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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5

Portability
92
Imaging
49
Features
62
Overall
54
Nikon 1 J4 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL5 front
Portability
88
Imaging
52
Features
72
Overall
60

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J4
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 232g - 100 x 60 x 29mm
  • Introduced April 2014
  • Replaced the Nikon 1 J3
  • Newer Model is Nikon 1 J5
Olympus E-PL5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced September 2012
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. The image resolution of the 1 J4 (18MP) and the E-PL5 (16MP) is fairly close but the 1 J4 (1") and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) come with totally different sensor size.

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The 1 J4 was unveiled 19 months after the E-PL5 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summary of how the 1 J4 grades against the E-PL5 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Olympus E-PL5

 1 J4 E-PL5 
IntroducedApril 2014September 2012More modern by 19 months
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Nikon 1 J4

 E-PL5 1 J4 
Focus manually More exact focus
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL5

 1 J4 E-PL5 
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J4 provides external measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Olympus E-PL5 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).

Look at the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL5 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the 1 J4 against the E-PL5.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J4 and E-PL5 is 92 and 88 respectively.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it can be difficult to see the contrast in sensor sizes purely by looking through technical specs. The image underneath will offer you a better sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 J4 and E-PL5.

As you have seen, both of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The 1 J4 with its smaller sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field more challenging and the Nikon 1 J4 will result in more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The more modern 1 J4 is going to have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Portrait photography advice
Olympus E-PL5 Portrait photography advice
56
good resolution (18MP)
sensor size is good (1")
provides face detect focusing
saves RAW files
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
71
focusing manually
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon 1 J4
Street photography with Olympus E-PL5
74
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
comes with touch to focus
lighter than competition (232 grams)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
85
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
has touch to focus
very good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-PL5 Sports photography highlights
62
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
fast shooting (60.0 frames/s)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
provides tracking focus
comes with phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (300 CIPA)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
has tracking autofocus
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL5 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competition (232 grams)
comes with touch to focus
good resolution (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
not so great battery (300 per charge)
display isn't selfie friendly
75
has touch to focus
good megapixels (16MP)
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL5 Landscape photography details
56
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
saves RAW files
focusing manually not possible
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (300 shots)
no Time Lapse function
74
focusing manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
good sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
very good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL5 Vlogging features
34
touchscreen capability
provides face detect focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (232g)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
no mic port
78
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL5
 Nikon 1 J4Olympus PEN E-PL5
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 J4 Olympus PEN E-PL5
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2014-04-10 2012-09-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Full resolution 5232 x 3488 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 171 35
Cross type focus points 105 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3"
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per second 8.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1)
Flash modes Auto, auto + red-eye reduction, fill-flash, fill-flash w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear curtain w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1472 x 984 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 232 grams (0.51 pounds) 325 grams (0.72 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 72
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 889
Other
Battery life 300 images 360 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL22 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Retail pricing $600 $400