Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GX8

Below is a extensive comparison of the Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GX8, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the 1 J5 (21MP) and the GX8 (20MP) is fairly well matched but the 1 J5 (1") and GX8 (Four Thirds) have different sensor dimensions.

Photography Glossary

The 1 J5 was announced 3 months earlier than the GX8 which means that they are both of a similar age. The two cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before delving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple overview of how the 1 J5 scores vs the GX8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

This is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon 1 J5 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8. The whole galleries are viewable at Nikon 1 J5 Gallery & Panasonic GX8 Gallery.

In case you're planning to lug around your camera, you will need to factor in its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J5 has got outer 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) whilst the Panasonic GX8 has specifications of 133mm x 78mm x 63mm (5.2" x 3.1" x 2.5") having a weight of 487 grams (1.07 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic GX8 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at that moment. Following is a front view scale comparison of the 1 J5 and the GX8.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the 1 J5 and GX8 is 91 and 74 respectively.

Sometimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The photograph below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 J5 and GX8.

As you can plainly see, both cameras have different megapixel count and different sensor measurements. The 1 J5 with its tinier sensor is going to make getting shallow depth of field more challenging and the Nikon 1 J5 will resolve greater detail with its extra 1MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively.