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Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5

Portability
87
Imaging
49
Features
79
Overall
61
Nikon 1 V3 front
 
Olympus OM-D E-M5 front
Portability
81
Imaging
52
Features
70
Overall
59

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 Key Specs

Nikon 1 V3
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 160 - 12800
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 381g - 111 x 65 x 33mm
  • Launched March 2014
  • Older Model is Nikon 1 V2
Olympus E-M5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 200 - 25600
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 425g - 122 x 89 x 43mm
  • Released April 2012
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-M5 II
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Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 Overview

Below is a thorough overview of the Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5, both Advanced Mirrorless digital cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. The image resolution of the 1 V3 (18MP) and the E-M5 (16MP) is very well matched but the 1 V3 (1") and E-M5 (Four Thirds) enjoy totally different sensor sizes.

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The 1 V3 was brought out 23 months later than the E-M5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras come with different body type with the Nikon 1 V3 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Olympus E-M5 being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting through a thorough comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the 1 V3 matches up against the E-M5 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon 1 V3 over the Olympus E-M5

 1 V3 E-M5 
ReleasedMarch 2014April 2012More recent by 23 months
Display resolution1037k610kSharper display (+427k dot)

Reasons to pick Olympus E-M5 over the Nikon 1 V3

 E-M5 1 V3 

Common features in the Nikon 1 V3 and Olympus E-M5

 1 V3 E-M5 
Manually focus Very precise focusing
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Easily navigate

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 Physical Comparison

If you're going to lug around your camera frequently, you will need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon 1 V3 has got external measurements of 111mm x 65mm x 33mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") along with a weight of 381 grams (0.84 lbs) while the Olympus E-M5 has dimensions of 122mm x 89mm x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7") and a weight of 425 grams (0.94 lbs).

Examine the Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the 1 V3 compared to the E-M5.

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the 1 V3 and E-M5 is 87 and 81 respectively.

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by checking technical specs. The visual here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 V3 and E-M5.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 V3 due to its tinier sensor will make achieving shallow depth of field trickier and the Nikon 1 V3 will give you more detail having its extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images somewhat more aggressively. The more modern 1 V3 is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 sensor size comparison

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon 1 V3 Portrait photography info
Olympus E-M5 Portrait photography info
69
you can focus manually
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
nice sensor size (1")
offers face detection autofocus
supports RAW formats
71
you can focus manually
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features face detection focus
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon 1 V3 as a Street photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Street photography camera
76
screen tilts
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
boasts focus via touch
lack of image stabilization
82
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
supports RAW formats
boasts touch to focus
environment sealing
very good high ISO (25,600)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon 1 V3
Sports photography with Olympus E-M5
62
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
high frames per second (60.0 fps)
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
nice sensor size (1")
offers tracking autofocus
sensor has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (310 shots)
67
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
features tracking autofocus
environment sealing
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon 1 V3
Travel photography with Olympus E-M5
68
boasts focus via touch
decent sensor resolution (18MP)
flash built-in
not so great battery pack (310 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
66
environment sealing
boasts touch to focus
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
missing Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon 1 V3 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus E-M5 as a Landscape photography camera
65
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen size is good (3 inch)
decent sensor resolution (18 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
lack of image stabilization
not so great battery pack (310 per charge)
73
you can focus manually
swap lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
nice sensor size (Four Thirds)
very good high ISO (25,600)
supports RAW formats
environment sealing
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon 1 V3 Vlogging factors
Olympus E-M5 Vlogging factors
35
touchscreen functionality
offers face detection autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
includes external microphone jack
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
34
touchscreen functionality
image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
features face detection focus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing external mic port
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Nikon 1 V3 vs Olympus E-M5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon 1 V3 and Olympus E-M5
 Nikon 1 V3Olympus OM-D E-M5
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon 1 V3 Olympus OM-D E-M5
Type Advanced Mirrorless Advanced Mirrorless
Launched 2014-03-13 2012-04-30
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed 4A TruePic VI
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1" Four Thirds
Sensor dimensions 13.2 x 8.8mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor area 116.2mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 18 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 3:2 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 5232 x 3488 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 12800 25600
Lowest native ISO 160 200
RAW format
Lowest enhanced ISO - 100
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 171 35
Lens
Lens support Nikon 1 Micro Four Thirds
Number of lenses 13 107
Focal length multiplier 2.7 2.1
Screen
Screen type Tilting Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 1,037k dot 610k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology TFT-LCD Touch control in electrostatic capacitance type OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic (optional) Electronic
Viewfinder resolution 2,359k dot 1,440k dot
Viewfinder coverage 100 percent 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.58x
Features
Min shutter speed 30 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Max silent shutter speed 1/16000 secs -
Continuous shutter speed 60.0fps 9.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 5.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Flash settings Fill-flash, fill-flash w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear curtain w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync (2), Manual (3 levels)
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Max flash sync 1/250 secs 1/250 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 H.264, Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 381g (0.84 lbs) 425g (0.94 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 65 x 33mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.3") 122 x 89 x 43mm (4.8" x 3.5" x 1.7")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 52 71
DXO Color Depth rating 20.8 22.8
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.7 12.3
DXO Low light rating 384 826
Other
Battery life 310 photos 360 photos
Battery form Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL20a BLN-1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 secs) Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage microSD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $997 $799