A Deep Dive into a (almost) Forgotten System
When Nikon launched the Nikon 1 series in 2011, it marked a daring step into the world of mirrorless cameras. The mirrorless trend was gaining serious traction, and Nikon—an icon in the DSLR world—chose to carve its own niche with a completely new system, not merely adapting DSLR tech to a smaller format.
But by 2018, the Nikon 1 series was quietly discontinued. What happened in between is a story of innovation, unique engineering, but also missteps, and lessons that likely shaped Nikon’s later success in the mirrorless space with the Z-series.
In this article, we walk through the entire Nikon 1 journey, exploring each major model, their innovations, limitations, and legacy.
A Quick Overview: What Was the Nikon 1 System?
The Nikon 1 system introduced a new lens mount (the Nikon 1 mount) and a new sensor format called CX format, with a 1-inch sensor (2.7x crop factor). It was positioned between compact point-and-shoots and larger mirrorless/DSLR cameras—designed for speed, portability, and simplicity.
The main selling points of this system were:
- Lightning-fast autofocus (hybrid phase and contrast detect)
- High burst shooting (up to 60fps)
- Minimal shutter lag and start-up times
- Compact, stylish bodies (for the most part)
But it also came with trade-offs:
- A much smaller sensor than Micro Four Thirds or APS-C
- High prices for both cameras and lenses
- A UI that often alienated enthusiasts and professionals
Nikon 1 V1 — An Experimental Launch?
The V1 was one of the two original Nikon 1 models. Unlike the J1, the V1 included an electronic viewfinder (EVF) and more advanced features.
Highlights:
- 10.1MP CX sensor
- Hybrid autofocus system (a first in mirrorless)
- Magnesium alloy build, minimalist design
- EVF and accessory port
- No mode dial (controversial at launch)
Reception:
At launch, the V1 was met with confusion. Reviewers praised its autofocus speed and build quality but criticized the lack of manual controls and the high price compared to more capable APS-C competitors like the Sony NEX or Panasonic GF series. The odd choices available on the mode dial counteracted the cameras approach to more advanced photographers.
Retrospective View:
Today, the V1 is seen as an important, if awkward, first step. It was innovative but didn’t quite find its audience.
Nikon 1 V2 — A Radical Redesign
Learning from feedback, Nikon overhauled the design and features with the V2.
Highlights:
- 14.2MP sensor with better low-light performance
- Integrated mode dial and hand grip
- More DSLR-like form factor
- Continued fast autofocus and burst shooting
Reception:
With the V2 it felt like Nikon was listening. It addressed ergonomic complaints and added more tactile controls. Still, the small sensor and premium price tag kept it niche.
Retrospective View:
It’s seen as a course correction—a more serious attempt to appeal to enthusiasts without sacrificing the speed and portability goals of the system. But the design never won any design prices. It’s a bit of a block, and though it’s for a reason (holding a very good viewfinder) the sharp edged design didn’t appeal to many.
Nikon 1 V3 — Peak Performance, Premium Price
The V3 pushed specs to the limit, with 20fps burst with continuous AF, a tilting LCD, and Wi-Fi, but it came at a cost.
Highlights:
- 18.4MP sensor with no low-pass filter
- 20 fps with AF and 60 fps without
- Detachable EVF and grip (sold separately)
- Excellent video and burst performance
- Very fast startup and AF
Reception:
It was a technical marvel, but the high price—especially with required add-ons—made it a hard sell. Enthusiasts were already migrating to APS-C mirrorless systems with larger sensors and better lens ecosystems.
Retrospective View:
The V3 is remembered as a powerhouse trapped in the wrong ecosystem. If it had an APS-C sensor, it might’ve changed the game.
Nikon 1 AW1 — Waterproof Innovation
A rare outlier in the mirrorless world, the AW1 was fully waterproof and shockproof, with dedicated waterproof lenses. It was launched alongside the V2 with the same sensor but lacking the mechanical shutter and the viewfinder. But it did have a load of other unique features.
Highlights:
- 15m waterproof, 2m shockproof
- 14.2MP sensor- Built-in GPS, altimeter, depth gauge
- Unique underwater shooting modes
Reception:
Photographers and adventurers loved it – a mirrorless you could take snorkeling without a housing! And you could take it out in any kind of weather, and not worry the slightest bit about damaging your camera. However, it remained a niche product due to limited lens choices and lack of broad marketing.
Retrospective View:
The AW1 is still beloved today by underwater shooters and collectors. It remains one of the most unique mirrorless cameras ever made.
