Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony NEX-3

Let's look more in depth at the Nikon 1 J4 and Sony NEX-3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the 1 J4 (18MP) and NEX-3 (14MP) and the 1 J4 (1") and NEX-3 (APS-C) provide different sensor sizes.

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The 1 J4 was launched 3 years after the NEX-3 which is a fairly large difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick summation of how the 1 J4 matches up vs the NEX-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

The following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon 1 J4 & Sony Alpha NEX-3. The complete galleries are available at Nikon 1 J4 Gallery & Sony NEX-3 Gallery.

For anyone who is looking to travel with your camera often, you will want to take into account its weight and dimensions. The Nikon 1 J4 has exterior 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 Sony NEX-3 has dimensions of 117mm x 62mm x 33mm (4.6" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 297 grams (0.65 lbs).

Look at the Nikon 1 J4 and Sony NEX-3 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you select during that time. Below is a front view proportions comparison of the 1 J4 and the NEX-3.

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J4 and NEX-3 is 92 and 89 respectively.

Usually, it is tough to visualize the contrast in sensor dimensions purely by going through specs. The image below should give you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J4 and NEX-3.

As you can plainly see, both of the cameras come with different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The 1 J4 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field more difficult and the Nikon 1 J4 will provide greater detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a good deal more aggressively. The fresher 1 J4 provides an advantage in sensor innovation.