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Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
78
Overall
63
Nikon 1 J5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5 front
Portability
74
Imaging
52
Features
66
Overall
57

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 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
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Old Model is Nikon 1 J4
Panasonic G5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 396g - 120 x 83 x 71mm
  • Released July 2012
  • Older Model is Panasonic G3
  • Later Model is Panasonic G6
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There is a big difference among the resolutions of the 1 J5 (21MP) and G5 (16MP) and the 1 J5 (1") and G5 (Four Thirds) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The 1 J5 was launched 2 years later than the G5 and that is a fairly big gap as far as camera tech is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Nikon 1 J5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic G5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight to a more detailed comparison, here is a quick overview of how the 1 J5 scores against the G5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J5 over the Panasonic G5

 1 J5 G5 
ReleasedApril 2015July 2012Fresher by 33 months
Screen resolution1037k920kSharper screen (+117k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic G5 over the Nikon 1 J5

 G5 1 J5 
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen

Common features in the Nikon 1 J5 and Panasonic G5

 1 J5 G5 
Manual focus More accurate focusing
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Selfie screen Both are selfie friendly
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon 1 J5 features physical dimensions of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Panasonic G5 has measurements of 120mm x 83mm x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8") having a weight of 396 grams (0.87 lbs).

Check the Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you choose at that time. Below is a front view dimensions comparison of the 1 J5 vs the G5.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability grade of the 1 J5 and G5 is 91 and 74 respectively.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it is difficult to visualize the gap in sensor sizing only by viewing technical specs. The visual underneath should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J5 and G5.

As you can tell, each of these cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The 1 J5 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF harder and the Nikon 1 J5 will result in extra detail utilizing its extra 5MP. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures way more aggressively. The younger 1 J5 should have an edge with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Portrait photography information
Panasonic G5 Portrait photography information
65
has manual focus
megapixel count good (21MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with face detect autofocus
delivers RAW files
no external flash support
71
has manual focus
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports face detect autofocus
supports RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Street photography features
Panasonic G5 Street photography features
80
screen tilts
sensor size is decent (1")
delivers RAW files
features focus via touch
lighter than average in class (231g)
lack of image stabilization
66
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
comes with focus by touch
no image stabilization
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J5
Sports photography with Panasonic G5
64
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
max frames per second high (20.0 frames per second)
megapixel count good (21MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (250 per charge)
51
megapixel count good (16MP)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (6.0 fps)
no image stabilization
does not have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Travel photography features
Panasonic G5 Travel photography features
80
lighter than average in class (231g)
features focus via touch
megapixel count good (21MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
bad battery life (250 per charge)
66
comes with focus by touch
megapixel count good (16MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
does not have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (396g)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Landscape photography advice
Panasonic G5 Landscape photography advice
69
has manual focus
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen is a good size (3")
megapixel count good (21 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
no anti aliasing filter
delivers RAW files
lack of image stabilization
bad battery life (250 CIPA)
65
has manual focus
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a good size (3")
megapixel count good (16 megapixels)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports RAW files
no image stabilization
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Vlogging info
Panasonic G5 Vlogging info
75
selfie friendly display
touchscreen
comes with face detect autofocus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than average in class (231g)
lack of image stabilization
lack of mic socket
62
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen enabled
supports face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
no image stabilization
does not have microphone port
more heavy than competition (396 grams)
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic G5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J5 and Panasonic G5
 Nikon 1 J5Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon 1 J5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-04-03 2012-07-17
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed 5A Venus Engine VII FHD
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 21MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5568 x 3712 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 12800
Minimum native ISO 160 160
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 171 23
Lens
Lens mounting type Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Total lenses 13 107
Crop factor 2.7 2.1
Screen
Display type Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 1,037k dot 920k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display tech - TFT Color LCD with wide-viewing angle
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
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 20.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m (ISO 100) 10.50 m
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, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB 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) 1920 x 1080 (60, 50, 30, 25fps) 1280 x 720 (60, 50, 30, 25fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25fps
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231 grams (0.51 pounds) 396 grams (0.87 pounds)
Physical dimensions 98 x 60 x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") 120 x 83 x 71mm (4.7" x 3.3" x 2.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score 65 61
DXO Color Depth score 22.1 21.4
DXO Dynamic range score 12.0 11.6
DXO Low light score 479 618
Other
Battery life 250 pictures 320 pictures
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL24 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 sec, 10 sec (3 images))
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $497 $699