Nikon Mirror-less System

I was so excited when I awoke to news of a Nikon mirrorless system.  I thought to myself "wow finally Nikon has entered the micro four thirds market."  Then I started reading about their new V1 and J1, the first two in what Nikon is calling the "Nikon 1 System."  The specs sounded average at best.  10.1 megapixel sensor and an iso range of 100-3200.  Most of the press release talked about their fancy new shooting modes, which sound fine and dandy but I doubt are things that I will use on a day to day basis.  Video sounded the same as anything else out now; 1080 30p and 1080 60i.  It will record for 29 minutes though, which is pretty nice compared to the 10 minute limit on my D3100.

Then I saw it.  Nikon threw a rapid left right combo that just blew my teeth out of my head.  They called it the CX format sensor that is 13.2mm x 8.8mm.  Significantly smaller than their entry level DSLR's or the micro four thirds standard.  Engadget's post has a picture that shows the J1 next to a Sony NEX-C3.  I was pretty surprised just how much smaller it really is.  The same picture also sends blow number two home.  The skull crusher if you will.  Its mount is not micro four thirds compatible.  It looks a lot like it, but is much smaller.  If you are thinking that you might be able to slap on one of your other chunks of Nikon glass (which have remained mostly compatible throughout the years)  just drop that idea.  The new mount is totally new.

Speaking of the new lenses, this what what Nikon is releasing with the new cameras:

Kit lens – 1 NIKKOR VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 lens (kit lens)
Pancake lens - 1 NIKKOR 10mm f/2.8 lens ($249.95)
Zoom lens - 1 NIKKOR VR 30-110mm f/3.8-5.6 lens ($249.95)
Nikon's first power zoom (ideal for recording movies) – 1 NIKKOR VR 10-100mm f/4.5-5.6 ($749.95) 
Suggested retail price is $649.95 for the J1 lens kit, and $899.95 for the V1 lens kit.


Its like Nikon saw the success of the micro four thirds market and said "damn we need to get a piece of that."  Although instead of just making awesome cameras and glass that work with everything else, they made their own version of micro four thirds.  Except they made it shitty.  They took an average point and shoot and turned it into an expensive poorly performing camera with interchangeable lenses.  Lenses that don't interchange with anything else.

The only good thing that I saw about this was their new GUI.  It looks much better than what they are using now.

I don't know who this would appeal to.  Its more expensive than entry level DSLR's and high end point and shoots.  Its priced about the same as a micro four thirds kit, but you can find some pretty good deals these days.  Nikon's own test shots looked super grainy.  Let me say that again.  Nikon's own fucking test shots look like bags of grain.  The video they released all looks washed out.

I was so excited when I first heard about this.  Now I'm just really disappointed.

Fuck.

-Sean