Click on the linked camera names below to be taken to the review (unlinked items are in process of being reviewed).
The following are the current Nikon 1 cameras (lowest to highest):
- J1 — small, consumer-oriented compact-style body (first generation)
- V1 — enthusiast-oriented DSLR-style body (built-in EVF) (first generation)
- V2 — enthusiast-oriented DSLR-style body (built-in EVF) (second generation)
So What Would Thom Get?
For me the choice is simple: V2. While at first glance the feature lists seem remarkably the same, the V2 handles like a small DSLR, while the J1 (and J2 and J3) handles like a large compact. A small DSLR is useful, while a large compact is a bit of an oxymoron. The V2 has better user controls than the V1.