The v1 came Monday, so I've had it a couple of days now. I have tried getting some samples with the 18mm up in the Nikon 1 samples thread, but I appear to have bumped into a 10MB limit, and am not sure how to get around it. No matter what I do to try to get a picture into a thread does not work. If I upload from my computer I get a red exclamation point indicating the upload failed, and if I try a link I'm told it's invalid. So no more pictures samples until I figure it out. I did not like Flicker when I used it several years ago, so I guess it's time to get the SmugMug account I've been mulling over.
The 18mm is sharp, as is the kit zoom, but the zoom has already reached f4.5 at 18mm, so even with no stabilization the prime allows more options in low light. Given the realities of DOF with this sensor, the prime is perfectly usable at 1.8, where it is also sharp, and held carefully using the eye level finder, I have found I can hand-hold it down to 1/13 second with acceptably sharp results. 1/15 is better, and 1/20 is what I'd consider the normal "low" shutter speed for hand-held photography using this lens. As the camera does quite well at higher iso, easily up to 1600, stabilization is not much of an issue, though I've gotten spoiled by the near miraculous IBIS of the E-M5.
I like the camera, but do not know if I'll keep it. It's bigger than I anticipated, and though it fits into my vest pocket, it's not really the "take anywhere" machine I was looking for. The search for that continues, and it is likely that only the RX100 will satisfy my requirements in that area. Meantime, I may sell both the V1 and the XZ-1, and then look for a deal on a used Leica X1, which I've wanted since it came out. The used prices are starting to drop; even Leica products -- at least the digital ones -- eventually depreciate. I know the limitations, and slow focus is not a deal killer for me (I still think the E-P1 is a perfectly usable camera).
The V1 is a fun shooter, and at $299 is really a steal.