Canon T1i vs Nikon 1 V1

The Canon EOS Rebel T1i (called Canon 500D in some regions) and the Nikon 1 V1 are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in March 2009 and September 2011. The T1i is a DSLR, while the V1 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera. The cameras are based on an APS-C (T1i) and an one-inch (V1) sensor. The Canon has a resolution of 15.1 megapixels, whereas the Nikon provides 10 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Canon T1i		Nikon 1 V1
Digital single lens reflex		Mirrorless system camera
Canon EF mount lenses		Nikon 1 mount lenses
15.1 MP – APS-C sensor		10 MP – 1" sensor
1080/20p Video		1080/60i Video
ISO 100-6,400 (100 - 12,800)		ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 6,400)
Optical viewfinder		Electronic viewfinder (1440k dots)
3.0" LCD – 920k dots		3.0" LCD – 921k dots
Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
3.4 shutter flaps per second		10 shutter flaps per second
400 shots per battery charge		350 shots per battery charge
129 x 98 x 62 mm, 520 g		113 x 76 x 44 mm, 383 g

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Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Canon EOS Rebel T1i and the Nikon 1 V1? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Canon T1i and the Nikon 1 V1. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive views from the front, the top, and the rear side are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon 1 V1 is considerably smaller (32 percent) than the Canon T1i. Moreover, the V1 is markedly lighter (26 percent) than the T1i. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the T1i nor the V1 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

Concerning battery life, the T1i gets 400 shots out of its Canon LP-E5 battery, while the V1 can take 350 images on a single charge of its Nikon EN-EL15 power pack.

The following table provides a synthesis of the main physical specifications of the two cameras and other similar ones. In case you want to display and compare another camera duo, you can use the CAM-parator app to select your camera combination among a large number of options.

Body Specifications

		Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon T1i	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	520 g	400	n	Mar 2009	799	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 V1	113 mm	76 mm	44 mm	383 g	350	n	Sep 2011	799	ebay.com
3.		Canon T2i	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	530 g	440	n	Feb 2010	699	ebay.com
4.		Canon T3i	133 mm	100 mm	80 mm	570 g	440	n	Feb 2011	599	ebay.com
5.		Canon T4i	133 mm	100 mm	79 mm	575 g	440	n	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
6.		Canon T5	130 mm	100 mm	78 mm	480 g	500	n	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
7.		Canon T6	129 mm	101 mm	78 mm	485 g	500	n	Mar 2016	449	ebay.com
8.		Canon T6i	132 mm	101 mm	78 mm	555 g	440	n	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
9.		Canon T100	129 mm	102 mm	77 mm	436 g	500	n	Feb 2018	399	amazon.com
10.		Canon XSi	129 mm	98 mm	62 mm	524 g	500	n	Jan 2008	799	ebay.com
11.		Canon XT	127 mm	94 mm	64 mm	540 g	400	n	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
12.		Canon XTi	127 mm	84 mm	65 mm	556 g	370	n	Aug 2006	799	ebay.com
13.		Nikon 1 V2	109 mm	82 mm	46 mm	278 g	310	n	Oct 2012	799	ebay.com
14.		Nikon 1 V3	111 mm	65 mm	33 mm	381 g	310	n	Mar 2014	799	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic G2	124 mm	84 mm	74 mm	428 g	360	n	Mar 2010	599	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic G10	124 mm	84 mm	74 mm	388 g	380	n	Mar 2010	499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic GX1	116 mm	68 mm	39 mm	318 g	320	n	Nov 2011	699	ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Imperial

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The manufacturer’s suggested retail prices give an idea on the placement of the camera in the maker’s lineup and the broader market. The two cameras under review were launched at the same price and fall into the same market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down.

Sensor comparison

The size of the imaging sensor is a crucial determinant of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Furthermore, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more possibilities to use shallow depth-of-field in order to isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be more expensive and lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Canon T1i features an APS-C sensor and the Nikon 1 V1 an one-inch sensor. The sensor area in the V1 is 65 percent smaller. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 1.6 and 2.7. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

With 15.1MP, the T1i offers a higher resolution than the V1 (10MP), but the T1i nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.69μm versus 3.41μm for the V1) due to its larger sensor. However, the V1 is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 5 months) than the T1i, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixels.

The resolution advantage of the Canon T1i implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the T1i for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 23.8 x 15.8 inches or 60.4 x 40.2 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 19 x 12.7 inches or 48.3 x 32.2 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 15.8 x 10.6 inches or 40.2 x 26.8 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon 1 V1 are 19.4 x 13 inches or 49.2 x 32.9 cm for good quality, 15.5 x 10.4 inches or 39.3 x 26.3 cm for very good quality, and 12.9 x 8.6 inches or 32.8 x 21.9 cm for excellent quality prints.

