The Nikon 1 J1 may be an entry-level model but there is more to it than just good looks.
The camera has rounded contours and is roughly about the same size as other MILCs (mirroless interchangeable-lens cameras) such as the Panasonic GF3 and Olympus Pen E-PM1. It comes in five distinct colours: white, grey, black, red and white.
A portable camera that still offers the option to switch lenses is always welcome. And if you couple the J1 with a 10mm pancake lens, it will easily fit inside your pocket.
The J1 is also more compact than its higher-end sibling, the V1. Part of the reason why the J1 is so small is because it lacks the V1's electronic viewfinder. This trade off comes at a price - the J1 isn't great for shooting outdoors on a bright sunny day.
Also, the J1's 3in screen which is the same size as the V1 has a lower resolution but works just as fine.
Due to its size, the camera also has a smaller battery but that didn't stop it from serving us a whole day of photo shooting and video recording.
A built-in flash is also present so you aren't left in the dark when you need to snap pictures in low light conditions.