I'd buy a Nikon 1 S1 instead of a Kodak PixPro! Why Nikon's FIRST interchangeable lens mirrorless camera is a miniature gem

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The Nikon 1 S1 was part of a mirrorless camera system that didn’t stick around for long. But in a world where used cameras are going for big bucks, you can pick one up for less than a Kodak PixPro

Is the Nikon 1 S1 still one of the best pink cameras?
Pretty in pink: The Nikon 1 S1 was available in a range of colors (Image credit: James Artaius)

Ever heard of the Nikon 1 S1? It could be due a comeback. It’s often said that Nikon didn’t join the mirrorless party until the launch of the Nikon Z6 and Z7 back in 2018, but that’s not technically true. Nikon didn’t join the full-frame mirrorless party until then, but Z-mount wasn’t Nikon’s first mirrorless interchangeable-lens system. That accolade goes to the short-lived Nikon 1.

That’s right, the Nikon 1 system was a bit of a flash in the pan. It launched at the tail end of 2011 and in 2018 – suspiciously close to the Z6 / Z7 announcement – it was discontinued. During that timeframe, the Nikon 1 system spawned 13 official Nikon lenses and 11 cameras, including the Nikon 1 S1. And in a world where many of the small, trendy compacts of yesteryear are getting pretty pricey, you can still pick up many Nikon 1 cameras and indeed lenses for a comparatively fair price.

And while they’re not technically a true compact camera with a fixed lens, they’re so darned small that they fit the best compact camera ethos nicely. I guess a similar alternative would be the Pentax Q range, but the Nikon 1 S1 is almost as compact as a mirrorless camera can possibly be.

At the heart of the the Nikon 1 S1 is a tiny 1-inch sensor – which is still bigger than the one in most camera phones! (Image credit: James Artaius)

Sensor size does matter

Perhaps the biggest problem with the Nikon 1 S1, and the 1 system as a whole, was its extremely small 1-inch sensor. The fact is, by the time you start getting into interchangeable-lens cameras, you’re probably yearning for better image quality than a casual point-and-shoot camera. But the concept of the Nikon 1 system is fantastic. And you know what, I’ve seen plenty of photographers look back on this never-critically-acclaimed system extremely fondly.

Now, at the time of writing, I’ve seen the Nikon 1 S1 for sale in excellent condition over at MPB for just $77 / £66. That’s cheaper than a Kodak PixPro Z45 compact! Sure, the lenses tend to be pricer than many of the cameras, so that’ll probably send you over the PixPro budget. But you can pick up the Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 for $109 / £97 in excellent condition. That’s $186 / £163 for a camera and a lens! Plus, you can upgrade to more lenses at a later date.

And that's the thing with interchangeable lens cameras. They grow with you. If you decide you want to get into different types of photography or simply learn more about optics, they provide what a fixed lens simply cannot.

So, If you’re a street photographer, want to tentatively dip your toe into the world of interchangeable lens cameras, or are simply a collector, there might be life in the Nikon 1 S1 yet.

For scale, here's the Canon EOS R5 sitting next to the Nikon 1 S1 (Image credit: James Artaius)

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Mike Harris
Mike Harris
How To Editor

Mike is Digital Camera World's How To Editor. He has over a decade of experience, writing for some of the biggest specialist publications including Digital Camera, Digital Photographer and PhotoPlus: The Canon Magazine. Prior to DCW, Mike was Deputy Editor of N-Photo: The Nikon Magazine and Production Editor at Wex Photo Video, where he sharpened his skills in both the stills and videography spheres. While he's an avid motorsport photographer, his skills extend to every genre of photography – making him one of Digital Camera World's top tutors for techniques on cameras, lenses, tripods, filters and other imaging equipment – as well as sharing his expertise on shooting everything from portraits and landscapes to abstracts and architecture to wildlife and, yes, fast things going around race tracks...

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