Editors' note, May 14, 2014: Nikon announced this product globally -- except in the US -- on April 3, 2014. We've updated this First Take with US pricing and availability; non-US pricing is still unknown.
The Nikon 1 J4, a modestly redesigned and updated version of the company's entry-level interchangeable-lens camera, debuted on April 3, 2014 in all markets except the US, along with a global rollout of the company's updated 18-300 f3.5-6.3 DX lens. As announced on May 14, the J4 will be available this month; the main single-lens kit will run $650 USD and a dual-lens kit option will be available for $850 USD.
The update to the DX AF-S Nikkor 18-300mm f3.5-6.3 G ED VR, an alternative general-pupose kit lens, is smaller (filter size dropped from 77mm to 67mm) and lighter by about 10 ounces (283.5 grams). It comes in cheaper than the older model at $799.95, but incorporates a 7-blade iris instead of 9-blade, doesn't upgrade to VR II, and doesn't bundle a case or lens hood.
The J4 features a slightly more angular design, along with a new (and presumably better) higher-resolution 18.4-megapixel sensor, and an upgrade to Nikon's Expeed 4A-generation of image processing for improved noise reduction. It also increases its continuous-shooting speed to 20fps, with autofocus, and gets an AF system update to the same version that's in the V3 . It also gains built-in Wi-Fi, a touch-screen display and On the downside, it now uses micro SD cards instead of the far-less-loseable full-size SD. It will come in black, white, silver, and orange, though not every color will be available everywhere; for instance, Singapore gets only the black or white.
Nikon will offer an underwater housing (WP-N3 Waterproof Case) and underwater flash (SB-N10 Underwater Speedlight) for the camera.
For comparison:
| Fujifilm X-A1 | Nikon 1 J3 | Nikon 1 J4 | Samsung NX3000 | |
| Sensor (effective resolution) | 16.3MP CMOS n/a | 14.2MP CMOS | 18.4MP CMOS | 20.3MP CMOS |
| Sensor size | 23.6 x 15.6mm | 13.2 x 8.8mm | 13.2 x 8.8mm | 23.5mm x 15.7mm |
| Focal- length multiplier | 1.5x | 2.7x | 2.7x | 1.5x |
| Sensitivity range | ISO 100 (exp)/ ISO 200 - ISO 6400/ ISO 25600 (exp) | ISO 160 - ISO 6400 | ISO 160 - ISO 6400/ ISO 12800 (exp) | ISO 100 - ISO 25600 |
| Continuous shooting | 5.6fps 30 JPEG | 15fps n/a (60fps with fixed AF) | 20fps n/a (60fps with fixed AF) | 5fps (30fps at reduced resolution) n/a |
| Viewfinder | None | None | None | None |
| Hot shoe | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Autofocus | 49-area Contrast AF | 73-point phase detection, 135-area contrast AF | 105-point phase detection, 171-area contrast AF | 21-area contrast AF |
| AF sensitivity range | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a |
| Shutter speed | 30 - 1/4000 sec.; bulb to 60 min; 1/180 x-sync | 1/3 - 1/16,000; bulb; 1/60 sec x-sync (electronic shutter) | n/a | 30-1/4000 sec.; bulb to 4 minutes; 1/180 x-sync |
| Metering | 256 zones | n/a | n/a | 221 segment |
| Metering range | n/a | n/a | n/a | 0 - 18 EV |
| Flash | Yes | Yes | Yes | Included optional |
| Wireless flash | n/a | No | n/a | n/a |
| IS | Optical | Optical | Optical | Optical |
| Best video | 1080/30p H.264 | 1080/30p, 720/60p H.264 MPEG-4 QuickTime MOV | 1080/60p H.264 MPEG-4 QuickTime MOV | 1080/30p/25p H.264 MPEG-4 |
| Audio | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo | Stereo |
| LCD size | 3-inch/ 7.5 cm tilting 920,000 dots | 3-inch/ 7.5 cm fixed 921,000 dots | 3-inch/ 7.5 cm fixed touch screen 1.04 million dots | 3-inch/7.5cm Tilting 460,000 dots |
| Wireless connection | Wi-Fi | With optional WU-1b Wireless Mobile Adapter | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, NFC |
| Battery life (CIPA rating) | 350 shots | 220 shots | n/a | 370 shots |
| Dimensions (WHD) | 116.9 x 66.5 x 39 mm 4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 in | 4.0 x 2.4 x 1.1 in 101 x 60.5 x 28.8 mm | 3.9 x 2.4 x 1.1 in 99.5 x 60 x 28.5 mm | 4.6 x 2.6 x 1.5 117.4 x 65.9 x 39.0 mm |
| Body operating weight | 11.6 oz (est) 330 g (est) | 9.7 oz (est) 201g (est) | 6.6 oz (est) 232 g (est) | 10 oz (est) 283 g (est) |
| Mfr. price (body only) | n/a | n/a | n/a £430 n/a | n/a |
| Primary kit | $600 USD £400 $600 (est) AUD (with 16-50mm lens) | $400 USD n/a $700 AUD (with 10-30mm lens) | $650 USD £500 n/a (with 10-30mm PD lens) | $530 USD tbd tbd (with 16-50mm PZ lens) |
| Alternate kit | n/a | $650 USD n/a n/a (with 10 - 30mm and 30 - 110mm lenses) | $850 USD n/a n/a (with 10-30mm and 30 - 110mm lenses) | n/a |
| Ship date | September 2013 | February 2013 | May 2014 | June 2014 |
