Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5
91 Imaging
52 Features
78 Overall
62


88 Imaging
52 Features
72 Overall
60
Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Key Specs
(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
- Introduced April 2015
- Earlier Model is Nikon 1 J4
(Full Review)
- 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
- 3" Tilting Screen
- ISO 200 - 25600
- Sensor based Image Stabilization
- 1920 x 1080 video
- Micro Four Thirds Mount
- 325g - 111 x 64 x 38mm
- Revealed September 2012

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Overview
Below is a comprehensive assessment of the Nikon 1 J5 versus Olympus E-PL5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. There exists a crucial gap between the sensor resolutions of the 1 J5 (21MP) and E-PL5 (16MP) and the 1 J5 (1") and E-PL5 (Four Thirds) feature different sensor size.

The 1 J5 was launched 2 years later than the E-PL5 and that is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).
Before getting in to a detailed comparison, below is a short highlight of how the 1 J5 scores vs the E-PL5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Gallery
The following is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus PEN E-PL5. The complete galleries are viewable at Nikon 1 J5 Gallery and Olympus E-PL5 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J5 over the Olympus E-PL5
1 J5 | E-PL5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Revealed | April 2015 | ![]() | September 2012 | More recent by 31 months |
Screen resolution | 1037k | ![]() | 460k | Clearer screen (+577k dot) |
Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL5 over the Nikon 1 J5
E-PL5 | 1 J5 |
---|
Common features in the Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus E-PL5
1 J5 | E-PL5 | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Manual focus | ![]() | Dial exact focusing | ||
Screen type | Tilting | ![]() | Tilting | Tilting screen |
Screen sizing | 3" | ![]() | 3" | Equivalent screen size |
Selfie screen | ![]() | Both are selfie friendly | ||
Touch friendly screen | ![]() | Quickly navigate |
Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Physical Comparison
For anyone who is intending to lug around your camera frequently, you'll have to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J5 has external dimensions of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Olympus E-PL5 has measurements of 111mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") and a weight of 325 grams (0.72 lbs).
Contrast the Nikon 1 J5 versus Olympus E-PL5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have during that time. Here is the front view dimensions comparison of the 1 J5 vs the E-PL5.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J5 and E-PL5 is 91 and 88 respectively.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Sensor Comparison
Quite often, it can be difficult to visualize the difference between sensor measurements just by reviewing specs. The visual below might give you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J5 and E-PL5.
All in all, each of these cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The 1 J5 featuring a tinier sensor is going to make shooting shallow DOF more difficult and the Nikon 1 J5 will offer you greater detail utilizing its extra 5MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The younger 1 J5 provides an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Screen and ViewFinder


Photography Type Scores
Portrait Comparison

Street Comparison

Sports Comparison

Travel Comparison

Landscape Comparison

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PL5 Specifications
Nikon 1 J5 | Olympus PEN E-PL5 | |
---|---|---|
General Information | ||
Brand Name | Nikon | Olympus |
Model type | Nikon 1 J5 | Olympus PEN E-PL5 |
Category | Entry-Level Mirrorless | Entry-Level Mirrorless |
Introduced | 2015-04-03 | 2012-09-17 |
Physical type | Rangefinder-style mirrorless | Rangefinder-style mirrorless |
Sensor Information | ||
Powered by | Expeed 5A | - |
Sensor type | BSI-CMOS | CMOS |
Sensor size | 1" | Four Thirds |
Sensor measurements | 13.2 x 8.8mm | 17.3 x 13mm |
Sensor area | 116.2mm² | 224.9mm² |
Sensor resolution | 21 megapixel | 16 megapixel |
Anti alias filter | ||
Aspect ratio | 3:2 | 4:3 |
Max resolution | 5568 x 3712 | 4608 x 3456 |
Max native ISO | 12800 | 25600 |
Min native ISO | 160 | 200 |
RAW support | ||
Autofocusing | ||
Focus manually | ||
AF touch | ||
Continuous AF | ||
AF single | ||
Tracking AF | ||
Selective AF | ||
Center weighted AF | ||
AF multi area | ||
AF live view | ||
Face detect focusing | ||
Contract detect focusing | ||
Phase detect focusing | ||
Total focus points | 171 | 35 |
Lens | ||
Lens mount type | Nikon 1 | Micro Four Thirds |
Number of lenses | 13 | 107 |
Crop factor | 2.7 | 2.1 |
Screen | ||
Display type | Tilting | Tilting |
Display diagonal | 3" | 3" |
Display resolution | 1,037 thousand dots | 460 thousand dots |
Selfie friendly | ||
Liveview | ||
Touch friendly | ||
Viewfinder Information | ||
Viewfinder type | None | Electronic (optional) |
Features | ||
Minimum shutter speed | 30 secs | 60 secs |
Fastest shutter speed | 1/4000 secs | 1/4000 secs |
Fastest quiet shutter speed | 1/16000 secs | - |
Continuous shutter rate | 20.0 frames per second | 8.0 frames per second |
Shutter priority | ||
Aperture priority | ||
Expose Manually | ||
Exposure compensation | Yes | Yes |
Change WB | ||
Image stabilization | ||
Inbuilt flash | ||
Flash distance | 5.00 m (ISO 100) | 7.00 m (bundled FL-LM1) |
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 | ||
AE bracketing | ||
White balance bracketing | ||
Fastest flash synchronize | - | 1/250 secs |
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 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) |
Max video resolution | 3840x2160 | 1920x1080 |
Video file format | MPEG-4, H.264 | MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG |
Microphone support | ||
Headphone support | ||
Connectivity | ||
Wireless | Built-In | Eye-Fi Connected |
Bluetooth | ||
NFC | ||
HDMI | ||
USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
GPS | None | None |
Physical | ||
Environment sealing | ||
Water proofing | ||
Dust proofing | ||
Shock proofing | ||
Crush proofing | ||
Freeze proofing | ||
Weight | 231g (0.51 pounds) | 325g (0.72 pounds) |
Dimensions | 98 x 60 x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") | 111 x 64 x 38mm (4.4" x 2.5" x 1.5") |
DXO scores | ||
DXO Overall rating | 65 | 72 |
DXO Color Depth rating | 22.1 | 22.8 |
DXO Dynamic range rating | 12.0 | 12.3 |
DXO Low light rating | 479 | 889 |
Other | ||
Battery life | 250 photographs | 360 photographs |
Battery style | Battery Pack | Battery Pack |
Battery ID | 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 | $400 |