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Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
49
Features
54
Overall
51

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J2
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 238g - 106 x 61 x 30mm
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Succeeded the Nikon 1 J1
  • Replacement is Nikon 1 J3
Panasonic GF5
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 267g - 108 x 67 x 37mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Old Model is Panasonic GF3
  • Updated by Panasonic GF6
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 Overview

Lets look more in depth at the Nikon 1 J2 versus Panasonic GF5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the 1 J2 (10MP) and the GF5 (12MP) is pretty comparable but the 1 J2 (1") and GF5 (Four Thirds) boast totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 J2 was launched 5 months after the GF5 so they are of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a in depth comparison, here is a quick highlight of how the 1 J2 matches up versus the GF5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J2 over the Panasonic GF5

 1 J2 GF5 
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF5 over the Nikon 1 J2

 GF5 1 J2 
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 J2 and Panasonic GF5

 1 J2 GF5 
LaunchedAugust 2012April 2012Same generation
Focus manually More precise focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen No selfie screen

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera regularly, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J2 features outside 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 Panasonic GF5 has sizing of 108mm x 67mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 267 grams (0.59 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon 1 J2 versus Panasonic GF5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is a front view over all size comparison of the 1 J2 against the GF5.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J2 and GF5 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its tough to envision the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through a spec sheet. The image below will give you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J2 and GF5.

As you can see, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The 1 J2 because of its smaller sensor will make getting shallower DOF more difficult and the Panasonic GF5 will produce extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic GF5 as a Portrait photography camera
48
focusing manually
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
56
you can focus manually
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
low resolution (12 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Street photography advice
Panasonic GF5 Street photography advice
69
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (238g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
70
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
includes touch focus
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic GF5 Sports photography highlights
48
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (1")
includes tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
bad battery power (230 per charge)
41
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't have phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Travel photography info
Panasonic GF5 Travel photography info
60
lighter than competitors in class (238 grams)
has built in flash
bad battery power (230 per charge)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
61
includes touch focus
has built in flash
no Timelapse mode
low resolution (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon 1 J2
Landscape photography with Panasonic GF5
56
focusing manually
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
bad battery power (230 CIPA)
59
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
low resolution (12MP)
no Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Vlogging details
Panasonic GF5 Vlogging details
30
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (238 grams)
doesn't have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic jack
32
has touchscreen
comes with face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone jack
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic GF5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J2 and Panasonic GF5
 Nikon 1 J2Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon 1 J2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-08-09 2012-04-05
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 3 Venus Engine FHD
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3872 x 2592 4000 x 3000
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 160
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 135 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 13 107
Crop factor 2.7 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech TFT LCD TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 6.30 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 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, 50 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone 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) 267g (0.59 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 108 x 67 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 54 50
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 20.5
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 10.0
DXO Low light score 363 573
Other
Battery life 230 images 360 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $550 $600