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Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100

Portability
85
Imaging
44
Features
66
Overall
52
Nikon 1 V2 front
 
Sony Alpha a5100 front
Portability
89
Imaging
66
Features
74
Overall
69

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 Key Specs

Nikon 1 V2
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 278g - 109 x 82 x 46mm
  • Introduced October 2012
  • Succeeded the Nikon 1 V1
  • New Model is Nikon 1 V3
Sony a5100
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony E Mount
  • 283g - 110 x 63 x 36mm
  • Launched August 2014
  • Succeeded the Sony a5000
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Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 Overview

Below is a detailed overview of the Nikon 1 V2 and Sony a5100, both Entry-Level Mirrorless digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There is a huge difference between the resolutions of the 1 V2 (14MP) and a5100 (24MP) and the 1 V2 (1") and a5100 (APS-C) enjoy different sensor sizes.

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The 1 V2 was revealed 22 months before the a5100 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon 1 V2 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera and the Sony a5100 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the 1 V2 matches up versus the a5100 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon 1 V2 over the Sony a5100

 1 V2 a5100 

Reasons to pick Sony a5100 over the Nikon 1 V2

 a5100 1 V2 
LaunchedAugust 2014October 2012More recent by 22 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution922k921kSharper display (+1k dot)
Touch display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon 1 V2 and Sony a5100

 1 V2 a5100 
Manual focus Very exact focus
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon 1 V2 offers outside dimensions of 109mm x 82mm x 46mm (4.3" x 3.2" x 1.8") having a weight of 278 grams (0.61 lbs) and the Sony a5100 has proportions of 110mm x 63mm x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4") and a weight of 283 grams (0.62 lbs).

Check the Nikon 1 V2 and Sony a5100 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is the front view physical size comparison of the 1 V2 versus the a5100.

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the 1 V2 and a5100 is 85 and 89 respectively.

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its tough to picture the difference between sensor measurements just by reading specifications. The photograph below will provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the 1 V2 and a5100.

Plainly, both of these cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 V2 having a tinier sensor is going to make shooting bokeh tougher and the Sony a5100 will deliver greater detail because of its extra 10MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images a little more aggressively. The older 1 V2 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Portrait photography advice
Sony a5100 Portrait photography advice
66
you can focus manually
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with face detect focus
saves RAW files
72
focusing manually
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with face detection autofocus
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Street photography highlights
Sony a5100 Street photography highlights
63
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
82
screen tilts
decent sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW formats
provides focus via touch
good high ISO (25,600)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Sports photography highlights
Sony a5100 Sports photography highlights
63
quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
MP count good (14MP)
good sensor size (1")
comes with tracking focus
supports phase detect auto focus
lack of image stabilization
68
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
comes with tracking autofocus
great battery (400 per charge)
comes with phase detect autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (6.0 frames per second)
no image stabilization
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon 1 V2
Travel photography with Sony a5100
62
MP count good (14MP)
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
80
great battery (400 shots)
provides focus via touch
good megapixels (24MP)
built-in flash
display is not selfie friendly
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 Landscape photography features
Sony a5100 Landscape photography features
63
you can focus manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
good sensor size (1")
saves RAW files
lack of image stabilization
no Time Lapse recording
79
focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Sony E mount)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
good megapixels (24 megapixels)
decent sensor size (APS-C)
good high ISO (25,600)
saves RAW formats
great battery (400 CIPA)
no image stabilization
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 V2 as a Vlogging camera
Sony a5100 as a Vlogging camera
29
comes with face detect focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
no mic support
34
touchscreen functionality
comes with face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
display is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external microphone jack
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Nikon 1 V2 vs Sony a5100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 V2 and Sony a5100
 Nikon 1 V2Sony Alpha a5100
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon 1 V2 Sony Alpha a5100
Class Entry-Level Mirrorless Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced 2012-10-24 2014-08-17
Body design SLR-style mirrorless Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 3A Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" APS-C
Sensor measurements 13.2 x 8.8mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 116.2mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3072 6000 x 4000
Highest native ISO 6400 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points 73 179
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of lenses 13 121
Crop factor 2.7 1.5
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 922 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 1,440 thousand dot -
Viewfinder coverage 100% -
Features
Slowest shutter speed 30 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Maximum quiet shutter speed 1/16000 seconds -
Continuous shooting speed 15.0 frames per second 6.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain Flash off, auto, fill-flaw, slow sync, redeye reduction
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/250 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60 fps), 1072 x 720 (60 fps) 640 x 240 (400), 320 x 120 (1200) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (120p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Optional Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 278 grams (0.61 lb) 283 grams (0.62 lb)
Dimensions 109 x 82 x 46mm (4.3" x 3.2" x 1.8") 110 x 63 x 36mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 50 80
DXO Color Depth rating 20.2 23.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.8 12.7
DXO Low light rating 403 1347
Other
Battery life 310 pictures 400 pictures
Battery format Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL21 NP-FW50
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous (3-5 shot))
Time lapse recording With downloadable app
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC card SD/ SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $599 $448