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Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
56
Overall
46
Nikon 1 J1 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
63
Features
62
Overall
62

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Launched January 2012
  • Later Model is Nikon 1 J2
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed January 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony NEX-3N
  • Newer Model is Sony a5100
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Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 Overview

Lets take a deeper look at the Nikon 1 J1 versus Sony a5000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a sizeable gap between the resolutions of the 1 J1 (10MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the 1 J1 (1") and a5000 (APS-C) possess different sensor sizing.

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The 1 J1 was released 23 months earlier than the a5000 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the 1 J1 grades versus the a5000 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J1 over the Sony a5000

 1 J1 a5000 

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Nikon 1 J1

 a5000 1 J1 
RevealedJanuary 2014January 2012More recent by 23 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Common features in the Nikon 1 J1 and Sony a5000

 1 J1 a5000 
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurement
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you'll need to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J1 comes with outer dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 234 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony a5000 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check out the Nikon 1 J1 versus Sony a5000 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the 1 J1 against the a5000.

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J1 and a5000 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing specs. The graphic underneath might offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J1 and a5000.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 J1 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallower depth of field more challenging and the Sony a5000 will deliver more detail as a result of its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The older 1 J1 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Portrait photography details
Sony a5000 Portrait photography details
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
MP count low (10 megapixels)
71
has manual focus
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Street photography features
Sony a5000 Street photography features
69
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than average (234g)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Sports photography camera
48
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
nice sensor size (1")
features tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
low battery life (230 CIPA)
60
decent megapixels (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery life (420 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Travel photography advice
Sony a5000 Travel photography advice
60
lighter than average (234 grams)
flash built-in
low battery life (230 CIPA)
MP count low (10MP)
does not feature selfie friendly display
78
great battery life (420 CIPA)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
does not contain selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Landscape photography features
Sony a5000 Landscape photography features
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
nice screen size (3")
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
low battery life (230 CIPA)
77
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent megapixels (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (420 CIPA)
no image stabilization
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J1 Vlogging details
Sony a5000 Vlogging details
30
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (234g)
does not feature selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
no external microphone jack
32
comes with face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
does not have external mic port
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Nikon 1 J1 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J1 and Sony a5000
 Nikon 1 J1Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 J1 Sony Alpha a5000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2012-01-20 2014-01-07
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3872 x 2592 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens mount Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.6
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 460k dot 461k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 234g (0.52 lbs) 269g (0.59 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 56 79
DXO Color Depth score 21.5 23.8
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 13.0
DXO Low light score 372 1089
Other
Battery life 230 photographs 420 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $625 $448