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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
92
Imaging
49
Features
62
Overall
54
Nikon 1 J4 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
38
Features
36
Overall
37

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 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
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Old Model is Nikon 1 J3
  • Later Model is Nikon 1 J5
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

Lets examine more in depth at the Nikon 1 J4 versus Olympus SZ-12, former is a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Olympus. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the 1 J4 (18MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) and the 1 J4 (1") and SZ-12 (1/2.3") possess totally different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The 1 J4 was introduced 2 years after the SZ-12 which is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both the cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 J4 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus SZ-12 being a Compact camera.

Before we go in to a complete comparison, below is a brief view of how the 1 J4 scores versus the SZ-12 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Olympus SZ-12

 1 J4 SZ-12 
AnnouncedApril 2014January 2012Newer by 28 months
Screen resolution1037k460kSharper screen (+577k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Nikon 1 J4

 SZ-12 1 J4 

Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus SZ-12

 1 J4 SZ-12 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera frequently, you are going to need to take into account its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 J4 has got physical dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Olympus SZ-12 has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Nikon 1 J4 versus Olympus SZ-12 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are employing at the time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the 1 J4 and the SZ-12.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the 1 J4 and SZ-12 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's tough to visualise the contrast in sensor dimensions just by looking through specifications. The pic underneath should give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J4 and SZ-12.

Plainly, both of these cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 J4 with its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower DOF less difficult and the Nikon 1 J4 will render greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots somewhat more aggressively. The fresher 1 J4 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
56
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detection focusing
saves RAW files
focusing manually not possible
external flash not possible
34
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Street photography advice
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography advice
74
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
comes with focus by touch
lighter than competition in class (232 grams)
no moving screen
does not have image stabilization
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (226g)
screen is fixed
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J4
Sports photography with Olympus SZ-12
62
silent shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
high max fps (60.0 frames/s)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect AF
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (300 per charge)
41
amazing zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (220 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Travel photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography info
69
lighter than competition in class (232 grams)
comes with focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
built-in flash
does not have Time Lapse function
bad battery (300 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
65
lighter than average in class (226 grams)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long zoom (600mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
terrible battery (220 per charge)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Landscape photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography details
56
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
focusing manually not possible
does not have image stabilization
bad battery (300 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
40
pretty wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
sensor resolution is decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (220 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
34
has touchscreen
comes with face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (232g)
screen isn't selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
31
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (226g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
lack of external mic support
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J4 and Olympus SZ-12
 Nikon 1 J4Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon 1 J4 Olympus SZ-12
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2014-04-10 2012-01-10
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4 -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 -
Highest resolution 5232 x 3488 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 12800 1600
Lowest native ISO 160 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 171 -
Cross focus points 105 -
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 fixed lens
Lens focal range - 25-600mm (24.0x)
Largest aperture - f/3.0-6.9
Number of lenses 13 -
Focal length multiplier 2.7 5.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/1700 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0 frames/s 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m (ISO 100) -
Flash options 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
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1472 x 984 (60p, 30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 232 gr (0.51 lbs) 226 gr (0.50 lbs)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 300 pictures 220 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL22 LI-50B
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $600 $350