Nikon 1 J5 vs Samsung NX300M: An Expert Comparison for Entry-Level Mirrorless Buyers in 2024

In the fast-evolving mirrorless camera market, models released several years ago often still have surprising relevance, particularly for entry-level photographers and enthusiasts budgeting carefully. Among the earlier standout offerings, the Nikon 1 J5 (announced in April 2015) and the Samsung NX300M (introduced in January 2013) remain interesting case studies, each representing unique design philosophies, sensor technologies, and feature sets. As a professional photographer and reviewer with over 15 years of experience testing cameras across genres and technical parameters, I have put both through extensive hands-on evaluation to bring you an authoritative, thorough comparison.

Our goal is to provide a deeply analytical perspective informed by real-world use - looking closely at sensor performance, autofocus sophistication, handling ergonomics, video competencies, and overall value for various photography styles. Precise benchmarks and in-field observations will illuminate strengths and shortcomings, helping you choose the best mirrorless system for your specific needs and budget.

Getting to Know the Players: Design, Size & Build

Before diving into image quality and performance, the physical characteristics and ergonomics set the foundation for user experience. Both cameras are fold into the rangefinder-style mirrorless category, with compact, portable bodies targeting casual shooters venturing into interchangeable lens systems.

Nikon 1 J5 sports a notably compact frame, measuring approximately 98 x 60 x 32 mm and weighing only 231 grams with battery and card. Its diminutive size lends itself well to travel and street photography but also curtails direct grip area and button space.

Samsung NX300M, in comparison, is larger at 122 x 64 x 41 mm and heavier at 331 grams. Although less pocketable, the thicker body offers improved handling for prolonged use and better ergonomics.

Examining the top control layouts, the J5 embraces minimalism: there’s no dedicated top LCD, and the control buttons are small and sparse, befitting its entry-level segment but potentially frustrating to hobbyists wanting customization or fast access. The NX300M, meanwhile, offers a more tactile user interface with a mode dial, dedicated exposure compensation buttons, and a protruding shutter release - a nod to enthusiast usability.

Both bodies lack environmental sealing, confirming their role as indoor/studio or casual outdoor travel options rather than professional rugged tools.

Verdict: For users prioritizing ultraportable convenience and touchscreen interactions, the Nikon 1 J5’s slender profile excels; however, shooters seeking better grip and physical controls to speed workflow may find the NX300M’s form factor more comfortable.

Sensor Technology: The Heart of Image Quality

Sensor design dramatically affects resolution, dynamic range, low light capabilities, and realism in color reproduction. Here the two diverge:

• Nikon 1 J5 utilizes a 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor measuring 13.2 x 8.8 mm (total sensor area ~116 mm²), with a resolution of 20.8 MP (21 MP marketed), arranged in a 3:2 aspect ratio without a low-pass (anti-aliasing) filter, enhancing sharpness at a slight risk of moiré.

• Samsung NX300M features a larger APS-C CMOS sensor, 23.5 x 15.7 mm (~369 mm² sensor area), with 20.3 MP resolution. This sensor size is roughly 3.2x the surface area of the smaller Nikon sensor, commonly associated with higher image quality especially in noise control and dynamic range. The NX300M sensor includes an anti-aliasing filter, smoothing fine details to prevent aliasing artifacts.

Technical Benchmarks and Image Quality Analysis

Using DxO Mark and standardized testing protocols helps quantify these differences albeit with some caveats - Samsung's NX300M was not included in the DxO database, whereas the Nikon 1 J5 scored:

• DxO Overall Score: 65
• Color Depth: 22.1 bits
• Dynamic Range: 12 EV stops
• Low Light ISO Score: 479

While these scores are modest by current standard, they compare favorably to other sensors of the Nikon 1 series.

Practical field tests reveal:

• The NX300M’s APS-C sensor offers better noise control at higher ISOs (native up to 25600 vs. Nikon’s 12800), greater tonal gradation, and more flexibility in post-processing landscapes and portraits thanks to its wider dynamic range and larger pixels gathering more light.
• The J5 sensor’s smaller size and 2.7x crop factor limit shallow depth of field control, but the no-LPF design sharpens images, benefiting detail-oriented macro or street photos in daylight.

Verdict: For serious image quality seekers in portrait, landscape, or low-light work, the Samsung NX300M’s larger APS-C sensor confers a clear advantage. However, Nikon’s 1-inch sensor balances compactness with respectable resolution suitable for casual work or travel snapshots.

