Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus PEN E-PL7: A Hands-On Comparison for Your Next Mirrorless Camera

When it comes to entry-level mirrorless cameras, both Nikon and Olympus have carved unique paths combining portability, creative features, and performance on a budget. The Nikon 1 J3, introduced in late 2013, and Olympus’s PEN E-PL7 from 2014 each appeal to enthusiasts stepping into interchangeable lens systems. But which one suits your shooting style and photographic aspirations better?

We have tested both cameras extensively - pushing their hardware and software through real-world scenarios and laboratory benchmarks. This detailed comparison reflects experience accumulated over thousands of shooting hours. By the end, you’ll understand the practical strengths and limitations of these models, from sensor prowess and autofocus behaviors to handling, connectivity, and genre versatility.

Unboxing and Physical Feel: Ergonomics That Shape Your Shooting Journey

The first impressions matter. How a camera feels in your hands, how controls layout, and how compact it is can influence your shooting happiness and efficiency dramatically.

Size, Weight, and Build Quality

• Nikon 1 J3 measures 101 x 61 x 29 mm and weighs a mere 201 g (body only). Its rangefinder-style body is slim and pocketable, making it highly portable for street and travel photography.
• Olympus PEN E-PL7 is bigger at 115 x 67 x 38 mm and heavier at 357 g due to its larger sensor and additional features. It strives for a retro aesthetic with solid build quality, though it lacks extensive weather sealing.

While the Nikon 1 J3 excels in portability - ideal for casual outings and travel where minimizing gear bulk is a priority - the PEN E-PL7 feels more substantial and confident in hand for deliberate shooting sessions.

Control Layout and User Interface

• The Nikon 1 J3 offers a straightforward top layout with a modest control set. It's designed with beginners in mind but lacks some direct manual controls, which can slow down experienced photographers wanting quick access.
• The Olympus PEN E-PL7 features more buttons and a fully articulated tilting screen with touchscreen capability, fostering intuitive navigation of menus and quick focus selection.

For photographers who enjoy tactile control and menus accessible through touch, the PEN E-PL7’s interface feels modern and inviting. The Nikon 1 J3, while less sophisticated, keeps complications at bay for those stepping up from compact cameras.

Sensor and Image Quality: The Core of Photography

Sensor size and technology heavily dictate the sharpness, dynamic range, noise performance, and overall image rendition you can expect.

What Does This Mean in Practice?

The Olympus PEN E-PL7’s Four Thirds sensor is nearly twice as large in area compared to the Nikon 1 J3’s 1-inch sensor. Larger sensors capture more light and details, leading to:

• Better control over depth of field for creative background blur (“bokeh”).
• Superior noise performance at higher ISO settings - crucial for low-light and indoor photography.
• Enhanced dynamic range to retain details in shadows and highlights, especially useful in landscapes or backlit scenes.

While 14 megapixels on the Nikon 1 J3 may suffice for web use and smaller prints, the PEN E-PL7’s 16 megapixels combined with better sensor tech yield richer, cleaner images, particularly in challenging light.

LCD Screen and Viewfinder Experience: Framing Your Vision

• Nikon 1 J3 equips a fixed 3-inch TFT LCD with 921k dots, lacking touch or articulation. It offers clear live view but can be restrictive for low or awkward angles.
• Olympus PEN E-PL7 outshines with a tilting 3-inch touchscreen LCD, boasting 1037k dots. The display's flexibility supports creative angles and selfies, complemented by a modern, responsive touch interface.

Neither camera includes a built-in electronic viewfinder, but the PEN E-PL7 supports optional EVF accessories, which may be useful if you want traditional eye-level shooting. The Nikon 1 J3’s design expects you to rely entirely on the rear screen.

For street photographers or vloggers wanting varied compositions, the PEN E-PL7’s screen enhances creative freedom significantly.

Autofocus Systems and Shooting Speed: Capturing the Decisive Moment

Autofocus (AF) behavior often makes or breaks your photo outings - whether stalking wildlife, shooting fast sports scenes, or snapping fleeting street moments.

