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Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500

Portability
91
Imaging
52
Features
78
Overall
62
Nikon 1 J5 front
 
Sony Alpha a3500 front
Portability
69
Imaging
62
Features
54
Overall
58

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 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
  • Introduced April 2015
  • Older Model is Nikon 1 J4
Sony a3500
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 16000
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 411g - 128 x 91 x 85mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony A3000
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Nikon 1 J5 versus Sony a3500, both Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the 1 J5 (21MP) and the a3500 (20MP) is very comparable but the 1 J5 (1") and a3500 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor size.

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The 1 J5 was revealed 13 months later than the a3500 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon 1 J5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a3500 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before going straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the 1 J5 grades versus the a3500 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 J5 over the Sony a3500

 1 J5 a3500 
IntroducedApril 2015March 2014Fresher by 13 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution1037k230kSharper display (+807k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Sony a3500 over the Nikon 1 J5

 a3500 1 J5 

Common features in the Nikon 1 J5 and Sony a3500

 1 J5 a3500 
Manually focus More accurate focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Nikon 1 J5 features outside dimensions of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) and the Sony a3500 has specifications of 128mm x 91mm x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3") accompanied by a weight of 411 grams (0.91 lbs).

Examine the Nikon 1 J5 versus Sony a3500 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you are employing during that time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the 1 J5 and the a3500.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the 1 J5 and a3500 is 91 and 69 respectively.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is very hard to imagine the contrast in sensor sizing purely by seeing specs. The graphic below should offer you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 J5 and a3500.

All in all, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The 1 J5 having a smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Nikon 1 J5 will produce greater detail because of its extra 1MP. Greater resolution can also let you crop images a little more aggressively. The younger 1 J5 should have an advantage in sensor technology.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Portrait photography info
Sony a3500 Portrait photography info
64
you can focus manually
decent megapixels (21MP)
nice sensor size (1")
supports face detect focusing
saves RAW files
cannot use external flash
77
manual focus
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides face detection focusing
saves RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Street photography factors
Sony a3500 Street photography factors
80
tilting screen
nice sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
has focus by touch
lighter than others (231 grams)
lack of image stabilization
56
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
heavier than competition in class (411g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 J5
Sports photography with Sony a3500
63
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
fast continuous shooting (20.0 fps)
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports tracking focus
has phase detect AF
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (250 shots)
59
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
provides tracking autofocus
better than average battery (470 shots)
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames/s)
does not have image stabilization
lacks phase detect AF
Photography Glossary

Travel Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 Travel photography info
Sony a3500 Travel photography info
80
lighter than others (231 grams)
has focus by touch
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
not so great battery (250 CIPA)
60
better than average battery (470 CIPA)
decent sensor resolution (20MP)
flash built-in
missing Time Lapse function
heavier than competition in class (411g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon 1 J5
Landscape photography with Sony a3500
68
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
decent megapixels (21 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
does not have anti aliasing filter
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery (250 shots)
70
manual focus
swap lenses (Sony E mount)
nice screen size (3")
decent sensor resolution (20 megapixels)
sensor size is nice (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
better than average battery (470 per charge)
does not have image stabilization
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a3500 as a Vlogging camera
75
selfie friendly display
has touchscreen
supports face detect focusing
high res video (3840 x 2160 pxls)
lighter than others (231 grams)
lack of image stabilization
no mic socket
26
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic socket
heavier than competition in class (411g)
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony a3500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 J5 and Sony a3500
 Nikon 1 J5Sony Alpha a3500
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 J5 Sony Alpha a3500
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2015-04-03 2014-03-21
Physical type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 5A BIONZ image
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 21 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 5568 x 3712 5456 x 3632
Max native ISO 12800 16000
Minimum native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 171 25
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Focal length multiplier 2.7 1.5
Screen
Screen type Tilting Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3" 3"
Screen resolution 1,037 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.47x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Maximum silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shooting rate 20.0fps 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) 6.00 m (at ISO200 / 4m at ISO100)
Flash options 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 Flash off, Auto flash, Fill-flash, Slow Sync., Rear Sync.
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 secs
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
Max video resolution 3840x2160 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 231 grams (0.51 lbs) 411 grams (0.91 lbs)
Dimensions 98 x 60 x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") 128 x 91 x 85mm (5.0" x 3.6" x 3.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 pictures 470 pictures
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL24 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2-sec. or 10-sec. delay)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC -
Card slots 1 1
Launch pricing $497 $398