Navigate Review Jump to review page...

Nikon J1 Modes and Menus

Nikon J1 Capture Mode

When powered on, the camera is automatically placed into Record mode. The main shooting mode is selected using the Mode dial on the J1's rear panel. The Mode dial offers the following options:

Motion Snapshot. Captures both a 16:9 aspect, 8.3 megapixel still, and a one-second 1,920 x 1,080 pixel video clip, slowed down to play back over a 2.5 second duration. In-camera, the movie is played back with accompanying music, followed by the still image. On a computer, the still and slow-motion video are separate files, and the video has no audio. PASM and Scene Auto Selector modes are available through the menu.
Smart Photo Selector. Akin to the Best Shot Selector of days gone by, coupled with the Smart Auto function from competitors. The Nikon J1 selects one of five scene modes automatically, and most functions are controlled by the camera. Continuously buffers while the shutter button is half-pressed, then examines the results of the most recent twenty frames, eliminating all but five images based on composition, blur, and whether your subjects blinked. The five remaining exposures are saved, and grouped together in playback mode, where you can manually select your favorite and delete the others.
Still Image. The standard shooting mode. Through the shooting menu, you can opt for Scene Auto Selector, Program, Shutter- or Aperture-priority, and fully Manual exposure, and except in Scene Auto mode, all camera options are available to the user. Flexible Program (aka Program Shift) is available, rather confusingly controlled with the Playback Zoom / Thumbnail rocker.
Movie. The standard movie mode. Through the shooting menu, you can opt for Scene Auto Selector, Program, Shutter- or Aperture-priority, and fully Manual exposure, and except in Scene Auto mode, all camera options are available to the user. Flexible Program is not available for movie shooting.

 

Movie Record Button: Pressing the dedicated movie record button on the camera's top panel will start and stop movie recording -- but only if the J1 is in Movie mode. In all other Record modes, this button has no function. When in Playback mode or a menu, pressing this button will return the camera to Record mode, but it won't immediately start movie recording. Movies can be recorded using the same exposure modes and most of the same options as in Still Image mode, although for Slow-Motion movies, some options such as Metering mode, AF-area mode and Scene Auto mode are disabled.

 

Playback Mode: The Playback button on the rear panel accesses the J1's Playback mode. The left and right arrow keys scroll forward and backward one image or movie at a time, and turning the Multi Selector dial has the same effect. The Display button cycles through the various display modes -- image only, image plus basic information, and luminance histogram with detailed information. By pushing the Playback Zoom / Thumbnail rocker upwards, you can enlarge captured still images (although Nikon doesn't specify the maximum zoom level), while the arrow keys pan around the zoomed image. If the J1 detects faces in a particular image, rotating the Multi Selector dial will jump between the locations of up to five faces, while retaining the current zoom level. Flicking the rocker downwards first zooms back out to the full image view, before switching to a 4, 9, or 72-image thumbnail view, and finally a calendar display. The arrow keys and OK button are also used to play, pause, and cue through movie files, and to step through one frame at a time when paused.

 

Nikon J1 Menus

Pressing the Menu button provides access to the camera's full menu system. Three tabs are listed in a column at screen left, which expands slightly when selected. The Playback and Setup menus are available regardless of mode, while the Shooting menu options change greatly depending on the current Mode dial selection. (For the Motion Snapshot and Smart Photo Selector modes, the Shooting menu is a significantly-abbreviated version of that shown in Still Image mode. In Movie mode, there are four additional options not found in the other modes.) In addition, some options only become available depending on the Exposure mode, or the status of other options, and are greyed out when unavailable. In full, the list of menu options in the Nikon J1 is as follows:

 

Playback Menu 1:

Playback Menu 1 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
Delete
- Delete selected images
Thumbnail selection screen
- Select images by date
Date selection screen
- Delete all images
All images will be deleted. OK?

- Yes
- No

- Discard
All images selected for discard will be deleted. OK?

- Yes
- No

Slide Show
- All images
- Still images
- Movies
- Motion snapshot
- Start
- Frame interval
- Movie playback time
- Audio
- Select images by date
Calendar selection screen
- Selected scene
- Auto
- Portrait
- Landscape
- Night portrait
- Close up
- By rating
- *****
- ****
- ***
- **
- *
- Face priority
- Start
- Frame interval
- Movie playback time
- Audio
Rotate Tall
- On
- Off
 
DPOF Print Order
- Select/set
- Reset
Thumbnail selection screen

Remove all images from print order?

- Yes
- No

Protect
- Select/set
- Reset
Thumbnail selection screen

Remove protection from all images?

- Yes
- No

Rating
 Thumbnail selection screen
 
Images are rated on thumbnail screen by using up / down arrows to add / remove stars. Larger preview can be seen by holding Playback Zoom / Thumbnail rocker up, but images can't be seen full-screen or zoomed while rating.

