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Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7

Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
56
Overall
45
Nikon 1 J1 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-7 front
Portability
84
Imaging
63
Features
71
Overall
66

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 234g - 106 x 61 x 30mm
  • Introduced January 2012
  • Updated by Nikon 1 J2
Sony NEX-7
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 400g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Announced December 2011
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Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 Overview

Its time to examine more in depth at the Nikon 1 J1 versus Sony NEX-7, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a large difference among the sensor resolutions of the 1 J1 (10MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the 1 J1 (1") and NEX-7 (APS-C) possess different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The 1 J1 was revealed 2 months after the NEX-7 and they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight into a detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the 1 J1 scores versus the NEX-7 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J1 over the Sony NEX-7

 1 J1 NEX-7 

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-7 over the Nikon 1 J1

 NEX-7 1 J1 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Common features in the Nikon 1 J1 and Sony NEX-7

 1 J1 NEX-7 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012December 2011Same age
Manually focus More precise focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch display Lack of Touch display

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you'll need to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 J1 features outside dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 234 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-7 has proportions of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

Check the Nikon 1 J1 versus Sony NEX-7 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the 1 J1 versus the NEX-7.

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J1 and NEX-7 is 91 and 84 respectively.

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is very hard to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions merely by looking through technical specs. The picture here may give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J1 and NEX-7.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 J1 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF tougher and the Sony NEX-7 will provide you with extra detail because of its extra 14 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images a little more aggressively.

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon 1 J1
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-7
47
manual focus
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
77
has manual focus
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Street photography advice
Sony NEX-7 Street photography advice
69
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than others (234 grams)
screen is fixed
lack of image stabilization
76
screen tilts
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Sports photography camera
48
silent mode (1/16,000s)
decent sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
comes with phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
61
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
good battery (430 CIPA)
does not have image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-7 Travel photography info
60
lighter than others (234g)
flash built-in
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
low MP (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
70
good battery (430 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (24 megapixels)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-7 as a Landscape photography camera
55
manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
terrible battery power (230 shots)
72
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (24MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
good battery (430 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Vlogging advice
Sony NEX-7 Vlogging advice
30
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (234g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have microphone support
35
provides face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
includes mic support
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
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Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony NEX-7 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J1 and Sony NEX-7
 Nikon 1 J1Sony Alpha NEX-7
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J1 Sony Alpha NEX-7
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-01-20 2011-12-13
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 24 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3872 x 2592 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 Sony E
Available lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 1072 x 720 (60 fps) 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 234 gr (0.52 lb) 400 gr (0.88 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 56 81
DXO Color Depth rating 21.5 24.1
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 13.4
DXO Low light rating 372 1016
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 430 photographs
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 or 5 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Launch price $625 $699