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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000

Portability
92
Imaging
49
Features
62
Overall
54
Nikon 1 J4 front
 
Sony Alpha A3000 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 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
  • Announced April 2014
  • Earlier Model is Nikon 1 J3
  • New Model is Nikon 1 J5
Sony A3000
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Released August 2013
  • Successor is Sony a3500
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon 1 J4 versus Sony A3000, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the 1 J4 (18MP) and the A3000 (20MP) is pretty well matched but the 1 J4 (1") and A3000 (APS-C) offer different sensor sizing.

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The 1 J4 was introduced 8 months later than the A3000 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both the cameras feature different body design with the Nikon 1 J4 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony A3000 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a detailed comparison, here is a concise view of how the 1 J4 grades against the A3000 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Sony A3000

 1 J4 A3000 
ReleasedApril 2014August 2013More recent by 8 months
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony A3000 over the Nikon 1 J4

 A3000 1 J4 
Manual focus Dial accurate focus

Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Sony A3000

 1 J4 A3000 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen measurement
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J4 offers exterior 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) whilst the Sony A3000 has measurements of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") having a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

See the Nikon 1 J4 versus Sony A3000 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at the time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the 1 J4 compared to the A3000.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J4 and A3000 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it can be tough to imagine the difference between sensor measurements merely by reading through specs. The photograph underneath should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J4 and A3000.

All in all, both of those cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 1 J4 using its tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF tougher and the Sony A3000 will give you more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop shots way more aggressively. The younger 1 J4 provides a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon 1 J4
Portrait photography with Sony A3000
56
good MP (18 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
77
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Street photography advice
Sony A3000 Street photography advice
74
sensor size is decent (1")
supports RAW formats
comes with focus by touch
lighter than others in class (232g)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
57
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
heavier than others (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 as a Sports photography camera
Sony A3000 as a Sports photography camera
62
quiet shutter (1/16,000s)
high fps (60.0 frames/s)
good MP (18 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
offers tracking focus
comes with phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (300 per charge)
60
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
great battery (470 CIPA)
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Travel photography info
Sony A3000 Travel photography info
69
lighter than others in class (232g)
comes with focus by touch
good MP (18MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
display is not selfie friendly
60
great battery (470 per charge)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
no Time Lapse function
heavier than others (411 grams)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Landscape photography features
Sony A3000 Landscape photography features
56
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
good MP (18MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports RAW formats
manual focus not available
does not have image stabilization
terrible battery pack (300 shots)
no Time Lapse function
70
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
great battery (470 shots)
does not have image stabilization
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Vlogging advice
Sony A3000 Vlogging advice
34
touchscreen
offers face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others in class (232 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
no mic support
26
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
no mic support
heavier than others (411 grams)
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony A3000 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J4 and Sony A3000
 Nikon 1 J4Sony Alpha A3000
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J4 Sony Alpha A3000
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2014-04-10 2013-08-27
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 4 BIONZ image
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5232 x 3488 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 171 25
Cross type focus points 105 -
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 Sony E
Total lenses 13 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
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 Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 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
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264, MP4
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 232 gr (0.51 lb) 411 gr (0.91 lb)
Physical dimensions 100 x 60 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 78
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.7
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.8
DXO Low light rating not tested 1068
Other
Battery life 300 images 470 images
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL22 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots Single Single
Launch cost $600 $398