The Nikon 1 J1 was Nikon’s first Compact System Camera (CSC), introduced in 2011/2012. The new J3 has a new image sensor with higher resolution (14MP instead of 10MP) and some additional features. It is still a very compact camera and just about the smallest CSC system now available.

The ILC segment represents an interesting design challenge for camera manufacturers. They are a step-up from point-and-shoots, but a step-down of DSLR cameras – designing a camera to appeal to both types of users is a difficult task.

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  Light, compact stylish design, Great 3-inch 921k-Dot LCD, Fast autofocus

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  Average lens (10-30mm f/3.5-5.6), Lower quality images at higher ISO settings, Challenging ergonomics

The Nikon 1 J3 is a slick little camera with plenty of features and a couple of upgrades. It has a 14.1 MP CMOS sensor and hybrid AF.

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  Small size, attractive appearance, Reliably quick performer, Very good image and movie quality, Many interesting features as well as manual controls

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  Requires frequent access to the menu, Fair battery life, Fragile pop-up flash

The Nikon 1 J3 is a very fast and compact ILC, making it easy to carry and always ready to capture an image. While its performance outshines its image quality, it is definitely worth a look for $600. Read more in our Full Conclusion .

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  Auto shooting mode is accurate and easy, providing excellent quality and color, Dedicated Video Capture Button is always ready to record - in most shooting modes, Full-size stills can be captured while recording full 1080p video with no interruption, Excellent video quality, Extremely fast Hybrid AF...

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  Some noticeable noise in all images, Program mode images did not compare to Auto mode, Very weak pop-up flash, No hotshoe for external flash, No input for external audio

Small, yet fast, the Nikon 1 J3 mirrorless model offers big performance in a small package.

The Nikon 1 J3 is a compact SLD with a unique 14 megapixels sensor which provides ultra-fast Phase-Detect autofocus, continuous shooting up to 60 FPS and full 1080p HD video. The J3 packs this into an very compact and sturdy body which features a single control-dial.

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  Ultra-fast autofocus until very low light, Excellent metering, Realistic image colors, Good white-balance, Usable up to ISO 6400 for small prints, Instant shutter-lag, Virtually no blackout, Fast shot-to-shot speed, Quick and responsive, Sharp and crisp LCD with fast refresh rate, Ultra quiet, Very...

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  Above average image noise for a mirrorless, General image softness, Limited dynamic range, Limited lens selection, Not Exposure-Priority LCD, Very few direct controls, Short battery-life, ¾s video delay, AF and MF sounds get recorded during video, Wrong framing of video in image mode

Nikon's latest midrange mirrorless is a very, very short step up for point-and-shoot users.

The Nikon 1 J3 is flawed on several levels. It handles poorly, has limited features and takes deeply average photos. It’s rare for a camera to disappoint this much, but the Nikon 1 J3 is one to avoid.

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  Prompt AF system, Stylish design, Good build quality

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  Noise at high ISO settings, Poor image quality, Badly-designed controls, Way too expensive

Daniel Bell reviews the Nikon 1 J3 compact system camera which Nikon claims has the world's shortest release time lag and the world's fastest continuous shooting.

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  High speed shooting at 60fps, High resolution screen, Compact, stylish camera and lenses, Hybrid AF - Contrast and Phase Detection, Impressive image quality, Camera switches on when you unlock collapsible lenses, High speed video - 400/1200fps, Image resolution increased to 14.2 megapixels

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  Camera body doesn't have any rubber grip, 1200fps video quality isn't great, PSAM modes not easily selectable from mode dial, Shortish battery life

Just six months after the launch of the Nikon 1 J2, the J3 has arrived featuring a number of improvements. The J3 is no longer the entry-level model in the Nikon 1 compact system camera line-up, as this place has now been taken by the S1, which was announced at the same time as the J3 and which we...

My reason for purchasing this camera, was based somewhat on a suggesting of a photograph friend who uses a version of this camera. Its performance by itself is great, and in low light it shines.

I bought the J3 as an upgrade to the J1, my guess is that there are other people who are considering the same, so I'll start this review by listing the pros vs cons of J1 vs J3 and then I'll type up my conclusion.

What is there not to like about this camera

Look and Feel This camera is small in comparison with an SLR, and it's somewhere between an SLR and a point n' shoot as far as the capacity is concerned, that said, it is meant to be small and light, but it's chunky and not easy to carry around in your pocket like other cameras of it's type or size.

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  light, small, useful for small tasks

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  horrible battery life, bulky, difficult menus

I bought this camera as a gift for someone very dear to me. Her reaction continues to be overwhelmingly positive. This was the camera that won out over many "brain-picking" sessions that I had with professional photographer friends. Don't wait, BUY ONE!!

I love the color I chose! The camera is light and I love how the pictures look! I would definitely recommend this camera to anyone!

it's just a great camera, it works on every enviroment and every light, everday I love it more and more!

Cute, and easy to use. I have a Nikon digital SLR D3200, and I use the Nikon 1 J3 alot more. Dont get me wrong...the full DSLR 3200 is a better camera for the professional photographer, but for my every day needs, I use the Nikon 1 J3.

Here is how I came to buy the Nikon 1 J3: During a recent trip, I discovered that my new Moto X phone took amazing photos and my old digital SLR was just too big & heavy for most occasions.

it feels like i wasted my money on buying the j3. sure it has good features and everything but i could have gotten those features with a different camera at a cheaper price or with more features with the same price. they marked down the prices which makes me feel more of a sucker.