Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5
92 Imaging
49 Features
62 Overall
54


74 Imaging
51 Features
66 Overall
57
Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5 Key Specs
(Full Review)
- 18MP - 1" Sensor
- 3" Fixed Screen
- ISO 160 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Nikon 1 Mount
- 232g - 100 x 60 x 29mm
- Released April 2014
- Succeeded the Nikon 1 J3
- Renewed by Nikon 1 J5
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Fully Articulated Screen
- ISO 160 - 12800
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
- Introduced July 2012
- Earlier Model is Panasonic G3
- Newer Model is Panasonic G6

Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5 Overview
Let's look a bit more closely at the Nikon 1 J4 and Panasonic G5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the 1 J4 (18MP) and the G5 (16MP) is pretty similar but the 1 J4 (1") and G5 (Four Thirds) possess totally different sensor dimensions.

The 1 J4 was released 22 months later than the G5 which makes the cameras a generation apart from one another. Each of these cameras offer different body type with the Nikon 1 J4 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.
Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a brief summary of how the 1 J4 matches up against the G5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5 Gallery
This is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon 1 J4 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5. The complete galleries are provided at Nikon 1 J4 Gallery & Panasonic G5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Panasonic G5
1 J4 | G5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Introduced | April 2014 | ![]() | July 2012 | More recent by 22 months |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 920k | Crisper screen (+117k dot) |
Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Nikon 1 J4
G5 | 1 J4 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Focus manually | ![]() | Dial accurate focusing | ||
Screen type | Fully Articulated | ![]() | Fixed | Fully Articulating screen |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Easy selfies |
Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Panasonic G5
1 J4 | G5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen sizing |
Touch screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5 Physical Comparison
When you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J4 enjoys physical measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G5 has specifications of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") along with a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).
Take a look at the Nikon 1 J4 and Panasonic G5 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the 1 J4 compared to the G5.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J4 and G5 is 92 and 74 respectively.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it's difficult to envision the contrast between sensor measurements only by going over technical specs. The graphic underneath might give you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 J4 and G5.
As you have seen, both cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 J4 because of its tinier sensor will make getting bokeh trickier and the Nikon 1 J4 will offer extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The fresher 1 J4 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Panasonic G5 Specifications
Nikon 1 J4 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Company | Nikon | Panasonic |
Model type | Nikon 1 J4 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 |
Type | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Released | 2014-04-10 | 2012-07-17 |
Body design | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | SLR-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Chip | Expeed 4 | Venus Engine VII FHD |
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 | 18MP | 16MP |
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 | 12800 |
Lowest native ISO | 160 | 160 |
RAW format | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Manual focusing | ||
Touch focus | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
AF center weighted | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detection AF | ||
Contract detection AF | ||
Phase detection AF | ||
Total focus points | 171 | 23 |
Cross type focus points | 105 | - |
Lens | ||
Lens support | Nikon 1 | Micro Four Thirds |
Amount of lenses | 13 | 107 |
Crop factor | 2.7 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Range of screen | Fixed Type | Fully Articulated |
Screen diagonal | 3 inch | 3 inch |
Resolution of screen | 1,037k dot | 920k dot |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Screen tech | - | TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle |
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder | None | Electronic |
Viewfinder resolution | - | 1,440k dot |
Viewfinder coverage | - | 100 percent |
Viewfinder magnification | - | 0.7x |
Features | ||
Slowest shutter speed | 30s | 60s |
Maximum shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/4000s |
Maximum silent shutter speed | 1/16000s | - |
Continuous shooting speed | 60.0 frames per sec | 6.0 frames per sec |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Set WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Integrated flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m (ISO 100) | 10.50 m |
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, Slow Sync |
External flash | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Maximum flash sync | - | 1/160s |
Exposure | ||
Multisegment metering | ||
Average metering | ||
Spot metering | ||
Partial metering | ||
AF area metering | ||
Center weighted metering | ||
Video features | ||
Supported video resolutions | 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1472 x 984 (60p, 30p) | 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps |
Highest video resolution | 1920x1080 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, AVCHD |
Microphone input | ||
Headphone input | ||
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 | ||
Environment seal | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 232 grams (0.51 lb) | 396 grams (0.87 lb) |
Dimensions | 100 x 60 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") | 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO All around rating | not tested | 61 |
DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | 21.4 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | 11.6 |
DXO Low light rating | not tested | 618 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 300 photos | 320 photos |
Battery format | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | EN-EL22 | - |
Self timer | Yes (2 or 10 secs) | Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images)) |
Time lapse shooting | ||
Storage media | microSD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
Storage slots | One | One |
Launch pricing | $600 | $699 |