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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8

Portability
92
Imaging
49
Features
62
Overall
54
Nikon 1 J4 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL8 front
Portability
86
Imaging
54
Features
76
Overall
62

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J4
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 232g - 100 x 60 x 29mm
  • Launched April 2014
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 J3
  • Later Model is Nikon 1 J5
Olympus E-PL8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 357g - 115 x 67 x 38mm
  • Launched September 2016
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PL7
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL9
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 Overview

Lets examine more closely at the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. The resolution of the 1 J4 (18MP) and the E-PL8 (16MP) is relatively well matched but the 1 J4 (1") and E-PL8 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 J4 was launched 3 years before the E-PL8 and that is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the 1 J4 grades vs the E-PL8 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Olympus E-PL8

 1 J4 E-PL8 

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL8 over the Nikon 1 J4

 E-PL8 1 J4 
LaunchedSeptember 2016April 2014Fresher by 29 months
Manual focus Very precise focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL8

 1 J4 E-PL8 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Screen resolution1037k1037kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J4 provides outside dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") having a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Olympus E-PL8 has sizing of 115mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 357 grams (0.79 lbs).

Look at the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL8 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you select at the time. Below is the front view dimension comparison of the 1 J4 vs the E-PL8.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J4 and E-PL8 is 92 and 86 respectively.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is very hard to envision the difference between sensor sizing just by looking at specifications. The graphic here will help provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J4 and E-PL8.

To sum up, both cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 1 J4 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallow DOF harder and the Nikon 1 J4 will give you greater detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The older 1 J4 is going to be behind in sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Portrait photography highlights
56
MP count good (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
has face detect focus
supports RAW files
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
72
you can focus manually
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with face detection autofocus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Street photography features
Olympus E-PL8 Street photography features
74
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
boasts touch to focus
lighter than competitors in class (232 grams)
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
84
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
good ISO range (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Sports photography camera
62
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
fast continuous shooting (60.0 fps)
MP count good (18MP)
good sensor size (1")
has tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
67
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking autofocus
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Travel photography camera
69
lighter than competitors in class (232 grams)
boasts touch to focus
MP count good (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not have a selfie friendly display
71
boasts touch to focus
decent MP (16 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PL8 as a Landscape photography camera
56
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
MP count good (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
supports RAW files
manual focus not available
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse recording
80
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
decent MP (16MP)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
exports RAW formats
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Vlogging highlights
Olympus E-PL8 Vlogging highlights
34
screen is touchscreen
has face detect focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors in class (232g)
does not have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
lack of microphone socket
35
touchscreen
has image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus E-PL8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus E-PL8
 Nikon 1 J4Olympus PEN E-PL8
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 J4 Olympus PEN E-PL8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-04-10 2016-09-19
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4 TruePic VII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5232 x 3488 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW files
Lowest boosted ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points 171 81
Cross type focus points 105 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 13 107
Crop factor 2.7 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 1,037k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Highest silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames per sec 8.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings 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 no built-in flash
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1472 x 984 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 232g (0.51 lbs) 357g (0.79 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 115 x 67 x 38mm (4.5" x 2.6" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 350 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL22 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots One One
Launch price $600 $500