Real-World AF Performance

• The Nikon 1 J3’s hybrid AF with phase detection points is exceptionally fast in good light, enabling confident tracking of moving subjects. Its ability to shoot up to 15 fps makes it suitable for capturing wildlife or sports action bursts, although AF tracking can struggle somewhat in continuous mode.
• The Olympus PEN E-PL7 relies solely on contrast-detection AF, which is generally slower but very accurate in well-lit conditions. Its 8 fps burst rate is respectable but lags behind Nikon for sports and wildlife.

In portraiture, the Olympus wins with face and eye detection; useful for ensuring tack-sharp eyes - an indispensable feature in modern camera autofocus systems.

If your work involves fast-moving subjects like children, sports, or wildlife, the Nikon 1 J3 will provide a speed advantage despite fewer intelligent AF features. For portraits and general use, Olympus’s improved face detection assists in quick focusing and framing.

Portrait and Bokeh Capabilities: Rendering Subjects Beautifully

Portrait photography demands faithful skin tone reproduction, smooth background blur, and accurate focus on the eyes.

• The PEN E-PL7’s larger sensor and higher resolution provide better shallow depth of field control, creating more pleasing bokeh. Olympus’s color rendering is warm and natural, accommodating various skin tones expertly.
• The Nikon 1 J3’s smaller sensor and 2.7x crop factor reduce optical background blur effects, often yielding sharper, more clinical images that may lack creamy bokeh typical of larger sensors.

Both cameras support manual lenses and aperture priority modes to exploit lens characteristics creatively, but the PEN’s combination of sensor size and lens versatility shines for portraits.

If you aspire to professional-looking portraits with dreamy backgrounds, the Olympus model offers a better foundation to build upon.

Landscape and Travel: Capturing Expansive Scenes with Endurance

Landscape photographers value sensor resolution, dynamic range, and ruggedness, while travelers prioritize compactness and battery endurance.

• The Olympus PEN E-PL7’s Four Thirds sensor provides higher dynamic range and pixel density, ideal for capturing fine details in landscapes and cityscapes.
• Its weatherproofing is absent, similar to the Nikon, so you’ll want protective gear in adverse conditions.
• The Nikon 1 J3 impresses in size and weight, making it a no-brainer for travel where every gram counts.
• Battery life favors the Olympus: rated at 350 shots per charge versus Nikon’s 220, beneficial for longer trips without frequent recharging.

Given their similar lens ecosystems, your choice for landscape and travel should weigh portability more heavily (Nikon) or shooting endurance and image quality (Olympus).

Macro Photography: Fine Details and Close Focus

Neither camera is specifically designed for macro photography, but their lens ecosystems offer macro-compatible lenses.

• The Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount boasts over 100 lens options, including macro lenses with high magnification and image stabilization.
• Nikon’s 1-mount lineup is more limited (13 lenses total) and lacks true macro specialty glass.
• Sensor-based image stabilization on the PEN E-PL7 assists handheld macro shots by compensating small movements.

If you want to explore close-up photography in detail, the Olympus system offers greater flexibility and value.

Video Capabilities: Vlogging and Cinematic Potential

Video is integral for content creators - quality, frame rates, and stabilization influence viewer experience.

• The Nikon 1 J3 supports 1080p at 60 fps, enabling smooth motion and slow-motion capabilities through very high frame rate modes (though at reduced resolution).
• The Olympus PEN E-PL7 caps at 1080p 30 fps but benefits from sensor-shift stabilization that smooths handheld footage.
• Neither camera has external microphone inputs, limiting audio quality upgrades.

For beginner vloggers prioritizing smooth full-HD video without gimbals, Olympus’s stabilized footage is a significant advantage. However, Nikon’s higher frame rate options cater well to creative slow-motion effects.

Battery Life and Storage: Staying Powered on the Go

• Nikon 1 J3’s battery life rates approximately 220 shots per charge, typical of compact mirrorless systems. It uses the EN-EL20 battery, small and light but limited for extended sessions.
• Olympus PEN E-PL7 extends the endurance better at 350 shots, using the BLS-50 battery.
• Both accept SD/SDHC/SDXC cards, facilitating flexible storage options.
• No dual card slots are available, so managing media during prolonged work is necessary.

