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Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Older Model is Nikon 1 J1
  • Replacement is Nikon 1 J3
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Its time to look closer at the Nikon 1 J2 versus Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. There exists a huge gap between the resolutions of the 1 J2 (10MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) and the 1 J2 (1") and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) possess different sensor sizes.

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The 1 J2 was brought out about the same time to the E-PL5 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the 1 J2 grades vs the E-PL5 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J2 over the Olympus E-PL5

 1 J2 E-PL5 
Display resolution921k460kSharper display (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Nikon 1 J2

 E-PL5 1 J2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus E-PL5

 1 J2 E-PL5 
IntroducedAugust 2012September 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J2 features exterior measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has sizing of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon 1 J2 versus Olympus E-PL5 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the 1 J2 versus the E-PL5.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J2 and E-PL5 is 91 and 88 respectively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its hard to visualize the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading through specs. The image below should give you a better sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 J2 and E-PL5.

All in all, both of those cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 1 J2 due to its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Olympus E-PL5 will resolve more detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop images far more aggressively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography advice
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
resolution not great (10MP)
71
you can focus manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Street photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Street photography details
69
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition (238g)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
85
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Sports photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography advice
48
quiet shooting (1/16,000s)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking focus
has phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10MP)
not so great battery pack (230 CIPA)
66
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Travel photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Travel photography advice
60
lighter than competition (238g)
has built in flash
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
75
boasts focus via touch
MP count decent (16MP)
selfie friendly display
does not have Timelapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Landscape photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography advice
56
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (230 per charge)
74
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good high ISO (25,600)
exports RAW formats
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Vlogging camera
30
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (238g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
78
selfie friendly display
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
does not have external microphone jack
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J2 and Olympus E-PL5
 Nikon 1 J2Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 J2 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-08-09 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3
Maximum resolution 3872 x 2592 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 135 35
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting speed 10.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash modes 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
Highest flash sync 1/60s 1/250s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238g (0.52 lbs) 325g (0.72 lbs)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 72
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 12.3
DXO Low light rating 363 889
Other
Battery life 230 photos 360 photos
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 BLS-5
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Pricing at launch $550 $400