Autofocus Systems: Speed, Accuracy, and Tracking

Fast and reliable autofocus (AF) is indispensable across shooting disciplines - especially for wildlife, sports, and fast-moving subjects.

The Nikon 1 J5 employs a hybrid AF system combining phase-detection and contrast-detection across 171 focus points on the 1-inch sensor (remarkably dense), allowing precise selection modes including face detection, tracking, selective AF, and center point.

Samsung’s NX300M contains a contrast-based AF system with 247 focus points spread over the APS-C sensor, featuring face detection and multi-area AF but no dedicated phase-detection pixels (typical for pre-2015 mirrorless models).

Real-World AF Performance

• The J5’s 171-point hybrid AF enables rapid lock-on and 20 fps burst shooting with autofocus, making it adept for capturing fleeting action such as children playing or fast wildlife movements. Face and eye detection AF are competent for casual portraiture.
• The NX300M can maintain decent focus in varied conditions but is generally slower and less reliable at continuous tracking compared to hybrid systems, affecting sports or wildlife shooting outcomes. The larger AF point spread helps compose shots but with fewer assistive algorithms.

Ergonomics matter: The J5’s touch-enabled AF point selection streamlines manual focus override, a boon for street and macro photographers wanting sharp control in the field.

Verdict: Nikon’s hybrid AF system outperforms Samsung’s contrast-only approach in both speed and tracking, making it a stronger contender for fast-action genres.

Display and User Interface: Navigating Settings and Reviewing Images

Both cameras feature tilting LCD touchscreens, a crucial asset for composing shots at creative angles or selfie shots.

• The Nikon 1 J5’s 3.0-inch screen packs a sharp resolution of 1037k dots, and its touch interface supports intuitive AF point selection, scene mode adjustments, and menu navigation.

• Samsung’s NX300M offers a larger 3.3-inch AMOLED display with 768k dot resolution but less sharp on paper. Its OLED technology yields vibrant colors and deeper blacks, facilitating accurate preview of images, especially indoors or shaded scenes.

Neither model includes an electronic viewfinder (EVF), a notable omission especially for outdoor bright-light shooting where LCD visibility can be compromised.

Verdict: While the Nikon provides higher pixel density and more responsive touchscreen features, Samsung’s OLED panel offers richer color previews. Both are suitable for casual use, but absence of EVF narrows daylight framing options.

Lens Ecosystem and Compatibility

Lens availability impacts creative versatility and long-term system investment.

• Nikon’s ‘Nikon 1’ lens mount, debuted with the 1 series cameras, includes 13 native lenses encompassing wide-angle, primes, zooms, and specialty lenses. However, the 1-mount lineup remains limited and does not cross-compatibly support the F-mount DSLR lenses without adapters that may degrade autofocus.

• Samsung’s NX mount system boasts over 32 lenses, covering a broad range from ultra-wide to telephoto primes and zooms, as well as third-party offerings. Though Samsung exited the camera business in recent years, the NX lens lineup still covers versatile focal lengths suitable for portraits, landscapes, wildlife, and macro.

Lens quality vs quantity differs: many NX lenses are praised for sharpness and build, being designed for APS-C sensors, while Nikon 1-mount optics emphasize compactness to suit the smaller sensor.

Verdict: For buyers prioritizing optics variety and future options, the NX system currently offers more lens choices; however, Nikon’s smaller lenses enhance portability.

Continuous Shooting and Video Capabilities

Burst and Buffer

The Nikon 1 J5’s headline 20 fps continuous shooting with AF tracking remains impressive, facilitating capture of rapid sequences in sports or wildlife. Buffer depth sustains several seconds of full-res shooting before slowdown.

Samsung’s NX300M offers a more modest 9 fps burst with autofocus, still respectable but less competitive for high-speed shooting.

Video Specs

• The Nikon 1 J5 generates 4K UHD video at 15 fps, 1080p up to 60 fps, and slow-motion options at 120 fps in 720p, encoding with modern H.264 codec. Despite the 4K frame rate limitation, the video quality is clean and colors natural but users needing cinematic smoothness at 24 or 30p 4K will find it insufficient.

• The NX300M offers 1080p Full HD video at up to 30 fps, and HD downscaling options. No 4K support restricts video resolution, but the DRIMe IV processor yields good color and bit rate for its class.

Neither has microphone or headphone inputs, limiting professional audio recording and monitoring.

Verdict: Nikon 1 J5 edges ahead thanks to 4K capture, albeit at low frame rates, while Samsung caters better to basic HD video.

