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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5

Portability
92
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51
Nikon 1 J3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
58
Overall
55

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 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
  • Replaced the Nikon 1 J2
  • Successor is Nikon 1 J4
Sony NEX-5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 287g - 111 x 59 x 38mm
  • Introduced June 2010
  • Renewed by Sony NEX-5N
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon 1 J3 versus Sony NEX-5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 1 J3 (14MP) and the NEX-5 (14MP) is relatively similar but the 1 J3 (1") and NEX-5 (APS-C) use totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The 1 J3 was released 3 years after the NEX-5 which is quite a significant gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the 1 J3 scores against the NEX-5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J3 over the Sony NEX-5

 1 J3 NEX-5 
IntroducedNovember 2013June 2010More modern by 43 months
Screen resolution921k920kCrisper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-5 over the Nikon 1 J3

 NEX-5 1 J3 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-5

 1 J3 NEX-5 
Focus manually Dial exact focusing
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Absent Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera, you will need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J3 has outer measurements of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 201 grams (0.44 lbs) and the Sony NEX-5 has measurements of 111mm x 59mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") along with a weight of 287 grams (0.63 lbs).

Look at the Nikon 1 J3 versus Sony NEX-5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have at that time. Here is the front view size comparison of the 1 J3 against the NEX-5.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the 1 J3 and NEX-5 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it is tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizes merely by reading specs. The picture below will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 J3 and NEX-5.

All in all, both of those cameras offer the same exact MP albeit not the same sensor sizes. The 1 J3 has the tinier sensor which should make obtaining bokeh harder. The more modern 1 J3 is going to have a benefit with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-5 Portrait photography information
58
manual focus
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
no external flash support
71
focusing manually
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Street photography information
Sony NEX-5 Street photography information
70
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors in class (201 grams)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
76
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J3
Sports photography with Sony NEX-5
57
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
provides tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
no image stabilization
low battery pack (220 shots)
51
MP count good (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
does not have image stabilization
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon 1 J3
Travel photography with Sony NEX-5
69
lighter than competitors in class (201 grams)
resolution is good (14MP)
has built in flash
low battery pack (220 per charge)
does not have selfie friendly display
59
MP count good (14 megapixels)
no Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5 as a Landscape photography camera
64
manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
nice screen size (3 inch)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
low battery pack (220 per charge)
67
focusing manually
switch lenses (Sony E mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
MP count good (14MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 J3
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5
30
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors in class (201g)
does not have selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external mic jack
28
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic socket
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-5
 Nikon 1 J3Sony Alpha NEX-5
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 J3 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2013-11-30 2010-06-07
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor - 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 14MP 14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3072 4592 x 3056
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 135 25
Cross focus points 41 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon 1 Sony E
Available lenses 13 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30s 30s
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shooting rate 15.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom WB
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
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize 1/60s 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
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 file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Optional None
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 201g (0.44 lbs) 287g (0.63 lbs)
Dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around score 52 69
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 22.2
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 12.2
DXO Low light score 420 796
Other
Battery life 220 photos 330 photos
Form 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 Single Single
Retail pricing $170 $599