Nikon 1 J1 vs Pentax K-3

Its time to take a closer look at the Nikon 1 J1 versus Pentax K-3, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Nikon and Pentax. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the 1 J1 (10MP) and K-3 (24MP) and the 1 J1 (1") and K-3 (APS-C) posses different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The 1 J1 was introduced 3 years earlier than the K-3 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have different body design with the Nikon 1 J1 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Pentax K-3 being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the 1 J1 grades against the K-3 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon 1 J1 and Pentax K-3. The whole galleries are provided at Nikon 1 J1 Gallery and Pentax K-3 Gallery.

For anybody who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J1 provides outer dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 234 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Pentax K-3 has measurements of 131mm x 100mm x 77mm (5.2" x 3.9" x 3.0") accompanied by a weight of 800 grams (1.76 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon 1 J1 versus Pentax K-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you select at that time. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the 1 J1 vs the K-3.

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J1 and K-3 is 91 and 59 respectively.

More often than not, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements merely by seeing technical specs. The photograph here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J1 and K-3.

As you have seen, the two cameras provide different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 J1 using its smaller sensor is going to make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Pentax K-3 will provide extra detail using its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will help you crop images more aggressively. The older 1 J1 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor technology.