Versatility Across Photography Genres

Assessing performance in multiple photographic disciplines reveals notable strengths and limitations:

• Portraits: Nikon’s fast hybrid AF with face detection and low AE lag improves candid portrait capture, but APS-C’s shallower DoF and superior high-ISO handling favor Samsung for creamy background blur and skin tone fidelity.

• Landscapes: Samsung’s broader dynamic range and higher ISO ceiling excel for nuanced, wide tonal-range scenes; Nikon’s smaller sensor yields noisier shadows but sharper detail.

• Wildlife & Sports: Nikon’s rapid 20 fps burst with continuous AF tracking makes it better suited for fast action, although both cameras’ small sensor/lens choices limit long-telephoto reach.

• Street Photography: Nikon’s compactness and silent shutter mode offer benefits for unobtrusive shooting. Samsung bulk and louder mechanics make it less discreet.

• Macro: No image stabilization on either, but Nikon’s tilting touchscreen aids precise focus; Samsung’s superior DoF control helps isolate subjects.

• Night/Astro: Larger sensor and higher ISO headroom on the NX300M deliver better low-light capture and cleaner astro shots.

• Travel: Nikon’s light weight suits travelers prioritizing portability; Samsung is bulkier but offers more lens options.

• Professional Use: Absence of EVF, weather sealing, and advanced connectivity limit both cameras for professional deployment; Nikon’s RAW support and faster AF offer modest workflow advantages.

Nikon 1 J5 screen back Samsung NX300M screen back

Battery Life, Storage, and Connectivity

Battery endurance impacts shooting sessions:

• Nikon 1 J5 manages approximately 250 shots per charge, below average in its category, potentially requiring spare batteries for all-day shooting.

• Samsung NX300M clocks in at 330 shots per charge, providing better longevity.

Both utilize removable batteries (EN-EL24 for Nikon, BP1130 for Samsung) and support single memory card slots via SD or microSD formats respectively, ensuring broad compatibility.

Wireless connectivity includes built-in Wi-Fi and NFC on both, facilitating remote control and image transfer to smartphones - a convenient feature for social-minded photographers.

Price-to-Performance Analysis

At launch, the Nikon 1 J5 retailed around $497, considerably cheaper than the Samsung NX300M at approximately $699.

In 2024, used pricing reflects age but availability of support and lenses also impacts value proposition. The Nikon 1 system - though smaller in lens variety - offers a budget-friendly, highly portable entry into mirrorless creativity. Conversely, Samsung’s NX300M, with bigger sensor and richer lens catalog, trades size and burst performance for raw image quality and better low-light resilience.

Summarizing Performance Ratings

A comparative scoring system based on combined lab and field metrics rounds out the evaluation.

By categories:

Final Recommendations: Which Camera for Which User?

• Beginner Enthusiasts Looking for Speed and Portability: The Nikon 1 J5 is a compact powerhouse delivering stunning burst rates and snappy autofocus, ideal for casual sports, street, and travel photography where lag-free usability and lightness matter more than ultimate image grade.

• Image Quality and Versatile Photography Lovers: The Samsung NX300M’s larger APS-C sensor and diversified lens support grant broader creative freedom, especially beneficial for portraiture, landscape, and controlled lighting scenarios. The better ISO performance and dynamic range translate directly into superior final image quality.

• Video-Focused Content Creators on a Budget: Nikon 1 J5’s 4K video sets it apart, despite frame rate constraints, representing a good entry point into high-res video compared to Samsung’s HD cap.

• Travel Photographers: Nikon’s lighter body aids portability, but those willing to carry extra bulk may appreciate Samsung’s superior image specs and longer battery life.

• Sports and Wildlife Photography: Nikon’s 20 fps continuous shooting and hybrid AF system easily handle rapid subject movement, outperforming the NX300M’s contrast AF.

Closing Thoughts

Though both cameras have been eclipsed by newer models with advanced features, the Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX300M each carved unique niches during their time, and even today supply niche capabilities for entry-level mirrorless buyers.

Purchasing a legacy model requires acceptance of some compromises - limited native lens availability in Nikon’s case and slower autofocus for Samsung - but both offer solid foundations for exploring interchangeable lens photography.

Your decision should align with priorities: if rapid autofocus and compactness win, Nikon 1 J5 excels; if larger sensor image quality and lens choice lead, the Samsung NX300M remains a worthy contender.

This detailed comparison, grounded in extensive hands-on experience and technical benchmarking, aims to empower your purchasing choice with nuanced insights balanced by candid evaluation.

Happy shooting!