Nikon 1 J5 — The Stylish Finale
The J5 was the last model in the Nikon 1 series and arguably the best. It featured a retro-inspired design, tilting screen, and modern connectivity, but lacked a viewfinder (as that was reserved for the V line of cameras).
Highlights:
- 20.8MP sensor
- 4K video (though limited to 15fps)
- Fully tilting touchscreen for vlogging
- Fast AF and burst modes
Reception:
The J5 hit a sweet spot for casual shooters and vloggers but was held back by sensor size and video limitations as everyone seemed to be switching to 4K (truth is that most vloggers even today mostly record in full HD). Still, it was one of the best compact cameras of its time.
Retrospective View:
Appearing too late and seen as too little, the J5 showed Nikon had learned how to polish the concept—but the market had moved and were crawing low light performance to a degree, that the small 1″ sensor couldn’t provide given the sensor technology of the day.
Why Did the Nikon 1 Series Fail?
1. Small Sensor Format: The CX sensor never quite delivered the image quality enthusiasts wanted, especially in low light. Later on 1″ sensors have gained from technology like back-side illuminated photosites to a degree, that the sensor size isn’t the only important factor.
2. High Prices: Nikon priced the 1-series close to APS-C competitors, and that compared to the image quality from the larger sensor, given the sensor technology of the day, made buyers look elsewhere.
3. Confused Target Audience: Too advanced for point-and-shoot users, too limited for pros. The less advanced S models were too difficult for beginners and less advanced users, and all changes had to take place inside menus, making it too cumbersome. The more advanced V series had some features, that were liked by pros, like the extremely fast burst rate, and super fast autofocus, but their features were also to a large part hidden in the menus, something that is disliked by the pros, who want direct button access to the most used functions. The V3 were close to hitting that point especially with the accessory viewfinder and grip with extra buttons and dials.
4. Lens Ecosystem: The system lacked fast primes and compelling zooms.
A total of 13 lenses were produced by Nikon for the Nikon 1 system. On top of that a few manufacturers made third party lenses for this system, but it was a meager selection, and it didn’t include really fast primes and high quality zooms. Anyway, there were some really interesting lenses in between. Especially for wildlife shooters the CX 70-300mm zoom offered a crazy 189–810mm full frame equivalent. Pair that with the blazing fast autofocus and burst speed of the V3 and you would have a really compelling combo.
Another point to make is, that you could adapt both Nikon DX and FX lenses to the CX lens mount. You would of course miss the point of this system, small size and weight, but you could get lenses, that provided what you needed, though not in the wide angle range considering the 2.7 crop factor.
5. Mirrorless Market Explosion: Sony, Fuji, and Olympus offered larger sensors and broader appeal.
The market was at the end of the Nikon 1 system life filled with offerings from a load of manufacturers, that all used larger sensors from micro four thirds, via APS-C to full frame. As the price of these alternatives were at level with the Nikon 1 system, and often even below, the Nikon 1 cameras struggled in the market, and were soon after the J5 ditched totally by Nikon.
What Did Nikon Learn?
Though the Nikon 1 series failed commercially, it laid the technical foundation for the Nikon Z system which appeared not long after the Nikon 1 series was buried. Nikon had been gaining knowledge, and had been developing the Nikon Z system while they were still at it with the Nikon 1.
Some important innovations was carried over:
- Z-series AF systems borrow from Nikon 1’s hybrid AF innovations.
- Fast burst speeds and minimal lag became part of Nikon’s performance identity.
- Nikon learned to listen to enthusiast needs—something clearly visible in the design and success of cameras like the Zfc and Z8.
Final Thoughts
I think we can conclude the Nikon 1 series wasn’t a mistake – it was a necessary experiment. In trying something bold, Nikon learned critical lessons about mirrorless technology, user experience, and product positioning.
If you stumble across a Nikon 1 camera today, especially a V3, AW1, and the J5, you’ll find a system that was ahead of its time – just not quite in the right place.
Still today I would consider taking my Nikon 1 V3 climbing and mountaineering. It’s a very small camera, the lenses are fast focusing, the ISO performance is at least OK, and if I need fast burst rate, I’ll have something that matches that of some of the most professional cameras today in 2025. And the AW1 is a camera I dare to use in any kind of atrocious weather, it’s unbeatable in this respect. No other mirrorless camera competes even today. And the only two things I miss in the J5 is 4K video at 25-30 fps (though I usually only shoot full HD), and an add-on viewfinder for the bright conditions I often shoot in. A microphone input for vlogging would also be nice, but I can use external audio recording, if audio is the most important thing.