 

Playback Menu 2:

Playback Menu 2 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
D-Lighting
Thumbnail selection screen
- High
- Normal
- Low
Larger preview can be seen by holding Playback Zoom / Thumbnail rocker up, but images can't be seen full-screen or zoomed while selecting or previewing the effect.
Resize
- Select images
Thumbnail selection screen
- Choose size
- 1.1 M
- 0.6 M
- 0.3 M
Crop
Thumbnail selection screen
 
Multi Selector dial chooses aspect ratio (3:2, 16:9, 1:1, 4:3), Playback Zoom / Thumbnail rocker chooses crop area in six steps.
Edit movie
- Choose start point
- Choose end point
Thumbnail selection screen

 

Motion Snapshot Shooting Menu 1:

Motion Snapshot Shooting Menu 1 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
Reset Shooting Options
- Yes
- No
Exposure Mode
- Scene auto selector
- Programmed auto
- Shutter-priority auto
- Aperture-priority auto
- Manual
Metering
- Matrix
- Center-weighted
- Spot
White Balance
- Auto
- Incandescent
- Fluorescent
- Direct sunlight
- Flash
- Cloudy
- Shade
- Preset manual
White balance adjustment screen

- B6 to A6
- G6 to M6
ISO Sensitivity
- A3200 Auto (100 - 3,200)
- A800 Auto (100 - 800)
- A400 Auto (100 - 400)
- 100
- 200
- 400
- 800
- 1,600
- 3,200
- Hi 1 (6,400)
Picture Control
- SD Standard
- NL Neutral
- VI Vivid
- MC Monochrome
- PT Portrait
- LS Landscape
- Quick adjust
- Sharpening
- Contrast
- Brightness
- Saturation
- Hue
- Filter effects
- Toning
Quick adjust, saturation, and hue apply only to color images. Filter effects and toning are applicable only for monochrome images.

 

Motion Snapshot Shooting Menu 2:

Motion Snapshot Shooting Menu 2 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
Custom Picture Control
- Edit / save
- Delete
Picture control selection screen
- Load from / save to card
- Copy to camera
- Delete from card
- Copy to card
Vibration Reduction
- Normal
- Active
- Off
Only shown if a VR-capable lens is mounted.
High ISO Noise Reduction
- On
- Off
AF-area Mode
- Auto-area
- Single-point
- Subject tracking
Face Priority AF
- On
- Off
Built-in AF Assist
- On
- Off

 

Smart Photo Selector Shooting Menu 1:

Smart Photo Selector Shooting Menu 1 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Notes
Reset Shooting Options
- Yes
- No
Image Quality
- NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine
- NEF (RAW)
- JPEG fine
- JPEG normal
- JPEG basic
Image Size
- L (3,872 x 2,592)
- M (2,896 x 1,944)
- S (1,936 x 1,296)
Color Space
- sRGB
- Adobe RGB
High ISO Noise Reduction
- On
- Off
Vibration Reduction
- Normal
- Active
- Off
Only shown if a VR-capable lens is mounted.
Built-in AF Assist
- On
- Off

 

Still Image Shooting Menu 1:

Still Image Shooting Menu 1 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Notes
Reset Shooting Options
- Yes
- No
Exposure Mode
- Scene auto selector
- Programmed auto
- Shutter-priority auto
- Aperture-priority auto
- Manual
Image Quality
- NEF (RAW) + JPEG fine
- NEF (RAW)
- JPEG fine
- JPEG normal
- JPEG basic
Image Size
- L (3,872 x 2,592)
- M (2,896 x 1,944)
- S (1,936 x 1,296)
Continuous
- Single-frame
- Continuous
- Electronic (Hi)
Metering
- Matrix
- Center-weighted
- Spot

 

Still Image Shooting Menu 2:

Still Image Shooting Menu 2 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
White Balance
- Auto
- Incandescent
- Fluorescent
- Direct sunlight
- Flash
- Cloudy
- Shade
- Preset manual
White balance adjustment screen

- B6 to A6
- G6 to M6
ISO Sensitivity
- A3200 Auto (100 - 3,200)
- A800 Auto (100 - 800)
- A400 Auto (100 - 400)
- 100
- 200
- 400
- 800
- 1,600
- 3,200
- Hi 1 (6,400)
Picture Control
- SD Standard
- NL Neutral
- VI Vivid
- MC Monochrome
- PT Portrait
- LS Landscape
- Quick adjust
- Sharpening
- Contrast
- Brightness
- Saturation
- Hue
- Filter effects
- Toning
Quick adjust, saturation, and hue apply only to color images. Filter effects and toning are applicable only for monochrome images.
Custom Picture Control
- Edit / save
- Delete
Picture control selection screen
- Load from / save to card
- Copy to camera
- Delete from card
- Copy to card
Color Space
- sRGB
- Adobe RGB
Active D-Lighting
- On
- Off

 

Still Image Shooting Menu 3:

Still Image Shooting Menu 3 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
Long Exposure NR
- On
- Off
High ISO Noise Reduction
- On
- Off
Interval Timer Shooting
- Start
Interval shooting in progress. To exit, turn camera off.
- Interval / number of shots
- Interval
- Number of shots
Vibration Reduction
- Normal
- Active
- Off
Only shown when VR lens is mounted.
Focus Mode
- AF-A Auto-select AF
- AF-S Single AF
- AF-C Continuous AF
- MF Manual Focus
AF-area Mode
- Auto-area
- Single-point
- Subject tracking

 

Still Image Shooting Menu 4:

Still Image Shooting Menu 4 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Notes
Face Priority AF
- On
- Off
Built-in AF Assist
- On
- Off
Flash Compensation
- +1.0
- +0.7
- +0.3
- 0.0
- -0.3
- -0.7
- -1.0
- -1.3
- -1.7
- -2.0
- -2.3
- -2.7
- -3.0
Only shown when the flash is raised.