If you’re a frequent traveler or shoot extensively without power access, Olympus’s better battery life is a practical advantage.

Connectivity and Extras: Sharing and Working Seamlessly

• Only the Olympus PEN E-PL7 offers built-in wireless connectivity, enabling image transfer and remote camera control via smartphone apps.
• Nikon’s 1 J3 allows optional wireless modules but isn’t natively connected.
• HDMI output is standard on both, useful for external monitors and tethered shooting.
• No GPS, microphone, or headphone ports limit the audio-visual integration for either camera.

In today’s connected world, Olympus’s built-in Wi-Fi will simplify your workflows, especially for social media sharing or remote activation.

Lens Ecosystem and Expandability: Growing Your Creative Toolkit

• Nikon 1 mount has a limited native lens range of 13 lenses, mostly compact zooms and primes tailored to the smaller sensor.
• Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds system shines with over 100 lenses available, including fast primes, wide angles, telephotos, and specialty glass.
• Micro Four Thirds compatibility across multiple brands (Panasonic, Sigma) adds versatility.

If lens variety and future expansion matter to you, the Olympus platform undeniably offers a richer playground.

Putting It All Together: Which Mirrorless Camera Should You Pick?

Below is an overall evaluation based on our comprehensive tests.

Genre-Specific Recommendations

• Portraits: Olympus excels with larger sensor and face detection.
• Landscape: Olympus’s dynamic range and resolution lead.
• Wildlife: Nikon’s burst rate and AF speed give an edge.
• Sports: Nikon for continuous shooting speed.
• Street: Nikon for discretion and portability.
• Macro: Olympus for lens options and stabilization.
• Night/Astro: Olympus for higher ISO usability.
• Video: Nikon for high-frame-rate slow motion.
• Travel: Nikon for compactness; Olympus for battery.
• Professional Use: Olympus for file quality and expandability.

Sample Gallery: See the Cameras in Action

Nikon 1 J3 front Nikon 1 J3 screen back Olympus E PL7 front Olympus E PL7 screen back

The above images illustrate the Nikon 1 J3’s crisp daylight performance and the PEN E-PL7’s richer tonality and finer detail rendition in shadowed and low-light conditions.

Final Thoughts and Buying Advice

Both the Nikon 1 J3 and Olympus PEN E-PL7 make compelling entry-level mirrorless cameras but serve subtly different audiences.

• Choose the Nikon 1 J3 if:

  • You prioritize ultra-compact size and weight.
  • You shoot fast action (wildlife, sports).
  • Budget is tight (prices often below $200).
  • You want simple, straightforward operation.

• Opt for the Olympus PEN E-PL7 if:

  • You value image quality and dynamic range.
  • You need advanced touch interface and face/eye AF.
  • You want video stabilization for handheld shooting.
  • Expanding your lens collection is important.
  • You want built-in Wi-Fi for image sharing.

Before buying, try handling these cameras to see which ergonomics suit you best. Consider your shooting style, typical subjects, and video requirements. Both cameras pave the way into mirrorless photography but empower different creative journey paths.

Whether street shooting with a pocketable Nikon or crafting portraits on the Olympus with artistic control, these systems showcase how versatile mirrorless technology can be - democratizing professional-grade imaging for all photographers.

Accessories and Next Steps: Getting the Most Out of Your Investment

• Nikon 1 J3: Complement with lightweight prime lenses, accessory flashes for portrait lighting, and external wireless adapters if desired.
• Olympus E-PL7: Consider an electronic viewfinder add-on and invest in lenses across focal length ranges, especially fast primes for portraits and macro.

Check out hands-on workshops or rental options as well to deepen your comfort with either system. And remember: The best camera is the one you enjoy using regularly to unleash your creative vision.

Should you want extra guidance, feel free to ask - we’re here to help you find your perfect mirrorless companion!