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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500

Portability
92
Imaging
49
Features
62
Overall
54
Nikon 1 J4 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
63
Features
54
Overall
59

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 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
  • Succeeded the Nikon 1 J3
  • Refreshed by Nikon 1 J5
Sony a3500
(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
  • Announced March 2014
  • Older Model is Sony A3000
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 Overview

Here, we will be comparing the Nikon 1 J4 and Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 1 J4 (18MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is pretty similar but the 1 J4 (1") and a3500 (APS-C) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The 1 J4 was brought out at a similar time to the a3500 which means that they are both of a similar generation. Each of these cameras feature different body design with the Nikon 1 J4 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before delving right into a complete comparison, here is a brief overview of how the 1 J4 matches up vs the a3500 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Sony a3500

 1 J4 a3500 
Screen resolution1037k230kSharper screen (+807k dot)
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Nikon 1 J4

 a3500 1 J4 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing

Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Sony a3500

 1 J4 a3500 
AnnouncedApril 2014March 2014Similar generation
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon 1 J4 comes with outside dimensions of 100mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 232 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Sony a3500 has dimensions of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") along with a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon 1 J4 and Sony a3500 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the 1 J4 compared to the a3500.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J4 and a3500 is 92 and 69 respectively.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor sizing only by going over specs. The graphic underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J4 and a3500.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 1 J4 due to its tinier sensor will make getting shallower DOF trickier and the Sony a3500 will offer greater detail having its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop pictures a good deal more aggressively.

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon 1 J4
Portrait photography with Sony a3500
56
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
offers face detect focus
supports RAW formats
manual focus not available
can't use external flash
77
has manual focus
decent MP (20 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features face detect focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Street photography info
Sony a3500 Street photography info
74
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
lighter than competitors (232 grams)
no moving screen
no image stabilization
57
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
heavier than competition (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Sports photography highlights
Sony a3500 Sports photography highlights
62
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
max frames per second high (60.0 fps)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
offers tracking focus
sensor has phase detect auto focus
no image stabilization
low battery pack (300 per charge)
60
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
features tracking focus
better than average battery (470 CIPA)
low frames per second (4.0 fps)
lack of image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Travel photography features
Sony a3500 Travel photography features
69
lighter than competitors (232g)
boasts focus by touch
megapixel count good (18MP)
has built in flash
lack of Timelapse recording
low battery pack (300 CIPA)
does not offer selfie friendly display
60
better than average battery (470 per charge)
decent MP (20MP)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse mode
heavier than competition (411 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Landscape photography details
Sony a3500 Landscape photography details
56
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inches)
megapixel count good (18 megapixels)
decent sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
manual focus not available
no image stabilization
low battery pack (300 per charge)
lack of Timelapse recording
70
has manual focus
change lenses (Sony E mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (20MP)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (470 CIPA)
lack of image stabilization
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Vlogging factors
Sony a3500 Vlogging factors
34
screen is touchscreen
offers face detect focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (232 grams)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
lack of microphone support
26
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have mic support
heavier than competition (411 grams)
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J4 and Sony a3500
 Nikon 1 J4Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model Nikon 1 J4 Sony Alpha a3500
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Launched 2014-04-10 2014-03-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor 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 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 5232 x 3488 5456 x 3632
Highest native ISO 12800 16000
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points 171 25
Cross focus points 105 -
Lens
Lens mount Nikon 1 Sony E
Available lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting rate 60.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m (ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
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 Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
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
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, 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
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 232g (0.51 lbs) 411g (0.91 lbs)
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 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 shots 470 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL22 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type microSD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots Single Single
Launch pricing $600 $398