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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6

Portability
92
Imaging
45
Features
63
Overall
52
Nikon 1 J3 front
 
Sony Alpha NEX-6 front
Portability
85
Imaging
58
Features
76
Overall
65

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 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
  • Announced November 2013
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 J2
  • Successor is Nikon 1 J4
Sony NEX-6
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 345g - 120 x 67 x 43mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Successor is Sony A6000
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-6, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the latter is a Advanced Mirrorless by brands Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the 1 J3 (14MP) and the NEX-6 (16MP) is relatively similar but the 1 J3 (1") and NEX-6 (APS-C) provide different sensor measurements.

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The 1 J3 was announced 9 months later than the NEX-6 so they are both of a similar generation. Both of these cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before going straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a simple summary of how the 1 J3 scores against the NEX-6 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J3 over the Sony NEX-6

 1 J3 NEX-6 
LaunchedNovember 2013March 2013More recent by 9 months

Reasons to pick Sony NEX-6 over the Nikon 1 J3

 NEX-6 1 J3 
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-6

 1 J3 NEX-6 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen measurements
Screen resolution921k921kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Missing Touch friendly screen

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J3 features 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) and the Sony NEX-6 has sizing of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") along with a weight of 345 grams (0.76 lbs).

Examine the Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-6 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached during that time. Underneath is a front view overall size comparison of the 1 J3 against the NEX-6.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J3 and NEX-6 is 92 and 85 respectively.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it's difficult to imagine the difference between sensor measurements simply by reviewing specs. The photograph here should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J3 and NEX-6.

All in all, both the cameras provide different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 1 J3 having a tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Sony NEX-6 will offer you extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs more aggressively. The more modern 1 J3 should have a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Portrait photography information
Sony NEX-6 Portrait photography information
59
manual focus
decent megapixels (14MP)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
no external flash support
74
focusing manually
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
provides face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Street photography information
Sony NEX-6 Street photography information
70
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
lighter than competition in class (201g)
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
78
tilting screen
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports RAW files
lighter than others in class (345g)
above average ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Sports photography advice
Sony NEX-6 Sports photography advice
58
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
offers tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
bad battery power (220 shots)
66
MP count decent (16MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Travel photography camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition in class (201g)
decent megapixels (14MP)
flash built-in
bad battery power (220 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
75
lighter than others in class (345 grams)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have a selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 Landscape photography advice
Sony NEX-6 Landscape photography advice
64
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
exports RAW files
no image stabilization
bad battery power (220 per charge)
75
focusing manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
above average ISO range (25,600)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J3 as a Vlogging camera
Sony NEX-6 as a Vlogging camera
30
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (201g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone jack
32
provides face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (345 grams)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
no mic socket
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Sony NEX-6 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J3 and Sony NEX-6
 Nikon 1 J3Sony Alpha NEX-6
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 J3 Sony Alpha NEX-6
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Announced 2013-11-30 2013-03-25
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 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 16 megapixels
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 format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points 135 99
Cross focus points 41 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Sony E
Available lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD Xtra Fine LCD with Tilt Up 90� and Down 45�
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter rate 15.0 frames/s 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m 6.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash synchronize 1/60 secs 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic port
Headphone port
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 gr (0.44 pounds) 345 gr (0.76 pounds)
Physical dimensions 101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1") 120 x 67 x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 52 78
DXO Color Depth score 20.4 23.7
DXO Dynamic range score 11.0 13.1
DXO Low light score 420 1018
Other
Battery life 220 pictures 360 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL20 NPFW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Cost at release $170 $365