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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000

Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Sony Alpha a5000 front
Portability
89
Imaging
62
Features
62
Overall
62

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 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
  • Revealed August 2012
  • Succeeded the Nikon 1 J1
  • Replacement is Nikon 1 J3
Sony a5000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Released January 2014
  • Superseded the Sony NEX-3N
  • Renewed by Sony a5100
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 Overview

On this page, we will be evaluating the Nikon 1 J2 and Sony a5000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Sony. There is a considerable difference between the resolutions of the 1 J2 (10MP) and a5000 (20MP) and the 1 J2 (1") and a5000 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 J2 was launched 17 months before the a5000 which makes them a generation apart from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting into a in depth comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the 1 J2 matches up versus the a5000 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J2 over the Sony a5000

 1 J2 a5000 
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony a5000 over the Nikon 1 J2

 a5000 1 J2 
ReleasedJanuary 2014August 2012More recent by 17 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 J2 and Sony a5000

 1 J2 a5000 
Manually focus Very accurate focusing
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lack of Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J2 has exterior dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") accompanied by a weight of 238 grams (0.52 lbs) and the Sony a5000 has specifications of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Nikon 1 J2 and Sony a5000 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the 1 J2 vs the a5000.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J2 and a5000 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The graphic underneath will help give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J2 and a5000.

All in all, the 2 cameras have different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 J2 featuring a tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Sony a5000 will give you more detail utilizing its extra 10MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop shots a bit more aggressively. The older 1 J2 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Portrait photography camera
48
you can focus manually
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
70
manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon 1 J2
Street photography with Sony a5000
69
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lighter than average in class (238 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
78
screen tilts up and down
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 as a Sports photography camera
Sony a5000 as a Sports photography camera
48
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
nice sensor size (1")
provides tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery (230 CIPA)
59
decent MP (20 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (420 shots)
max fps low (4.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Travel photography advice
Sony a5000 Travel photography advice
60
lighter than average in class (238g)
built-in flash
terrible battery (230 shots)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
78
better than average battery power (420 per charge)
decent MP (20MP)
has built in flash
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Landscape photography features
Sony a5000 Landscape photography features
56
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery (230 per charge)
77
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (20MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
exports RAW formats
better than average battery power (420 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 Vlogging information
Sony a5000 Vlogging information
30
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average in class (238 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic socket
32
has face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing external microphone support
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony a5000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J2 and Sony a5000
 Nikon 1 J2Sony Alpha a5000
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J2 Sony Alpha a5000
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2012-08-09 2014-01-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3 Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.2 x 15.4mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 357.3mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3872 x 2592 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 6400 16000
Minimum native ISO 100 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points 135 25
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.6
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dots 461k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT LCD TFT LCD with 180 upward tilt
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 10.0 frames/s 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Flash off, Autoflash, Fill-flash, Rear Sync., Slow Sync., Red-eye reduction
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/60s 1/160s
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 (60i/24p), 1440 x 1080 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 54 79
DXO Color Depth rating 21.3 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 13.0
DXO Low light rating 363 1089
Other
Battery life 230 shots 420 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs, custom)
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $550 $448