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Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1 Comparison

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Nikon 1 S2

14 MP | 1″ (13.1 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon 1 S2
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Nikon 1 S1

10 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon 1 S1
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Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the Nikon 1 S2 with its predecessor, the Nikon 1 S1, list out what is new, its advantages over its older sibling and finally try to conclude if the 1 S2 is a worthy upgrade to the 1 S1. Nikon 1 S2 was introduced to the market in May 2014 and Nikon 1 S1 was launched in June 2013 so it will be interesting to see how much difference this 11 months between the two cameras make.

1 S2 and 1 S1 are members of Nikon's S series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Nikon S Series History
Model Release Date Sensor Dimensions Weight
Nikon 1 S2
2014 14.2MP - 1' 101 x 61 x 29mm 190g
Nikon 1 S1
2013 10.0MP - 1-inch 102 x 61 x 30mm 197g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon 1 S2 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-05-21
  • 14MP - 1' CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 60.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 1200fps High-Speed Video
  • 190g. 101 x 61 x 29 mm
  • Replaced Nikon 1 S1 Compare

Nikon 1 S1 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-06-21
  • 10MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 15.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 197g. 102 x 61 x 30 mm

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon 1 S2 over Nikon 1 S1
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 10 MP 39% more pixels
Number of Focus Points
171 vs 135 36 more focus points
Continuous Shooting
60.0fps vs 15.0fps 45 fps faster
Battery Life
270 shots vs 220 shots 50 more frames with a single charge
Weight
190 g vs 197 g 7 g lighter
CHECK 1 S2 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon 1 S1 over Nikon 1 S2
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
CHECK 1 S1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
Max Continuous Shooting
60.0fps vs 15.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1
In-body Image Stabilization
No vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
LCD Screen Resolution
460k dots vs 460k dots Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
New4
Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon 1 S2 has external dimensions of 101 x 61 x 29 mm (3.98 x 2.4 x 1.14″) and weighs 190 g (including batteries). Nikon 1 S1 has external dimensions of 102 x 61 x 30 mm (4.02 x 2.4 x 1.18″) and weighs 197 g (0.43 lb / 6.95 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon 1 S2 and the Nikon 1 S1. Nikon 1 S2 is 1mm narrower and 1mm thinner than Nikon 1 S2 but they have the same height of 61mm.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon 1 S2 and the Nikon 1 S1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Nikon 1 S2 and the Nikon 1 S1 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1.
Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon 1 S2 and the the Nikon 1 S1 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon 1 S2 is 7g lighter than the Nikon 1 S1 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 have the same Nikon 1 lens mount and 1 inch Sensor sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

1 S2
1 S1
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

1 S2
1 S1
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon 1 S2 nor Nikon 1 S1 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1: Sensor Comparison

Nikon 1 S2 has a 14.2MP 1' (13.1 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 4A processor. On the other hand, Nikon 1 S1 has a 10.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Nikon 1 S2's sensor provides 4.2MP more than Nikon 1 S1's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the 1 S2 and 1 S1 sensor size comparison.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 Cameras


Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1 Comparison of Available Lenses
Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 have the same Nikon 1 lens mount and currently there are 13 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 7 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon 1 mount.

Lens Type # of Nikon 1 S2 Lenses # of Nikon 1 S1 Lenses
Standard Zoom 4 4
Standard Prime 2 2
Wideangle Zoom 1 1
Wideangle Prime 2 2
Telephoto Zoom 2 2
Telephoto Prime n/a n/a
SuperZoom 2 2
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a n/a
Macro Prime n/a n/a
Perspective Control Prime n/a n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 13 13

Here are some of the most popular Nikon 1 Mount Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for the 1 S2 and the 1 S1
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6
1" 560gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f3.8-5.6 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f3.8-5.6
1" 180gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f3.5-5.6 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f3.5-5.6
1" 115gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 32mm f1.2 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor 32mm f1.2
1" 235gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.8 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.8
1" 77gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 6.7-13mm f3.5-5.6 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 6.7-13mm f3.5-5.6
1" 125gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6
1" 298gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.8 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.8
1" 70gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon 1 S2 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 S1 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Average sized 1″ (13.1 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.2MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon 1 S2 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 S1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Average sized 1″ (13.1 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Street Photography
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon 1 S2 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon 1 S1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE
Fast Continuous Shooting: 60.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
73 Cross Type Focus sensors
171 Focus Points
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Fast Continuous Shooting: 15.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
135 Focus Points
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Read the details

Nikon 1 S2 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 S1 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
190g
Average sized 1″ (13.1 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details
197g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details

Nikon 1 S2 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 S1 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.1 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.2MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon 1 S2 vs Nikon 1 S1: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon 1 S2 and Nikon 1 S1 scores compare:

Nikon 1 S2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #104 out of 137 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #451 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Nikon 1 S1
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #114 out of 137 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #486 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Nikon 1 S2 has a higher Overall Score but this doesn't make it an easy decision. Nikon 1 S2 may have better image quality, more features and smaller body compared to but Nikon 1 S1 offers higher value for the money.

If you are a price conscious buyer and don't need the extra features, image quality and compactness that Nikon 1 S2 offers, Nikon 1 S1 is the better choice for you.
In all other cases, we recommend the Nikon 1 S2!

Nikon 1 S2
Nikon 1 S2
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Nikon 1 S1
Nikon 1 S1
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Nikon 1 S1 vs Nikon 1 S2 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon 1 S2 Nikon 1 S1
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2014-05-21 2013-06-21
Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size 1' 1-inch
Dimensions 13.1 x 8.8 mm 13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area 115.28mm2 116.16mm2
Megapixels 14.2 megapixels 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 4592 x 3072 3872 x 2592
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 200 ISO 100 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 171 135
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon 1 Nikon 1
Number of Available Lenses 13 13
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 460k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/16000s 1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range n/a 5.00 m
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/60s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 60.0 fps 15.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Optional Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 190g 197g
Dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm 102 x 61 x 30mm
Battery Life 270 shots 220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 56
DxO Color Depth not tested 21.4
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.1
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 397
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