Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony HX20V

Below, we are evaluating the Nikon 1 J5 versus Sony HX20V, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the 1 J5 (21MP) and the HX20V (18MP) is fairly close but the 1 J5 (1") and HX20V (1/2.3") enjoy different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The 1 J5 was manufactured 2 years later than the HX20V and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Both cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 J5 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Sony HX20V being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a short view of how the 1 J5 scores against the HX20V in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Below is a sample of the gallery pictures for Nikon 1 J5 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX20V. The entire galleries are provided at Nikon 1 J5 Gallery and Sony HX20V Gallery.

If you're planning to lug around your camera frequently, you should factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 J5 offers outside measurements of 98mm x 60mm x 32mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Sony HX20V has proportions of 107mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.4") accompanied by a weight of 254 grams (0.56 lbs).

Compare the Nikon 1 J5 versus Sony HX20V in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view overall size comparison of the 1 J5 vs the HX20V.

Taking into account size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 J5 and HX20V is 91 and 90 respectively.

Usually, its tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements purely by looking through specs. The photograph below will help give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 J5 and HX20V.

All in all, both cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 J5 because of its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Nikon 1 J5 will result in more detail due to its extra 3 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The newer 1 J5 provides an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.