Nikon Mirrorless J1 Digital Camera Review

Noise Reduction

The J1 offers one level of optional noise reduction, which had a marked effect on shots taken at ISO 400 and above. The average improvement across all ISO levels was about 32%. That's great news if you don't mind a little noise reduction, but if you prefer to shoot without it, you'll be disappointed in the J1's average noise percentage of 1.75%.

We did find that the J1, with NR off, preserved fine detail through ISO 3200 without images being too overpowered by noise, as you can see in the 100% crops below. Some of the comparison models here merely offer an "auto" or "weak" noise reduction setting, with no off option, that results in detail being smudged away with noise. More on how we test noise.

ISO Options

The J1 has a standard set of ISO options available, ranging from ISO 100 to ISO 3200, plus a Hi ISO option that is roughly the equivalent of ISO 6400. (All of these options are available at full resolution.) If you prefer to leave ISO selection automated, an auto ISO sensitivity control lets you limit the auto range to max out at 400, 800, or 3200.