Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GX9

Here is a complete overview of the Nikon 1 J5 versus Panasonic GX9, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by companies Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the 1 J5 (21MP) and the GX9 (20MP) is very close but the 1 J5 (1") and GX9 (Four Thirds) boast different sensor sizes.

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The 1 J5 was unveiled 3 years earlier than the GX9 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple summation of how the 1 J5 matches up against the GX9 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon 1 J5 & Panasonic Lumix DC-GX9. The full galleries are available at Nikon 1 J5 Gallery & Panasonic GX9 Gallery.

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera frequently, you have to consider its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J5 has outer dimensions of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") with a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Panasonic GX9 has specifications of 124mm x 72mm x 47mm (4.9" x 2.8" x 1.9") along with a weight of 407 grams (0.90 lbs).

Compare the Nikon 1 J5 versus Panasonic GX9 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the 1 J5 versus the GX9.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J5 and GX9 is 91 and 82 respectively.

Sometimes, its difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing just by viewing specifications. The graphic underneath will provide you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the 1 J5 and GX9.

To sum up, both of the cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 1 J5 having a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF more challenging and the Nikon 1 J5 will render greater detail having an extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics way more aggressively. The older 1 J5 will be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.