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I stumbled across the Nikon 1 V1 in my web travels, and it sounds as though it's completely different from Nikon's DSLR cameras.

The Nikon website explains some of its specifications but what technical feature is in it that means that it can take shots so quickly (apparently up to 60 fps) and have "the world's fastest autofocus", according to their website?

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  1. The Nikon 1 series (including V1 onwards) are not DSLRs. They do not have a reflex mirror.
  2. The 1 series has a smaller sensor with 2.7X crop compared to full-frame.
  3. The previous two points make it much smaller than a DSLR, particularly when including lenses.
  4. It does not have an optical viewfinder, instead it uses an EVF with 1.4 megapixels. This gives it a larger and brighter view than most cropped-sensor DSLRs (D3100, D5100, etc) but smaller than a full-frame (D3X, D3S). Like professional models, it gives 100% coverage.
  5. The V1 uses both an electronic shutter and a mechanical one. Since it has no mirror to move either, it can shoot continuously without any moving parts. As you noted it can do so at up to 60 FPS but also does 30 FPS and 10 FPS with continuous AF.
  6. The electronic shutter allows a maximum shutter-speed of 1/16000s, twice as fast as the best DSLRs on the market. It is also completely silent.
  7. It uses a different lens mount called Nikon 1 mount with 4 lenses available at launch and 13 available by the end of 2014. To use Nikkor F-mount lenses an FT1 adapter was introduced in 2011.
  8. It can use fast phase-detect autofocus while recording video. No DSLR can do that which is one reason AF for video is quite disturbing (contrast-detect forces the lens to move back and forth to determine focus).
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  • \$\begingroup\$ The feature set is impressive, except for the sensor size. However, with a resolution of "only" 10.1MP, the smaller sensor size may not be as limiting as you might expect. What do you think the image quality (and high ISO performance) will be like in comparison to something in the same price range (ie. D7000)? \$\endgroup\$
    – seanmc
    Commented Oct 29, 2011 at 3:52
  • \$\begingroup\$ I guess the other "limiting" factor might be the range of available lenses. I don't see a 70-200mm F2.8 equivalent, for instance, which I would deem necessary for sports photography. \$\endgroup\$
    – seanmc
    Commented Oct 29, 2011 at 3:54
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    \$\begingroup\$ @seanmc Remember that this is a 2.7x crop factor, so the 70-200mm equivalent for the 1 series would be a 25-75mm lens. Currently there's a 10-100mm and also a 30-110mm. \$\endgroup\$
    – Nick Bedford
    Commented Nov 10, 2011 at 22:55
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    \$\begingroup\$ @NickBedford, yes I am aware of the 10-100mm lens, but it is only F3.5-F5.6, not F2.8 which is what you'd want for sports. \$\endgroup\$
    – seanmc
    Commented Nov 11, 2011 at 3:39
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    \$\begingroup\$ With the adapter, you'll have access to lenses that come out to 540mm at 2.8 (70-200 2.8 + 2.7 crop factor)! For some wildlife photography, this could be a great tool not currently available. Wide angle is the limiting issue - even the 10mm dx on the adapter becomes a 27mm, but it's tiny sensor also gives amazing depth of field if you want everything in focus - useful for landscapes. \$\endgroup\$
    – camflan
    Commented Oct 20, 2012 at 17:25
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The V1 does not have a mechanical shutter, sensor is turned on and off electronically. Also, focus is locked on first frame, no auto focusing takes place between frames during hi-speed burst. This combined with a large and fast internal memory buffer enables the quick frame rate.

Fast autofocus is achieved thanks to using phase detection auto focus (a fast method) combined with contrast detection (a precise, but slower method that would require some back-and forth movement and image analysis to detect if and which way the focus is off). The phase detection combined with lightweight lens with big depth of field (thanks to small sensor) makes focusing much quicker.

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