 

 

Movie Shooting Menu 1:

Movie Shooting Menu 1 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
Reset Shooting Options
- Yes
- No
Exposure Mode
- Scene auto selector
- Programmed auto
- Shutter-priority auto
- Aperture-priority auto
- Manual
Frame Rate
- 400 fps
- 1,200 fps
Only available in Slow Motion movie mode, set with the Function button.
Movie Settings
- 1080i60 1,080 / 60i
- 1080p30 1,080 / 30p
- 720p60 720 / 60p
Only available in HD Movie mode, set with the Function button.
Metering
- Matrix
- Center-weighted
- Spot
White Balance
- Auto
- Incandescent
- Fluorescent
- Direct sunlight
- Flash
- Cloudy
- Shade
- Preset manual
White balance adjustment screen

- B6 to A6
- G6 to M6

 

Movie Shooting Menu 2:

Movie Shooting Menu 2 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
ISO Sensitivity
- A3200 Auto (100 - 3,200)
- A800 Auto (100 - 800)
- A400 Auto (100 - 400)
- 100
- 200
- 400
- 800
- 1,600
- 3,200
- Hi 1 (6,400)
Picture Control
- SD Standard
- NL Neutral
- VI Vivid
- MC Monochrome
- PT Portrait
- LS Landscape
- Quick adjust
- Sharpening
- Contrast
- Brightness
- Saturation
- Hue
- Filter effects
- Toning
Quick adjust, saturation, and hue apply only to color images. Filter effects and toning are applicable only for monochrome images.
Custom Picture Control
- Edit / save
- Delete
Picture control selection screen
- Load from / save to card
- Copy to camera
- Delete from card
- Copy to card
High ISO Noise Reduction
- On
- Off
Fade In / Fade Out
- W Fade (white)
- B Fade (black)
- Off (none)
Only available in HD Movie mode, set with the Function button.
Movie Sound Options
- Microphone
- Auto sensitivity (A)
- High sensitivity (3)
- Medium sensitivity (2)
- Low sensitivity (1)
- Microphone off
Only available in HD Movie mode, set with the Function button.
- Wind noise reduction
- On
- Off

 

Movie Shooting Menu 3:

Movie Shooting Menu 3 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Notes
Vibration Reduction
- Normal
- Active
- Off
Only shown if a VR-capable lens is mounted.
Focus Mode
- AF-F Full-Time AF
- AF-S Single AF
- MF Manual Focus
AF-area Mode
- Auto-area
- Single-point
- Subject tracking
Face Priority AF
- On
- Off

 

Setup Menu 1:

Setup Menu 1 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Notes
Reset Setup Options
- Yes
- No
Format Memory Card

All data on the card will be deleted. OK?

- Yes
- No
Slot Empty Release Lock
- Release locked
- Enable release
Welcome Screen
- On
- Off
Monitor Brightness
- -3 to +3
Grid Display
- On
- Off

 

Setup Menu 2:

Setup Menu 2 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Third-Level
Notes
Sound Settings
- Autofocus / self-timer
- Shutter
- On
- Off
Auto Power Off
- 15 s
- 30 s
- 1 min
- 5 min
- 10 min
Remote On Duration
- 1 min
- 5 min
- 10 min
- 15 min
Assign AE / AF-L Button
- AE / AF lock
- AE lock only
- AF lock only
Not shown in Smart Photo Selector mode.
Shutter Button AE Lock
- On
- Off
Not shown in Smart Photo Selector mode.
HDMI Device Control
- On
- Off

 

Setup Menu 3:

Setup Menu 3 Options:
Top-Level
Selection
Second-Level
Notes
Flicker Reduction
- 50 Hz
- 60 Hz
Reset File Numbering
- Yes
- No
Time Zone And Date
- Time zone
- Date and time
- Date format
- Daylight saving time
Language
- Czech
- Danish
- German
- English
- Espanol
- Greek
- French
- Indonesian
- Italian
- Hungarian
- Dutch
- Norwegian
- Polish
- Portuguese
- Russian
- Romanian
- Finnish
- Swedish
- Turkish
- Ukraine
- Chinese (simplified)
- Chinese (traditional)
- Japanese
- Korean
- Thai
Auto Image Rotation
- On
- Off
Firmware Version

A, B, and L version numbers

- Done

 

Buy the Nikon J1

Your purchases support this site

Kit with 10-30mm Lens
  • Kit with 10-30mm Lens
  • Kit with 10-30mm and 30-110mm Lenses
  • Kit with 10mm and 10-30mm Lenses
All J1 Deals


Navigate Review Jump to review page...