Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5
92 Imaging
49 Features
62 Overall
54


88 Imaging
52 Features
72 Overall
60
Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs
(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
(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

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.

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.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Gallery
The following is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon 1 J4 & Olympus PEN E-PL5. The full galleries are available at Nikon 1 J4 Gallery & Olympus E-PL5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Olympus E-PL5
1 J4 | E-PL5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | April 2014 | ![]() | September 2012 | More modern by 19 months |
Display resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer display (+577k dot) |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Nikon 1 J4
E-PL5 | 1 J4 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | More exact focus | ||
Display type | Tilting | ![]() | Fixed | Tilting display |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL5
1 J4 | E-PL5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Display sizing | 3" | ![]() | 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.
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.

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 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 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications
Nikon 1 J4 | Olympus 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 |