Did you find a camera?
I had a Nikon V1 for a year. I didn’t enjoy using it so I sold it. In some ways I regret selling it. The image quality was really good, considering the camera was the first generation of a new sensor format for Nikon. But like most small sensors, the IQ suffers at higher ISO.
My problem with it was in usability. I hated the push button lock release on the kit zoom lenses. I thought the lens selection was weak. I like cameras with buttons and dials so I can adjust it on the fly, but the V1 didn’t have many of these.
The follow ups, the 1 V2 and 1 V3, seem to be very different cameras. I’m not familiar with the 1 J series.
Check out photographylife for a review and some great sample pics from the V1.
Here’s a few I pics I took with the V1. These are RAW files converted to JPEG using Nikon’s converter. No edits added. Probably identical to the straight-out-of-camera JPEG image files.
After I sold my V1 and some DSLR gear, I moved to the Olympus/Panasonic Micro Four-thirds mirrorless format. No regrets. If you are looking at the Nikon AW1 for the ruggedness, you could consider the weather-sealed Olympus E-M5 with weather-sealed Olympus 12-50mm kit lens, however, it probably offers more of a DSLR-like experience than you desire. That Sony 16mp sensor in the E-M5 produces beautiful images that capture a lot of shadow detail and respond well to shadow brightening. Also, although not ruggedized, an advanced point and shoot like the Panasonic LX7 can produce beautiful images.