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Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
78
Overall
63
Nikon 1 J5 front
 
Olympus PEN E-PM2 front
Portability
89
Imaging
53
Features
63
Overall
57

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 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
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Replaced the Nikon 1 J4
Olympus E-PM2
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 269g - 110 x 64 x 34mm
  • Introduced May 2013
  • Succeeded the Olympus E-PM1
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Overview

Lets look closer at the Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by rivals Nikon and Olympus. There is a considerable difference among the resolutions of the 1 J5 (21MP) and E-PM2 (16MP) and the 1 J5 (1") and E-PM2 (Four Thirds) have different sensor sizing.

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The 1 J5 was unveiled 23 months after the E-PM2 making them a generation away from each other. Both cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a full comparison, here is a concise summary of how the 1 J5 scores versus the E-PM2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J5 over the Olympus E-PM2

 1 J5 E-PM2 
IntroducedApril 2015May 2013More modern by 23 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k460kCrisper display (+577k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Olympus E-PM2 over the Nikon 1 J5

 E-PM2 1 J5 

Common features in the Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus E-PM2

 1 J5 E-PM2 
Focus manually Dial accurate focus
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurement
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera, you'll need to think about its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J5 has outside dimensions of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Olympus E-PM2 has measurements of 110mm x 64mm x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 269 grams (0.59 lbs).

Examine the Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. The following is a front view size comparison of the 1 J5 and the E-PM2.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 size comparison

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J5 and E-PM2 is 91 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to picture the gap in sensor sizes merely by seeing specifications. The image here will help provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J5 and E-PM2.

To sum up, the two cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The 1 J5 having a smaller sensor is going to make achieving shallower DOF more difficult and the Nikon 1 J5 will provide greater detail having an extra 5 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics more aggressively. The fresher 1 J5 should have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Portrait photography camera
65
focusing manually
sensor resolution is decent (21MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with face detect autofocus
exports RAW formats
cannot use external flash
71
manual focus
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Street photography camera
80
tilting screen
sensor size is nice (1")
exports RAW formats
features focus by touch
lighter than average (231 grams)
no image stabilization
79
image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
above average high ISO (25,600)
no moving screen
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J5
Sports photography with Olympus E-PM2
64
silent shooting (1/16,000s)
high max frames per second (20.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution is decent (21MP)
sensor size is nice (1")
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (250 shots)
66
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Travel photography camera
80
lighter than average (231 grams)
features focus by touch
sensor resolution is decent (21 megapixels)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
not so great battery power (250 CIPA)
66
provides focus via touch
good MP (16MP)
missing Timelapse mode
display is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-PM2 as a Landscape photography camera
69
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (21 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (1")
no anti aliasing filter
exports RAW formats
no image stabilization
not so great battery power (250 shots)
74
manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor based)
good MP (16MP)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
above average high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Vlogging information
Olympus E-PM2 Vlogging information
75
selfie friendly screen
screen is touchscreen
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average (231g)
no image stabilization
does not have mic jack
36
touch screen
image stabilization (Sensor based)
features face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
display is not selfie friendly
missing external microphone socket
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Olympus E-PM2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J5 and Olympus E-PM2
 Nikon 1 J5Olympus PEN E-PM2
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 J5 Olympus PEN E-PM2
Category Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed 2015-04-03 2013-05-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 5A -
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 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 4:3
Maximum resolution 5568 x 3712 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Minimum native ISO 160 200
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 171 35
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Type of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 1,037k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 20.0fps 8.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
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
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported 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)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 231 gr (0.51 pounds) 269 gr (0.59 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 60 x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") 110 x 64 x 34mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 65 72
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 22.7
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 12.2
DXO Low light rating 479 932
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 360 pictures
Battery type 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
Storage type microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Retail cost $497 $448