The Canon EOS Rebel T1i has a native sensitivity range from ISO 100 to ISO 6400, which can be extended to ISO 100-12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon 1 V1 are ISO 100 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-6400.

Technology-wise, both cameras are equipped with CMOS (Complementary Metal–Oxide–Semiconductor) sensors. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). Of the two cameras under review, the T1i has a notably higher overall DXO score than the V1 (overall score 9 points higher), which gives it an advantage in terms of imaging quality. This advantage is based on 0.4 bits higher color depth, 0.5 EV in additional dynamic range, and 0.9 stops in additional low light sensitivity. The adjacent table reports on the physical sensor characteristics and the outcomes of the DXO sensor quality tests for a sample of comparator-cameras.

Sensor Characteristics

		Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
1.		Canon T1i	APS-C	15.1	4752	3168	1080/20p	21.7	11.5	663	63
2.		Nikon 1 V1	1-inch	10.0	3872	2592	1080/60i	21.3	11.0	346	54
3.		Canon T2i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	784	66
4.		Canon T3i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.1	11.5	793	65
5.		Canon T4i	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.7	11.2	722	62
6.		Canon T5	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.3	724	63
7.		Canon T6	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	22.0	11.7	781	66
8.		Canon T6i	APS-C	24.0	6000	4000	1080/30p	22.7	12.0	919	71
9.		Canon T100	APS-C	17.9	5184	3456	1080/30p	21.9	11.4	695	63
10.		Canon XSi	APS-C	12.2	4272	2848	none	21.9	10.8	692	61
11.		Canon XT	APS-C	8.0	3456	2304	none	21.8	10.8	637	60
12.		Canon XTi	APS-C	10.1	3888	2592	none	22.1	11.0	664	62
13.		Nikon 1 V2	1-inch	14.2	4608	3072	1080/60p	20.2	10.8	403	50
14.		Nikon 1 V3	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	384	52
15.		Panasonic G2	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	21.2	10.3	493	53
16.		Panasonic G10	Four Thirds	12.0	4000	3000	720/30p	21.2	10.1	411	52
17.		Panasonic GX1	Four Thirds	15.8	4592	3448	1080/60p	20.8	10.6	703	55

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. The two cameras under consideration both have sensors whose read-out speed is fast enough to capture moving pictures, but the V1 provides a faster frame rate than the T1i. It can shoot movie footage at 1080/60i, while the Canon is limited to 1080/20p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the V1 has an electronic viewfinder (1440k dots), while the T1i has an optical one. Both systems have their advantages, with the electronic viewfinder making it possible to project supplementary shooting information into the framing view, whereas the optical viewfinder offers lag-free viewing and a very clear framing image. The table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Canon T1i and Nikon 1 V1 in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

Core Features

		Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Specifications (inch/000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Max Shutter Speed *	Max Shutter Flaps *	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
1.		Canon T1i	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.4/s	Y	n
2.		Nikon 1 V1	1440	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	10.0/s	n	n
3.		Canon T2i	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.7/s	Y	n
4.		Canon T3i	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	n	1/4000s	3.7/s	Y	n
5.		Canon T4i	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
6.		Canon T5	optical	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
7.		Canon T6	optical	n	3.0 / 920	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
8.		Canon T6i	optical	n	3.0 / 1040	swivel	Y	1/4000s	5.0/s	Y	n
9.		Canon T100	optical	n	2.7 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
10.		Canon XSi	optical	n	3.0 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.5/s	Y	n
11.		Canon XT	optical	n	1.8 / 115	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
12.		Canon XTi	optical	n	2.5 / 230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0/s	Y	n
13.		Nikon 1 V2	1440	n	3.0 / 921	fixed	n	1/4000s	15.0/s	Y	n
14.		Nikon 1 V3	optional	n	3.0 / 1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0/s	Y	n
15.		Panasonic G2	1440	n	3.0 / 460	swivel	Y	1/4000s	2.6/s	Y	n
16.		Panasonic G10	202	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	n	1/4000s	2.6/s	Y	n
17.		Panasonic GX1	optional	n	3.0 / 460	fixed	Y	1/4000s	4.2/s	Y	n
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The T1i has one, while the V1 does not. While the built-in flash of the T1i is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the V1 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon 1 V1 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

The T1i writes its imaging data to SDHC cards, while the V1 uses SDXC cards. The V1 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the T1i cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Canon EOS Rebel T1i and Nikon 1 V1 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

		Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Mic / Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
1.		Canon T1i	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
2.		Nikon 1 V1	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
3.		Canon T2i	Y	stereo / -	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
4.		Canon T3i	Y	mono / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
5.		Canon T4i	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
6.		Canon T5	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
7.		Canon T6	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
8.		Canon T6i	Y	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
9.		Canon T100	Y	mono / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	Y	-
10.		Canon XSi	Y	- / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
11.		Canon XT	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
12.		Canon XTi	Y	- / -	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
13.		Nikon 1 V2	-	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
14.		Nikon 1 V3	-	stereo / mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
15.		Panasonic G2	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
16.		Panasonic G10	Y	mono / -	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
17.		Panasonic GX1	Y	stereo / mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-

It is notable that the T1i has a hotshoe, while the V1 does not. This socket makes it possible to easily attach optional accessories, such as an external flash gun.

Both the T1i and the V1 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on ebay. The T1i was replaced by the Canon T2i, while the V1 was followed by the Nikon 1 V2. Further information on the features and operation of the T1i and V1 can be found, respectively, in the Canon T1i Manual (free pdf) or the online Nikon 1 V1 Manual.

Review summary

So how do things add up? Is there a clear favorite between the Canon T1i and the Nikon 1 V1? Which camera is better? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Reasons to prefer the Canon EOS Rebel T1i:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (15.1 vs 10MP) with a 23% higher linear resolution.
• Better image quality: Scores markedly higher (9 points) in the DXO overall assessment.
• Better low-light sensitivity: Requires less light for good images (0.9 stops ISO advantage).
• Brighter framing: Features an optical viewfinder for clear, lag-free composition.
• Longer lasting: Can take more shots (400 versus 350) on a single battery charge.
• Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in March 2009).

Advantages of the Nikon 1 V1:

• Better video: Provides higher movie framerates (1080/60i versus 1080/20p).
• More framing info: Has an electronic viewfinder that displays shooting data.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (10 vs 3.4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (113x76mm vs 129x98mm) and will fit more readily into a bag.
• Less heavy: Has a lower weight (by 137g or 26 percent) and is thus easier to take along.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can use many non-native lenses via adapters.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More modern: Reflects 2 years and 5 months of technical progress since the T1i launch.

If the count of individual advantages (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the V1 emerges as the winner of the match-up (10 : 8 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Canon T1i and the Nikon 1 V1 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best DSLR Camera and Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the specs-based evaluation of cameras can be instructive in revealing their potential as photographic tools, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the T1i or the V1. User reviews, such as those found at amazon, can sometimes inform about these issues, but such feedback is often incomplete, inconsistent, and biased.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Expert Camera Reviews

		Camera   Model	AP   score	CL   score	DCW   score	DPR   score	EPZ   score	PB   score	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
1.		Canon T1i	..	+ +	..	74/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Mar 2009	799	ebay.com
2.		Nikon 1 V1	..	+	..	69/100	4.5/5	4/5	Sep 2011	799	ebay.com
3.		Canon T2i	..	+ +	..	77/100	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2010	699	ebay.com
4.		Canon T3i	3/5	o	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2011	599	ebay.com
5.		Canon T4i	4/5	+ +	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2012	849	ebay.com
6.		Canon T5	3/5	+	..	..	4/5	4.5/5	Feb 2014	449	ebay.com
7.		Canon T6	4/5	o	4/5	73/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2016	449	ebay.com
8.		Canon T6i	5/5	..	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Feb 2015	749	ebay.com
9.		Canon T100	..	o	3/5	..	3.5/5	3.5/5	Feb 2018	399	amazon.com
10.		Canon XSi	..	+ +	..	+ +	4/5	4.5/5	Jan 2008	799	ebay.com
11.		Canon XT	..	80/100	..	+ +	o	..	Feb 2005	899	ebay.com
12.		Canon XTi	..	+ +	..	+ +	o	4/5	Aug 2006	799	ebay.com
13.		Nikon 1 V2	3/5	..	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	Oct 2012	799	ebay.com
14.		Nikon 1 V3	3/5	..	..	76/100	4.5/5	4/5	Mar 2014	799	ebay.com
15.		Panasonic G2	..	..	..	72/100	4/5	4.5/5	Mar 2010	599	ebay.com
16.		Panasonic G10	3/5	..	..	70/100	4/5	4/5	Mar 2010	499	ebay.com
17.		Panasonic GX1	3/5	+	..	77/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	Nov 2011	699	ebay.com
Note: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The review scores listed above should be treated with care, though. The ratings were established in reference to similarly priced cameras that were available in the market at the time of the review. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and rating-comparisons among cameras that span long time periods or concern very differently equipped models make little sense. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

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Other camera comparisons

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