Nikon 1 V2 vs V3

The Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon 1 V3 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in October 2012 and March 2014. Both the V2 and the V3 are mirrorless interchangeable lens cameras that are equipped with an one-inch sensor. The V2 has a resolution of 14.2 megapixels, whereas the V3 provides 18.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon 1 V2		Nikon 1 V3
Mirrorless system camera		Mirrorless system camera
Nikon 1 mount lenses		Nikon 1 mount lenses
14.2 MP – 1" sensor		18.2 MP – 1" sensor
1080/60p Video		1080/60p Video
ISO 160-12,800		ISO 160-12,800
Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)		Viewfinder optional
3.0" LCD – 921k dots		3.0" LCD – 1037k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Tilting touchscreen
15 shutter flaps per second		60 shutter flaps per second
310 shots per battery charge		310 shots per battery charge
109 x 82 x 46 mm, 278 g		111 x 65 x 33 mm, 381 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon 1 V3? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon 1 V3 is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The V2 can be obtained in two different colors (black, white), while the V3 is only available in black.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon 1 V3 is notably smaller (19 percent) than the Nikon 1 V2. However, the V3 is substantially heavier (37 percent) than the V2. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the V2 nor the V3 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The table below summarizes the key physical specs of the two cameras alongside a broader set of comparators. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon 1 V2	109 mm	82 mm	46 mm	278 g	310	n	Oct 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 V3	111 mm	65 mm	33 mm	381 g	310	n	Mar 2014	EUR 749	ebay.com
3.		Canon G1 X	117 mm	81 mm	65 mm	534 g	250	n	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
4.		Canon G5 X	112 mm	76 mm	44 mm	353 g	210	n	Oct 2015	EUR 789	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-M1	117 mm	67 mm	39 mm	330 g	350	n	Jun 2013	EUR 679	ebay.com
6.		Nikon 1 J4	100 mm	60 mm	29 mm	232 g	300	n	Apr 2014	EUR 589	ebay.com
7.		Nikon 1 V1	113 mm	76 mm	44 mm	383 g	350	n	Sep 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
8.		Panasonic G3	115 mm	84 mm	47 mm	336 g	270	n	May 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
9.		Panasonic GF3	108 mm	67 mm	32 mm	264 g	300	n	Jun 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
10.		Panasonic GF5	108 mm	67 mm	37 mm	267 g	360	n	Apr 2012	EUR 449	ebay.com
11.		Panasonic GF6	111 mm	65 mm	38 mm	323 g	340	n	Apr 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic GX1	116 mm	68 mm	39 mm	318 g	320	n	Nov 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
13.		Ricoh GR	117 mm	61 mm	35 mm	245 g	290	n	Apr 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will tend to have larger individual pixels that provide better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixel-units in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Both cameras under consideration feature an one-inch sensor and have a format factor (sometimes also referred to as "crop factor") of 2.7. Within the spectrum of camera sensors, this places the review cameras among the medium-sized sensor cameras that aim to strike a balance between image quality and portability. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Technology-wise, the V3 uses a more advanced image processing engine (EXPEED 4) than the V2 (EXPEED 3), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

While the two cameras under review share the same sensor size, the V3 offers a higher resolution of 18.2 megapixels, compared with 14.2 MP of the V2. This megapixels advantage translates into a 14 percent gain in linear resolution. On the other hand, these sensor specs imply that the V3 has a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.52μm versus 2.86μm for the V2). However, it should be noted that the V3 is a somewhat more recent model (by 1 year and 4 months) than the V2, and its sensor might have benefitted from technological advances during this time that at least partly compensate for the smaller pixel size. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the V3 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon 1 V3 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the V3 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 26.2 x 17.4 inches or 66.4 x 44.3 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 20.9 x 14 inches or 53.2 x 35.4 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 17.4 x 11.6 inches or 44.3 x 29.5 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon 1 V2 are 23 x 15.4 inches or 58.5 x 39 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 12.3 inches or 46.8 x 31.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Nikon 1 V2 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800. The Nikon 1 V3 offers exactly the same ISO settings.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Since 2007, DXO Mark has published sensor performance measurements that have been derived using a consistent methodology. This service assesses and scores the color depth ("DXO Portrait"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports") of camera sensors, and also publishes an overall camera score. The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Nikon 1 V2	1-inch	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	20.2	10.8	403	50
2.		Nikon 1 V3	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	384	52
3.		Canon G1 X	1.5-inch	14.2	4352	3264	1080/24p	21.7	10.8	644	60
4.		Canon G5 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.4	12.3	471	62
5.		Fujifilm X-M1	APS-C	16.0	4896	3264	1080/30p	23.4	12.6	1371	76
6.		Nikon 1 J4	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	426	53
7.		Nikon 1 V1	1-inch	10.0	3872	2592	1080/60i	21.3	11.0	346	54
8.		Panasonic G3	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	21.0	10.6	667	56
9.		Panasonic GF3	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	20.6	10.1	459	50
10.		Panasonic GF5	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	1080/60i	20.5	10.0	573	50
11.		Panasonic GF6	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60i	20.7	10.6	622	54
12.		Panasonic GX1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	20.8	10.6	703	55
13.		Ricoh GR	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.6	13.5	972	78
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras are not only capable of taking still images, but can also record movies. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, and both provide the same movie specifications (1080/60p).

Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the V2 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), which can be very helpful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the V3 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. That said, the V3 can be equipped with an optional viewfinder – the DF-N1000. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon 1 V2 and Nikon 1 V3 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Nikon 1 V2	1440	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	15.0/s	Y	n
2.		Nikon 1 V3	optional	n	3.0 / 1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
3.		Canon G1 X	optical	n	3.0 / 922	swivel	n	1/4000s	1.9/s	Y	Y
4.		Canon G5 X	2360	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/2000s	5.9/s	Y	Y
5.		Fujifilm X-M1	none	n	3.0 / 920	tilting	n	1/4000s	5.6/s	Y	n
6.		Nikon 1 J4	none	n	3.0 / 1037	Fixed	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
7.		Nikon 1 V1	1440	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	n	n
8.		Panasonic G3	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	Y	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
9.		Panasonic GF3	none	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	3.2/s	Y	n
10.		Panasonic GF5	none	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
11.		Panasonic GF6	none	n	3.0 / 1040	tilting	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
12.		Panasonic GX1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
13.		Ricoh GR	optional	n	3.0 / 1230	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The V3 has a touchscreen, while the V2 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, both cameras under consideration feature an electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon 1 V3 both have an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The V2 writes its imaging data to SDXC cards, while the V3 uses micro SDXC cards. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon 1 V2 and Nikon 1 V3 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Nikon 1 V2	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon 1 V3	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
3.		Canon G1 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon G5 X	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
5.		Fujifilm X-M1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	Y
6.		Nikon 1 J4	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
7.		Nikon 1 V1	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
8.		Panasonic G3	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
9.		Panasonic GF3	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
10.		Panasonic GF5	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Panasonic GF6	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
12.		Panasonic GX1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Ricoh GR	Y	mono / mono	-	-	micro	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the V3 offers wifi support, which can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location. In contrast, the V2 does not provide wifi capability.

Both the V2 and the V3 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The V2 was replaced by the Nikon 1 V3, while the V3 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the features and operation of the V2 and V3 can be found, respectively, in the Nikon 1 V2 Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon 1 V3 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon 1 V3? Which camera is better? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

Advantages of the Nikon 1 V2:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Easier framing: Has an electronic viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 103g or 27 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More heavily discounted: Has been on the market for longer (launched in October 2012).

Reasons to prefer the Nikon 1 V3:

• More detail: Has more megapixels (18.2 vs 14.2MP), which boosts linear resolution by 14%.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (EXPEED 4 vs EXPEED 3).
• Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 921k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Has a touchscreen to facilitate handling and shooting adjustments.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (60 vs 15 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• More compact: Is smaller (111x65mm vs 109x82mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• More modern: Was introduced somewhat (1 year and 4 months) more recently.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the V3 is the clear winner of the contest (11 : 4 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon 1 V2 and the Nikon 1 V3 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listing whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the V2 and the V3 in practical situations. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price	Street Price
1.		Nikon 1 V2	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 V3	3/5	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2014	EUR 749	ebay.com
3.		Canon G1 X	5/5	+	..	76/100	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2012	EUR 749	ebay.com
4.		Canon G5 X	5/5	+ +	..	78/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	EUR 789	ebay.com
5.		Fujifilm X-M1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2013	EUR 679	ebay.com
6.		Nikon 1 J4	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Apr 2014	EUR 589	ebay.com
7.		Nikon 1 V1	..	+	..	69/100	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2011	EUR 699	ebay.com
8.		Panasonic G3	3/5	+ +	..	75/100	4.5/5	5/5	May 2011	EUR 579	ebay.com
9.		Panasonic GF3	3/5	82/100	..	71/100	4.5/5	4/5	Jun 2011	EUR 469	ebay.com
10.		Panasonic GF5	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2012	EUR 449	ebay.com
11.		Panasonic GF6	..	+ +	..	..	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 499	ebay.com
12.		Panasonic GX1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2011	EUR 599	ebay.com
13.		Ricoh GR	5/5	..	..	79/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2013	EUR 749	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparisons of ratings among very different cameras or across long time periods have little meaning. Also, kindly note that some of the listed sites have over time developped their review approaches and their reporting style.

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Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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