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Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10

Portability
92
Imaging
45
Features
63
Overall
52
Nikon 1 J3 front
 
Olympus SZ-10 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J3
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 201g - 101 x 61 x 29mm
  • Released November 2013
  • Earlier Model is Nikon 1 J2
  • Successor is Nikon 1 J4
Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Released February 2011
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 Overview

Below, we will be evaluating the Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10, one is a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Olympus. The resolution of the 1 J3 (14MP) and the SZ-10 (14MP) is relatively comparable but the 1 J3 (1") and SZ-10 (1/2.3") feature totally different sensor measurements.

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The 1 J3 was unveiled 2 years after the SZ-10 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 J3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-10 being a Compact camera.

Before delving through a more detailed comparison, below is a quick summary of how the 1 J3 matches up against the SZ-10 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J3 over the Olympus SZ-10

 1 J3 SZ-10 
ReleasedNovember 2013February 2011Newer by 35 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen resolution921k460kCrisper screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Nikon 1 J3

 SZ-10 1 J3 

Common features in the Nikon 1 J3 and Olympus SZ-10

 1 J3 SZ-10 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is planning to travel with your camera regularly, you need to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 J3 offers external measurements of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") with a weight of 201 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Olympus SZ-10 has proportions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") with a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the 1 J3 versus the SZ-10.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 J3 and SZ-10 is 92 and 90 respectively.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 Sensor Comparison

Normally, its hard to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by going through specs. The pic here should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 J3 and SZ-10.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras have got the exact same megapixel count albeit not the same sensor dimensions. The 1 J3 has got the bigger sensor which will make getting shallower depth of field less difficult. The fresher 1 J3 is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Portrait photography details
Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography details
59
has manual focus
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
33
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Street photography details
Olympus SZ-10 Street photography details
70
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
lighter than competitors in class (201g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (215 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography advice
58
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
has tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (220 CIPA)
40
excellent zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
supports tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery (220 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon 1 J3
Travel photography with Olympus SZ-10
69
lighter than competitors in class (201g)
MP count decent (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
65
lighter than competitors (215 grams)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (28mm)
long reach (504mm)
no Time Lapse function
bad battery (220 per charge)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus SZ-10 as a Landscape photography camera
64
has manual focus
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
nice screen size (3 inches)
MP count decent (14MP)
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (220 per charge)
40
reasonably wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
bad battery (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 J3
Vlogging with Olympus SZ-10
30
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (201g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing mic jack
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detect autofocus
lighter than competitors (215g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
no mic socket
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Olympus SZ-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J3 and Olympus SZ-10
 Nikon 1 J3Olympus SZ-10
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 J3 Olympus SZ-10
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-11-30 2011-02-08
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3072 4288 x 3216
Maximum native ISO 6400 1600
Min native ISO 160 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 135 -
Cross type focus points 41 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 28-504mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture - f/3.1-4.4
Macro focusing range - 1cm
Total lenses 13 -
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology TFT LCD TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 15.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/60 secs -
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) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 201g (0.44 lb) 215g (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 images 220 images
Battery type Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20 LI-50B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $170 $300