A good thing has happened in the world of cameras recently. The megapixel wars are all but dead. Instead, much of the focus in recent cameras has shifted to speed: Faster autofocus systems, and faster continuous-shooting speeds.
The combination of those two things - fast shot-to-shot times and the camera's ability to automatically adjust focus between each photo in a rapid-fire sequence - isn't just useful for the paparazzi and sports photographers. It can also come in handy for capturing that split second when your baby is actually smiling or your skittish dog is sitting in a perfect pose. You have a lot better chance of catching that perfect shot if you're taking dozens of them in a single second.
The Nikon 1 V3 is the new clubhouse leader when it comes to continuous-shooting speeds with (and without) autofocus enabled. The new mirrorless camera is able to fire off 20 shots per second while automatically adjusting focus from shot to shot, and that ramps up to 60 shots per second with focus fixed on the first frame.
Those high-speed antics should also translate well to the V3's super-slow-motion video mode. The camera shoots 720p video at up to 120fps in slow-motion mode, as well as 1080p video at 60fps.
The camera's AF system looks like it will offer plenty of coverage: 105 phase-detection points (which are the important ones when it comes to the autofocus system adjusting to fast-moving subjects approaching or moving away from the camera) and 171 contrast-detection AF points.
Like the other cameras in the Nikon 1 mirrorless series, the V3 is built around a smaller sensor than most interchangeable-lens cameras. But the 18-megapixel sensor should be a good one: It's the same 1-inch-type size found in Sony's RX series of premium compact cameras. The crop factor is certainly larger than most, as any 1 Nikkor lens mounted on the V3 will have a focal-length multiplier of 2.7x.
Other key features include built-in Wi-Fi with sidecar apps for iOS and Android, ISO equivalency of up to 12,800, and an adjustable 3-inch touchscreen around the back. It'll cost quite a bit more than any other Nikon 1 camera announced previously, including the everything-proof Nikon 1 AW1. Due in April, the Nikon 1 V3 will sell for $1,200 as a kit with a stabilized, electronic-zoom 10-30mm f/3.5-5.6 lens.
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