the Panasonic GF6, Olympus E-PM2 and Sony NEX-3N. The S1’s 10-megapixel resolution is lower than the others’ 16 megapixels, but this made little impact on the camera’s ability to capture details. In fact, the S1’s more reliable autofocus, along with its sublime JPEG processing, meant it often outperformed the E-PM2 and NEX-3N for details. The smaller zoom range was a more significant limitation, but it gave little cause for concern in practice.

CSC Shootout – IMAGE QUALITY TEST – Sony NEX-3N, Olympus Pen E-PM2, Nikon S1 and Panasonic GF6

Here we compare image quality, in numerous scenarios, between the four current budget CSCs. Click through to YouTube and view at 1080p for 1:1 pixel comparisons

Details in this shot are extremely precise, and compare well with the 16-megapixel competition

Subtle skin textures are handled well – there’s no sign of grain or noise reduction that conventional compact cameras tend to suffer

Corner sharpness is good but there are some chromatic aberrations visible in this high-contrast shot

The S1 put in an excellent performance in low light, too. Because the relatively small sensor is paired with a modest 10-megapixel resolution, noise was broadly similar to the output from the larger, higher-resolution sensors in the GF6, E-PM2 or NEX-3N. It couldn’t quite compete at ISO 6400, but ISO 3200 and lower sensitivities turned in perfectly usable results.

Shooting with the 30-110mm lens, we selected this very fast 1/2,500s shutter speed to eliminate any chance of blur. The camera has raised the ISO speed to 1100 to compensate, but rather than succumbing to noise, this shot is sharp, clean and detailed

Noise levels are still far from invasive at ISO 3200 – an excellent result

The S1’s videos were just as impressive. Colours were rich and flattering, and its precise handling of details compared well with the excellent Panasonic GF6. It couldn’t quite match the GF6 for bright, clean colours in low light, though, and variable light caused the exposure to move in abrupt steps. Manual exposure control is available for videos, though we doubt many people wanting such controls will be happy to live with the auto-centric design of the S1’s controls in general.

CSC Shootout – VIDEO QUALITY TEST – Sony NEX-3N, Olympus Pen E-PM2, Nikon S1 and Panasonic GF6

Here we video quality, outdoors and indoors, between the four current budget CSCs. Click through to YouTube and view at 1080p for 1:1 pixel comparisons

CONCLUSION

High quality photos and videos are clearly welcome, but these are areas where all the entry-level CSCs do well. The battle for supremacy lies elsewhere, and the S1’s weaknesses weigh more heavily in our minds than its strengths. People who appreciate its fast continuous performance are likely to be frustrated by its inaccessible controls, slow shot-to-shot times in normal use and short battery life. The small and light lenses are appealing, but Panasonic has made great strides here too with its recent 14-42mm and 45-150mm lenses, which weigh 110g and 200g respectively. While the S1 appeals as a small, fast camera for wildlife and sports photography, it’s a shame that the longest available (equivalent) focal length is currently 297mm. The Panasonic 100-300mm (200-600mm equivalent) lens delivers more than double the magnification.

Ultimately, though, potential buyers are unlikely to be too concerned about lens upgrades. This is a point-and-shoot camera, and it delivers on its promise of premium image and video quality in a straightforward, pocket-friendly package. We’re much more tempted by the Panasonic GF6, which appeals to both point-and-shoot and advanced users (and has the potential to convert people from the former camp to the latter). However, if size and weight are top priorities, the S1 is a solid choice.