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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100

Portability
92 Imaging
49 Features
62 Overall
54
Nikon 1 J4 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89 Imaging
65 Features
74 Overall
68

Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J4
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 232g - 100 x 60 x 29mm
  • Revealed April 2014
  • Older Model is Nikon 1 J3
  • Replacement is Nikon 1 J5
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Revealed August 2014
  • Earlier Model is Sony a5000
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Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Nikon 1 J4 versus Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap between the resolutions of the 1 J4 (18MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the 1 J4 (1") and a5100 (APS-C) use different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 J4 was brought out 4 months prior to the a5100 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go in to a full comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the 1 J4 grades versus the a5100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J4 over the Sony a5100

					

					

						
 1 J4 a5100 
Display resolution1037k922kCrisper display (+115k dot)
					

				


				

					

						
Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Nikon 1 J4

					

					

						
 a5100 1 J4 
Focus manually  Dial accurate focusing
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
					

				


				

					

						
Common features in the Nikon 1 J4 and Sony a5100

					

					

						
 1 J4 a5100 
RevealedApril 2014August 2014Similar age
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen  Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display  Easily navigate
					

				

				

	
	
	
	

				

					

						
Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

					

					

						
If you're looking to lug around your camera, you have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J4 has got outer measurements 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 a5100 has measurements of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") having a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).
Examine the Nikon 1 J4 versus Sony a5100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses
Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are working with at that moment. Underneath is the front view sizing comparison of the 1 J4 vs the a5100.
Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 size comparison
Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J4 and a5100 is 92 and 89 respectively.
Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison					

				


				

					

						
Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

					

					

						
Sometimes, it can be tough to visualize the gap between sensor measurements simply by going over specifications. The photograph underneath will help provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 J4 and a5100.
Plainly, each of these cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 J4 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Sony a5100 will offer you greater detail having its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images far more aggressively.

						Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison
					

				


				

					

						
Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

					

					

											

					Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison				


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Photography Type Scores

					

				

				
Portrait Comparison
Nikon 1 J4 Portrait photography info
Sony a5100 Portrait photography info
56
 sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
 nice sensor size (1")
 features face detect focus
 saves RAW formats
 focusing manually not possible
 external flash not possible
72
 you can focus manually
 good  resolution (24 megapixels)
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 provides face detection autofocus
 exports RAW formats
 can't use external flash
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Street Comparison
 Nikon 1 J4 as a Street photography camera
 Sony a5100 as a Street photography camera
74
 nice sensor size (1")
 saves RAW formats
 offers touch to focus
 lighter than competition (232g)
 screen is fixed
 no image stabilization
82
 has a tilting screen
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 exports RAW formats
 boasts touch focus
 good ISO range (25,600)
 does not have image stabilization
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Sports Comparison
Nikon 1 J4 Sports photography information
Sony a5100 Sports photography information
62
 silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
 high max frames per second (60.0 frames per second)
 sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
 nice sensor size (1")
 features tracking focus
 sensor has phase detect auto focus
 no image stabilization
 not so great battery (300 per charge)
68
 good  resolution (24 megapixels)
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 provides tracking autofocus
 better than average battery power (400 shots)
 sensor has phase detect autofocus
 low frames per second (6.0 fps)
 does not have image stabilization
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Travel Comparison
Nikon 1 J4 Travel photography advice
Sony a5100 Travel photography advice
69
 lighter than competition (232g)
 offers touch to focus
 sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
 has built in flash
 does not have Timelapse function
 not so great battery (300 CIPA)
 screen is not selfie friendly
80
 better than average battery power (400 CIPA)
 boasts touch focus
 good  resolution (24 megapixels)
 flash built-in
 doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison
Nikon 1 J4 Landscape photography factors
Sony a5100 Landscape photography factors
56
 change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
 screen is a decent size (3")
 sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
 nice sensor size (1")
 saves RAW formats
 focusing manually not possible
 no image stabilization
 not so great battery (300 per charge)
 does not have Timelapse function
79
 you can focus manually
 interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
 screen size is good (3")
 good  resolution (24MP)
 good sensor size (APS-C)
 good ISO range (25,600)
 exports RAW formats
 better than average battery power (400 per charge)
 does not have image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison
Nikon 1 J4 Vlogging details
Sony a5100 Vlogging details
34
 has touchscreen
 features face detect focus
 video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
 lighter than competition (232 grams)
 screen is not selfie friendly
 no image stabilization
 does not have microphone support
34
 touch screen
 provides face detection autofocus
 high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
 doesn't feature selfie friendly display
 does not have image stabilization
 lack of external microphone jack
Photography Glossary
				
								
				

					

						
Nikon 1 J4 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

					

					

											


					

						Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J4 and Sony a5100
 Nikon 1 J4Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J4 Sony Alpha a5100
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2014-04-10 2014-08-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4 Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 18MP 24MP
Anti alias filter    
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and  16:9
Highest resolution 5232 x 3488 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW pictures    
Autofocusing
Manual focusing    
Autofocus touch    
Autofocus continuous    
Single autofocus    
Autofocus tracking    
Selective autofocus    
Center weighted autofocus    
Multi area autofocus    
Autofocus live view    
Face detect focus    
Contract detect focus    
Phase detect focus    
Total focus points 171 179
Cross type focus points 105 -
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly    
Liveview    
Touch screen    
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Highest quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting speed 60.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority    
Aperture priority    
Manual exposure    
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance    
Image stabilization    
Integrated flash    
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
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, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe    
Auto exposure bracketing    
WB bracketing    
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 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input    
Headphone input    
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth    
NFC    
HDMI    
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal    
Water proofing    
Dust proofing    
Shock proofing    
Crush proofing    
Freeze proofing    
Weight 232g (0.51 pounds) 283g (0.62 pounds)
Dimensions 100 x 60 x 29mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 80
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.7
DXO Low light rating not tested 1347
Other
Battery life 300 shots 400 shots
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL22 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording   With downloadable app
Storage media microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $600 $448