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Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50

Portability
92
Imaging
45
Features
63
Overall
52
Nikon 1 J3 front
 
Nikon Z50 front
Portability
74
Imaging
68
Features
84
Overall
74

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 201g - 101 x 61 x 29mm
  • Announced November 2013
  • Older Model is Nikon 1 J2
  • New Model is Nikon 1 J4
Nikon Z50
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3.2" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 51200 (Boost to 204800)
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon Z Mount
  • 397g - 127 x 94 x 60mm
  • Launched October 2019
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Nikon 1 J3 versus Nikon Z50, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras and both of them are designed by Nikon. There exists a large gap between the resolutions of the 1 J3 (14MP) and Z50 (21MP) and the 1 J3 (1") and Z50 (APS-C) use different sensor sizing.

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The 1 J3 was revealed 6 years before the Z50 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 J3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Nikon Z50 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before diving in to a in-depth comparison, below is a concise overview of how the 1 J3 scores versus the Z50 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J3 over the Nikon Z50

 1 J3 Z50 

Reasons to pick Nikon Z50 over the Nikon 1 J3

 Z50 1 J3 
LaunchedOctober 2019November 2013Fresher by 71 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1040k921kCrisper screen (+119k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 J3 and Nikon Z50

 1 J3 Z50 
Focus manually Very accurate focus

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera, you will need to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J3 has outer dimensions of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 201 grams (0.44 lbs) whilst the Nikon Z50 has sizing of 127mm x 94mm x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4") along with a weight of 397 grams (0.88 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon 1 J3 versus Nikon Z50 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the 1 J3 vs the Z50.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J3 and Z50 is 92 and 74 respectively.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specs. The photograph here will offer you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J3 and Z50.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 1 J3 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Nikon Z50 will offer greater detail because of its extra 7MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The older 1 J3 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon Z50 as a Portrait photography camera
59
focusing manually
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
80
focusing manually
good resolution (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Street photography info
Nikon Z50 Street photography info
70
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition (201g)
fixed screen
no image stabilization
73
screen tilts up and down
nice sensor size (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
offers touch to focus
weather sealing
great ISO range (51,200)
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (397 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Sports photography factors
Nikon Z50 Sports photography factors
58
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
MP count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 shots)
75
good resolution (21MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
weather sealing
sensor has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Travel photography camera
Nikon Z50 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition (201g)
MP count decent (14MP)
built-in flash
not so great battery life (220 per charge)
screen isn't selfie friendly
77
weather sealing
has bluetooth
offers touch to focus
good resolution (21MP)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
more heavy than average (397g)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Landscape photography highlights
Nikon Z50 Landscape photography highlights
64
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
MP count decent (14MP)
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon Z mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
good resolution (21MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
great ISO range (51,200)
delivers RAW formats
weather sealing
lack of image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 J3
Vlogging with Nikon Z50
30
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition (201 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of external microphone port
71
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
provides face detection focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external microphone support
lack of image stabilization
more heavy than average (397g)
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon Z50 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J3 and Nikon Z50
 Nikon 1 J3Nikon Z50
General Information
Make Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon 1 J3 Nikon Z50
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-11-30 2019-10-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - Expeed 6
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.7mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 369.0mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 21 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 1:1, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3072 5568 x 3712
Max native ISO 6400 51200
Max enhanced ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch 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 135 209
Cross type focus points 41 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Nikon Z
Amount of lenses 13 15
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 1,040 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,360 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 15.0fps 11.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 7.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain -
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/60 secs -
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) 3840 x 2160 @ 30p, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Optional 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 201 gr (0.44 lbs) 397 gr (0.88 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 127 x 94 x 60mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 420 not tested
Other
Battery life 220 photos 320 photos
Form of battery Battery Pack Built-in
Battery ID EN-EL20 EN-EL25
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC card (UHS-II supported)
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $170 $857