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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 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
  • Announced August 2012
  • Replaced the Nikon 1 J1
  • Updated by Nikon 1 J3
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced August 2013
  • Later Model is Sony a3500
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 Overview

Its time to look a bit more closely at the Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a significant difference between the resolutions of the 1 J2 (10MP) and A3000 (20MP) and the 1 J2 (1") and A3000 (APS-C) possess totally different sensor size.

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The 1 J2 was brought out 12 months earlier than the A3000 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 J2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple overview of how the 1 J2 scores vs the A3000 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J2 over the Sony A3000

 1 J2 A3000 
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Nikon 1 J2

 A3000 1 J2 
IntroducedAugust 2013August 2012More recent by 12 months

Common features in the Nikon 1 J2 and Sony A3000

 1 J2 A3000 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to lug around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J2 provides exterior dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) while the Sony A3000 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at the time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the 1 J2 compared to the A3000.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J2 and A3000 is 91 and 69 respectively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to see the contrast between sensor measurements just by checking specs. The visual here will give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J2 and A3000.

All in all, each of these cameras posses different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 J2 because of its tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A3000 will resolve more detail having its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop photographs somewhat more aggressively. The older 1 J2 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Portrait photography camera
48
has manual focus
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
low MP (10MP)
77
you can focus manually
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon 1 J2
Street photography with Sony A3000
69
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than average in class (238g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
56
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competitors (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J2
Sports photography with Sony A3000
48
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor size is good (1")
provides tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
59
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
includes tracking focus
better than average battery life (470 shots)
max fps low (3.0 frames/s)
lack of image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Travel photography camera
60
lighter than average in class (238 grams)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (230 CIPA)
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
60
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than competitors (411g)
does not have selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Landscape photography features
Sony A3000 Landscape photography features
56
has manual focus
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor size is good (1")
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
not so great battery life (230 per charge)
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
better than average battery life (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Vlogging factors
Sony A3000 Vlogging factors
30
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (238g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no mic socket
26
includes face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic port
heavier than competitors (411 grams)
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J2 and Sony A3000
 Nikon 1 J2Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J2 Sony Alpha A3000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2012-08-09 2013-08-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 3 BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3872 x 2592 5456 x 3632
Maximum native ISO 6400 16000
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Total lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps 3.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync 1/60s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264, MP4
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238 grams (0.52 lb) 411 grams (0.91 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 54 78
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 12.8
DXO Low light rating 363 1068
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 470 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC card -
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $550 $398