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Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
78
Overall
63
Nikon 1 J5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J5
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 231g - 98 x 60 x 32mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Nikon 1 J4
Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Released February 2011
  • Old Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Replacement is Olympus E-PL3
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Overview

Its time to look a little more closely at the Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference between the resolutions of the 1 J5 (21MP) and E-PL2 (12MP) and the 1 J5 (1") and E-PL2 (Four Thirds) use totally different sensor measurements.

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The 1 J5 was announced 4 years after the E-PL2 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving in to a detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the 1 J5 matches up against the E-PL2 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J5 over the Olympus E-PL2

 1 J5 E-PL2 
ReleasedApril 2015February 2011More modern by 51 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kSharper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Nikon 1 J5

 E-PL2 1 J5 

Common features in the Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus E-PL2

 1 J5 E-PL2 
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"3"Identical display measurements

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you have to consider its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 J5 features exterior measurements of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL2 has proportions of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") having a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs).

Examine the Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are utilising at that time. Below is the front view dimensions comparison of the 1 J5 against the E-PL2.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the 1 J5 and E-PL2 is 91 and 85 respectively.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its tough to see the difference between sensor sizes just by reviewing technical specs. The pic below should give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 J5 and E-PL2.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 1 J5 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF trickier and the Nikon 1 J5 will deliver extra detail with its extra 9MP. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern 1 J5 is going to have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Portrait photography information
Olympus E-PL2 Portrait photography information
65
manual focus
MP count decent (21MP)
sensor size is good (1")
features face detect autofocus
supports RAW formats
no external flash support
60
has manual focus
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
low MP (12MP)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon 1 J5
Street photography with Olympus E-PL2
80
screen tilts
sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW formats
features focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (231g)
lack of image stabilization
73
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
fixed screen
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Sports photography camera
Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
64
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
high frames per second (20.0 fps)
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is good (1")
features tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (250 per charge)
45
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
provides tracking focus
low frames per second (3.0 frames per second)
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (280 shots)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Travel photography info
Olympus E-PL2 Travel photography info
80
lighter than competition in class (231g)
features focus via touch
MP count decent (21MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
terrible battery pack (250 shots)
51
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
terrible battery pack (280 shots)
low MP (12MP)
does not contain selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Landscape photography details
Olympus E-PL2 Landscape photography details
69
manual focus
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
MP count decent (21MP)
sensor size is good (1")
no anti-alias filter
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
terrible battery pack (250 CIPA)
61
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
low MP (12 megapixels)
terrible battery pack (280 per charge)
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Vlogging details
Olympus E-PL2 Vlogging details
75
display is selfie friendly
touchscreen enabled
features face detect autofocus
video resolution high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (231 grams)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
29
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
provides face detect focusing
does not contain selfie friendly display
low res video (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus E-PL2
 Nikon 1 J5Olympus PEN E-PL2
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 J5 Olympus PEN E-PL2
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-04-03 2011-02-11
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed 5A Truepic V
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 12800 6400
Min native ISO 160 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 171 11
Lens
Lens mount type Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Available lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 1,037k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 20.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) 10.00 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, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync - 1/160 secs
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 4K (15p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (120p/60p/30p) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 231g (0.51 pounds) 362g (0.80 pounds)
Dimensions 98 x 60 x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 55
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 21.4
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 10.2
DXO Low light rating 479 573
Other
Battery life 250 photos 280 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL24 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC
Storage slots 1 1
Retail cost $497 $0