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Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8

Portability
91
Imaging
53
Features
78
Overall
63
Nikon 1 J5 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8 front
Portability
90
Imaging
54
Features
62
Overall
57

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 Key Specs

Nikon 1 J5
(Full Review)
  • 21MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 231g - 98 x 60 x 32mm
  • Announced April 2015
  • Superseded the Nikon 1 J4
Panasonic GF8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 266g - 107 x 65 x 33mm
  • Announced February 2016
  • Replaced the Panasonic GF7
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 Overview

Here, we will be reviewing the Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the 1 J5 (21MP) and GF8 (16MP) and the 1 J5 (1") and GF8 (Four Thirds) posses totally different sensor sizes.

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The 1 J5 was unveiled 10 months before the GF8 and they are both of a similar age. Both of the cameras feature the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a step-by-step comparison, here is a short introduction of how the 1 J5 grades versus the GF8 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J5 over the Panasonic GF8

 1 J5 GF8 
Selfie screen Take selfies

Reasons to pick Panasonic GF8 over the Nikon 1 J5

 GF8 1 J5 
AnnouncedFebruary 2016April 2015Fresher by 10 months
Screen resolution1040k1037kClearer screen (+3k dot)

Common features in the Nikon 1 J5 and Panasonic GF8

 1 J5 GF8 
Manual focus Very accurate focus
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen size3"3"Same screen dimensions
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera regularly, you'll have to consider its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J5 provides outside measurements 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 Panasonic GF8 has specifications of 107mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3") with a weight of 266 grams (0.59 lbs).

Check the Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is a front view dimensions comparison of the 1 J5 versus the GF8.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J5 and GF8 is 91 and 90 respectively.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its difficult to see the difference between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specifications. The graphic here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the 1 J5 and GF8.

Plainly, both of these cameras feature different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The 1 J5 with its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower depth of field harder and the Nikon 1 J5 will offer you more detail having an extra 5 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also let you crop shots way more aggressively. The older 1 J5 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon 1 J5
Portrait photography with Panasonic GF8
65
focusing manually
decent MP (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
includes face detect focus
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
65
you can focus manually
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides face detection focus
delivers RAW formats
no external flash support
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic GF8 as a Street photography camera
80
has a tilting screen
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
has touch focus
lighter than average in class (231g)
does not have image stabilization
80
tilting screen
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
delivers RAW formats
boasts focus by touch
good ISO range (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Sports photography advice
Panasonic GF8 Sports photography advice
64
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
high fps (20.0 frames per second)
decent MP (21MP)
nice sensor size (1")
includes tracking focus
has phase detect auto focus
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (250 shots)
49
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
decent MP (16MP)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
provides tracking autofocus
maximum shutter speed is a little low (1/500 seconds)
low frames per second (5.8 frames/s)
no image stabilization
low battery life (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GF8 Travel photography advice
80
lighter than average in class (231 grams)
has touch focus
decent MP (21MP)
built-in flash
display is selfie friendly
not so great battery (250 per charge)
66
boasts focus by touch
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse function
low battery life (230 CIPA)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Landscape photography information
Panasonic GF8 Landscape photography information
69
focusing manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent MP (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
does not have anti-alias filter
saves RAW files
does not have image stabilization
not so great battery (250 shots)
65
you can focus manually
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (Four Thirds)
good ISO range (25,600)
delivers RAW formats
no image stabilization
low battery life (230 per charge)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon 1 J5
Vlogging with Panasonic GF8
75
display is selfie friendly
has touchscreen
includes face detect focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 resolution)
lighter than average in class (231g)
does not have image stabilization
doesn't have microphone jack
33
touchscreen capability
provides face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external mic jack
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GF8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J5 and Panasonic GF8
 Nikon 1 J5Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon 1 J5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF8
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Announced 2015-04-03 2016-02-15
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed 5A Venus Engine
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 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 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 5568 x 3712 4592 x 3448
Maximum native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW support
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 171 23
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Amount of lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 1,037k dot 1,040k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/500 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs 1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 20.0fps 5.8fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) 5.60 m (at ISO 200)
Flash modes 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, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash on w/redeye reduction, slow sync, slow sync w/redeye reduction, flash off
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 4K (15p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (120p/60p/30p) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 50p, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Maximum video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 231 grams (0.51 lbs) 266 grams (0.59 lbs)
Physical dimensions 98 x 60 x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") 107 x 65 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 65 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 22.1 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 12.0 not tested
DXO Low light rating 479 not tested
Other
Battery life 250 shots 230 shots
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL24 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 10 secs, 3-shot/10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots Single Single
Launch price $497 $549