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Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J2
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 238g - 106 x 61 x 30mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Old Model is Nikon 1 J1
  • Newer Model is Nikon 1 J3
Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL2
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

The following is a thorough review of the Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus E-PL3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. The image resolution of the 1 J2 (10MP) and the E-PL3 (12MP) is pretty well matched but the 1 J2 (1") and E-PL3 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor size.

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The 1 J2 was released 11 months after the E-PL3 which means that they are of a similar age. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a in depth comparison, here is a short view of how the 1 J2 scores against the E-PL3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J2 over the Olympus E-PL3

 1 J2 E-PL3 
IntroducedAugust 2012September 2011Newer by 11 months
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Nikon 1 J2

 E-PL3 1 J2 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus E-PL3

 1 J2 E-PL3 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen size
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera frequently, you'll need to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J2 provides external dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") having a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL3 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Compare the Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus E-PL3 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Here is a front view measurements comparison of the 1 J2 and the E-PL3.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J2 and E-PL3 is 91 and 88 respectively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to envision the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by looking at specs. The picture underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J2 and E-PL3.

All in all, the two cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The 1 J2 featuring a tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF harder and the Olympus E-PL3 will give greater detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs more aggressively. The newer 1 J2 is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
cannot use external flash
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
60
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon 1 J2
Street photography with Olympus E-PL3
69
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than others in class (238g)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
84
screen tilts
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Sports photography info
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography info
48
quiet shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (230 per charge)
45
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 fps)
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Travel photography information
Olympus E-PL3 Travel photography information
60
lighter than others in class (238 grams)
has built in flash
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
44
does not have Time Lapse function
not so great battery (300 per charge)
low MP (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon 1 J2
Landscape photography with Olympus E-PL3
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
good sized screen (3")
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
bad battery power (230 shots)
61
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
saves RAW files
low MP (12 megapixels)
not so great battery (300 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging factors
30
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (238g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external mic socket
34
image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus E-PL3
 Nikon 1 J2Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Brand Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon 1 J2 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2012-08-09 2011-09-20
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 Truepic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Highest resolution 3872 x 2592 4032 x 3024
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 135 35
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 13 107
Crop factor 2.7 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m no built-in flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/60s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
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 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 238g (0.52 lb) 313g (0.69 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 54 52
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 20.9
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 10.3
DXO Low light score 363 499
Other
Battery life 230 photos 300 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 BLS-5
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $550 $399