Clicky

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3

Portability
91
Imaging
52
Features
78
Overall
62
Nikon 1 J5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PL3 front
Portability
88
Imaging
48
Features
52
Overall
49

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 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
  • Previous Model is Nikon 1 J4
Olympus E-PL3
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 12800
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 313g - 110 x 64 x 37mm
  • Revealed September 2011
  • Superseded the Olympus E-PL2
Photography Glossary

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Overview

Its time to take a deeper look at the Nikon 1 J5 versus Olympus E-PL3, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by brands Nikon and Olympus. There exists a large gap between the sensor resolutions of the 1 J5 (21MP) and E-PL3 (12MP) and the 1 J5 (1") and E-PL3 (Four Thirds) provide totally different sensor dimensions.

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The 1 J5 was manufactured 3 years later than the E-PL3 and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before we go into a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the 1 J5 scores vs the E-PL3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

        

Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J5 over the Olympus E-PL3

 1 J5 E-PL3 
RevealedApril 2015September 2011Fresher by 44 months
Display resolution1037k460kClearer display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL3 over the Nikon 1 J5

 E-PL3 1 J5 

Common features in the Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus E-PL3

 1 J5 E-PL3 
Manual focus Dial precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon 1 J5 enjoys physical measurements of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL3 has sizing of 110mm x 64mm x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs).

Look at the Nikon 1 J5 versus Olympus E-PL3 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are utilizing during that time. Following is a front view overall size comparison of the 1 J5 versus the E-PL3.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 J5 and E-PL3 is 91 and 88 respectively.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by reading specs. The graphic here should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 J5 and E-PL3.

All in all, both of those cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 1 J5 due to its tinier sensor will make shooting bokeh more challenging and the Nikon 1 J5 will offer you greater detail due to its extra 9MP. Greater resolution will help you crop images a bit more aggressively. The newer 1 J5 will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-PL3 Portrait photography features
64
you can focus manually
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
provides face detect focus
delivers RAW files
external flash not possible
60
focusing manually
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Street photography camera
80
screen tilts
good sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
has focus via touch
lighter than competition in class (231g)
lack of image stabilization
84
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Sports photography details
Olympus E-PL3 Sports photography details
63
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
max fps high (20.0 frames per second)
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
provides tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (250 shots)
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
offers tracking autofocus
low frames per second (6.0 frames/s)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
not so great battery pack (300 shots)
no phase detect autofocus
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PL3 as a Travel photography camera
80
lighter than competition in class (231g)
has focus via touch
MP count decent (21MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (250 per charge)
44
lack of Time Lapse mode
not so great battery pack (300 per charge)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
display isn't selfie friendly
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-PL3 Landscape photography highlights
68
you can focus manually
change lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
MP count decent (21 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
no low pass filter
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
low battery life (250 shots)
61
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
resolution not great (12MP)
not so great battery pack (300 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse mode
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Vlogging features
Olympus E-PL3 Vlogging features
75
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
provides face detect focus
high quality video (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than competition in class (231g)
lack of image stabilization
doesn't have microphone support
34
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic support
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus E-PL3
 Nikon 1 J5Olympus PEN E-PL3
General Information
Make Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon 1 J5 Olympus PEN E-PL3
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Released 2015-04-03 2011-09-20
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 5A Truepic VI
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 4032 x 3024
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 171 35
Lens
Lens mount Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 1,037 thousand dots 460 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Min shutter speed 30s 60s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/4000s
Max quiet shutter speed 1/16000s -
Continuous shutter rate 20.0 frames/s 6.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
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 Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels)
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Max flash synchronize - 1/160s
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 4K (15p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (120p/60p/30p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, Motion JPEG
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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231 grams (0.51 pounds) 313 grams (0.69 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 60 x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") 110 x 64 x 37mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 65 52
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 20.9
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 10.3
DXO Low light score 479 499
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 300 pictures
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL24 BLS-5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Price at release $497 $399