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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T

Portability
92
Imaging
45
Features
63
Overall
52
Nikon 1 J3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-5T front
Portability
89
Imaging
58
Features
79
Overall
66

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T 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
  • Introduced November 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 J2
  • Refreshed by Nikon 1 J4
Sony NEX-5T
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 276g - 111 x 59 x 39mm
  • Announced August 2013
  • Previous Model is Sony NEX-5R
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T Overview

The following is a in depth review of the Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-5T, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the 1 J3 (14MP) and the NEX-5T (16MP) is fairly similar but the 1 J3 (1") and NEX-5T (APS-C) have totally different sensor measurements.

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The 1 J3 was unveiled 4 months after the NEX-5T which means that they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight to a in depth comparison, here is a concise summation of how the 1 J3 scores against the NEX-5T with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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

 1 J3 NEX-5T 

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

 NEX-5T 1 J3 
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

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

 1 J3 NEX-5T 
AnnouncedNovember 2013August 2013Similar age
Focus manually Very exact focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T Physical Comparison

In case you're going to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J3 comes with outer dimensions of 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 201 grams (0.44 lbs) while the Sony NEX-5T has sizing of 111mm x 59mm x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5") and a weight of 276 grams (0.61 lbs).

Compare the Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-5T in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you use at the time. Following is a front view measurement comparison of the 1 J3 versus the NEX-5T.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J3 and NEX-5T is 92 and 89 respectively.

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

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The picture underneath will help provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J3 and NEX-5T.

As you have seen, both cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 J3 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more difficult and the Sony NEX-5T will offer extra detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images more aggressively.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T Screen and ViewFinder

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

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Portrait photography factors
Sony NEX-5T Portrait photography factors
59
focusing manually
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
74
has manual focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports face detection autofocus
delivers RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Street photography factors
Sony NEX-5T Street photography factors
70
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
lighter than competition in class (201g)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
80
tilting screen
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW files
features focus by touch
great ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Sports photography details
Sony NEX-5T Sports photography details
58
silent mode (1/16,000s)
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
low battery power (220 shots)
69
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Travel photography info
Sony NEX-5T Travel photography info
69
lighter than competition in class (201 grams)
decent megapixels (14MP)
has built in flash
low battery power (220 per charge)
screen is not selfie friendly
77
features focus by touch
megapixel count decent (16MP)
display is selfie friendly
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony NEX-5T as a Landscape photography camera
64
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
decent megapixels (14MP)
nice sensor size (1")
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
low battery power (220 CIPA)
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
great ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 J3
Vlogging with Sony NEX-5T
30
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (201g)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
73
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
supports face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
no image stabilization
does not have external mic support
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-5T Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-5T
 Nikon 1 J3Sony Alpha NEX-5T
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 J3 Sony Alpha NEX-5T
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2013-11-30 2013-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip - 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 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3072 4912 x 3264
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 135 99
Cross focus points 41 25
Lens
Lens mount Nikon 1 Sony E
Amount of lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921k dots 922k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology TFT LCD Tilt Up 180° Down 50° TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shutter rate 15.0fps 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 7.00 m (ISO100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash synchronize 1/60 seconds 1/160 seconds
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 x1080 (60p/60i/24p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 201 grams (0.44 lbs) 276 grams (0.61 lbs)
Physical dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 111 x 59 x 39mm (4.4" x 2.3" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 78
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 23.6
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 13.0
DXO Low light score 420 1015
Other
Battery life 220 shots 330 shots
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes ((10/2 sec. delay), Self-timer (Cont.) (with 10 sec. delay; 3/5 exposures))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $170 $400