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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
54
Features
58
Overall
55

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Introduced August 2012
  • Older Model is Nikon 1 J1
  • Later Model is Nikon 1 J3
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed June 2010
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5N
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Let's look more in depth at the Nikon 1 J2 versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the image resolutions of the 1 J2 (10MP) and NEX-5 (14MP) and the 1 J2 (1") and NEX-5 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The 1 J2 was announced 2 years after the NEX-5 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving straight to a in-depth comparison, here is a simple summation of how the 1 J2 matches up vs the NEX-5 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J2 over the Sony NEX-5

 1 J2 NEX-5 
RevealedAugust 2012June 2010More modern by 27 months
Display resolution921k920kSharper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Nikon 1 J2

 NEX-5 1 J2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Common features in the Nikon 1 J2 and Sony NEX-5

 1 J2 NEX-5 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display size3"3"Same display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 J2 provides outer measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") along with a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) whilst the Sony NEX-5 has proportions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Examine the Nikon 1 J2 versus Sony NEX-5 in our newest Camera plus 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. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the 1 J2 against the NEX-5.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J2 and NEX-5 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is very hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by going through specs. The picture below will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 J2 and NEX-5.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 1 J2 using its smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-5 will produce more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop photos a good deal more aggressively. The newer 1 J2 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Portrait photography highlights
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography highlights
48
you can focus manually
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
external flash not possible
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
72
you can focus manually
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon 1 J2
Street photography with Sony NEX-5
69
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
lighter than others in class (238 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
76
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J2
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
48
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
good sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
not so great battery (230 CIPA)
52
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
lack of image stabilization
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Travel photography camera
60
lighter than others in class (238g)
has built in flash
not so great battery (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
59
good resolution (14 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Landscape photography features
Sony NEX-5 Landscape photography features
56
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inch)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
not so great battery (230 per charge)
68
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 J2
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
30
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others in class (238g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have external microphone port
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic support
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J2 and Sony NEX-5
 Nikon 1 J2Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J2 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-08-09 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 Bionz
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.4 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3872 x 2592 4592 x 3056
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 100 200
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 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 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic support
Headphone support
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 sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 238 gr (0.52 lb) 287 gr (0.63 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 69
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 22.2
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 12.2
DXO Low light rating 363 796
Other
Battery life 230 shots 330 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $550 $599