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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5N front
Portability
89
Imaging
57
Features
69
Overall
61

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N 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
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 J1
  • New Model is Nikon 1 J3
Sony NEX-5N
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Revealed October 2011
  • Earlier Model is Sony NEX-5
  • Later Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N Overview

Below is a complete comparison of the Nikon 1 J2 versus Sony NEX-5N, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There exists a sizable gap between the image resolutions of the 1 J2 (10MP) and NEX-5N (16MP) and the 1 J2 (1") and NEX-5N (APS-C) feature different sensor sizes.

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The 1 J2 was brought out 11 months later than the NEX-5N which means that they are both of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving through a comprehensive comparison, below is a short highlight of how the 1 J2 scores versus the NEX-5N when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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

 1 J2 NEX-5N 
RevealedAugust 2012October 2011More recent by 11 months
Display resolution921k920kClearer display (+1k dot)

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

 NEX-5N 1 J2 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

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

 1 J2 NEX-5N 
Manually focus Dial accurate focusing
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to lug around your camera often, you have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon 1 J2 provides external dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5N has dimensions of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Compare the Nikon 1 J2 versus Sony NEX-5N in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have at that moment. Here is the front view measurement comparison of the 1 J2 vs the NEX-5N.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J2 and NEX-5N is 91 and 89 respectively.

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

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to picture the gap between sensor measurements simply by reading specs. The graphic here might give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J2 and NEX-5N.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 J2 because of its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Sony NEX-5N will offer greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images much more aggressively. The younger 1 J2 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon 1 J2
Portrait photography with Sony NEX-5N
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
external flash not possible
resolution not great (10MP)
74
has manual focus
resolution is good (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Street photography info
Sony NEX-5N Street photography info
69
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (238 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
80
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
has touch to focus
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Sports photography features
Sony NEX-5N Sports photography features
48
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
nice sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
bad battery pack (230 shots)
58
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great battery life (460 shots)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Travel photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Travel photography highlights
60
lighter than competition in class (238 grams)
has built in flash
bad battery pack (230 per charge)
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
71
great battery life (460 CIPA)
has touch to focus
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Landscape photography highlights
Sony NEX-5N Landscape photography highlights
56
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (10 megapixels)
bad battery pack (230 shots)
71
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
resolution is good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (460 shots)
no image stabilization
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Vlogging info
Sony NEX-5N Vlogging info
30
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (238g)
does not offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have mic socket
33
touchscreen
supports face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have external mic socket
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5N Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J2 and Sony NEX-5N
 Nikon 1 J2Sony Alpha NEX-5N
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 J2 Sony Alpha NEX-5N
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-08-09 2011-10-03
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 surface area 116.2mm² 365.0mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3872 x 2592 4912 x 3264
Max native ISO 6400 25600
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Number of focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 920 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology TFT LCD Tilt Up 80°, Down 45° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 10.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 12.00 m
Flash options 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
Fastest flash synchronize 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
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 (60 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 238 gr (0.52 lbs) 269 gr (0.59 lbs)
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 Overall score 54 77
DXO Color Depth score 21.3 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 10.8 12.7
DXO Low light score 363 1079
Other
Battery life 230 pictures 460 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $550 $550