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Nikon 1 J2

 
Nikon 1 J2 front
 
Portability
91
Imaging
40
Features
60
Overall
48

Nikon 1 J2 summary

Nikon 1 J2 is Nikon's Entry-Level Mirrorless digital camera first announced on August of 2012. The camera has a 10MP, CMOS 1" size sensor with a max resolution of 3872 x 2592.

Nikon released this model as a way to update the older Nikon 1 J1 (Read Full Comparison) & subsequently brought out the more recent Nikon 1 J3 (Read Full Comparison) in an effort to replace this camera.

The 1 J2 places at #100 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras & over all #461 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our collection. You should try our Smart camera finder to get camera rankings based on your customized requirements.

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The following is a graph of specific factors used in the rating system.

Nikon 1 J2 history

The Nikon 1 J2 has a history of related digital cameras. Listed below, you can see all previous and more recent models alongside main features.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-1-J5 front thumbnailNikon 1 J5
1 J2 vs 1 J5
21MP1"20.0 fps2015
Nikon-1-S2 front thumbnailNikon 1 S2
1 J2 vs 1 S2
14.2MP1"60.0 fps2014
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Nikon-1-J4 front thumbnailNikon 1 J4
1 J2 vs 1 J4
18MP1"60.0 fps2014
Nikon-1-V3 front thumbnailNikon 1 V3
1 J2 vs 1 V3
18MP1"60.0 fps2014
Nikon-1-J3 front thumbnailNikon 1 J3
1 J2 vs 1 J3
14MP1"15.0 fps2013
Nikon-1-AW1 front thumbnailNikon 1 AW1
1 J2 vs 1 AW1
14MP1"60.0 fps2013
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Nikon-1-S1 front thumbnailNikon 1 S1
1 J2 vs 1 S1
10MP1"15.0 fps2013

Nikon 1 J2 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of good and bad points of the Nikon 1 J2 based on things that are often considered necessary in a digital camera.

built-in flash
decent sensor size (1")
focusing manually
has HDMI port
has phase detect auto focus
has tracking autofocus
lighter than others (238g)
screen has good resolution (921 thousand dot)
screen size is good (3 inch)
silent shutter (1/16,000 seconds)
supports RAW formats
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
very good minimum ISO (100)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
cannot use external flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
missing external mic port
missing headphone port
not so great battery pack (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
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Nikon 1 J2 Sensor information

The Nikon 1 J2 features the Expeed 3 processor chip. The sensor size on the Nikon 1 J2 is 13.2mm x 8.8mm (1"). The 116 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 3872 x 2592 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9.

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The CMOS sensor has 10 megapixels and has a standard ISO range of 100 to 6400. RAW photos are supported so you have more room to maneuver in post.

The image below shows the 1 J2's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The 1 J2 sensor has a crop factor of 2.7 and is showcased in green.

Nikon 1 J2 sensor size Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

To get a sense of specific aspect ratios, you can refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon 1 J2 dimensions

Nikon 1 J2 weighs 0.52 lbs (238 gr / 8.40 ounces) & the dimensions of the camera is 106mm x 61mm x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2"). The weight of typical Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329 gr and the Nikon 1 J2 is less heavy as compared to other rivals.

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The following is a photo of the Nikon 1 J2 next to a softdrink so you're able to get a feel for its size.

Nikon 1 J2 dimensions scale

The top view below will provide the button design on the 1 J2.

Nikon 1 J2 topview buttons dials

Nikon 1 J2 Lens information

The 1 J2 uses the Nikon 1 mount and has 13 lenses that you can purchase. Here is some of the lenses we have in our database that will work with the 1 J2.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Nikon-1-Nikkor-11-27.5mm-f3.5-5.6 lensNikon 1 Nikkor 11-27.5mm f3.5-5.611-27.5mmf/3.5-5.6 83g
Nikon-1-Nikkor-32mm-f1.2 lensNikon 1 Nikkor 32mm f1.232mmf/1.2 235g
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Nikon-1-Nikkor-AW-10mm-f2.8 lensNikon 1 Nikkor AW 10mm f2.810mmf/2.8 118g
Nikon-1-Nikkor-VR-30-110mm-f3.8-5.6 lensNikon 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f3.8-5.630-110mmf/3.8-5.6 180g
Nikon-1-Nikkor-VR-10-30mm-f3.5-5.6-PD-Zoom lensNikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f3.5-5.6 PD-Zoom10-30mmf/3.5-5.6 85g
Nikon-1-Nikkor-18.5mm-f1.8 lensNikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.819mmf/1.8 70g
Photography Glossary
Nikon-1-Nikkor-10mm-f2.8 lensNikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.810mmf/2.8 77g
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Nikon 1 J2 Connectivity

The 1 J2 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras that include NFC and Bluetooth connectivity can be controlled wirelessly via smartphones. You can transfer files and usually adjust settings without connecting physically with the camera.

Certain apps also give a Liveview and hit the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera comes with a HDMI port, it can be attached to an external monitor. Virtually all cameras will allow you to charge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Nikon 1 J2 Video information

The max video quality on the Nikon 1 J2 is 1920 x 1080 and you can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p quality can provide a good balance in video quality vs file size but 1080p will not leave you with any room to crop. The body does not have a microphone and headphone socket so you have got absolutely no control over the sound. It is probably best to shop for another camera should you require decent sound for your videos.

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Nikon 1 J2 Weather Sealing

Nikon 1 J2 does not have environment proofing so wet conditions might affect the camera.

Nikon 1 J2 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon 1 J2 has a 3 inch fixed screen having a resolution of 921 thousand dots.

Please note that the screen has no touch support.

Nikon 1 J2 screen and viewfinder Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

The ViewFinder details for Nikon 1 J2 are as follows:

  • ViewFinder None

For bright outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and difficult to see, viewfinders can be particularly valuable.

Nikon 1 J2 Shutter information

Nikon 1 J2 has the capability to shoot continuously at 10.0 fps. The maximum shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds. The camera also offers silent electronic shutter of 1/16000 seconds. Beware that the electronic shutter can lead to "rolling shutter" under some situations.

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Nikon 1 J2 Flash and Hot shoe information

Nikon 1 J2 comes with just built in flash without external flash support. The max flash sync speed is 1/60 seconds.

Nikon 1 J2 Autofocusing information

Nikon 1 J2 comes with both Phase Detect Auto Focus as well as Contrast Based Auto Focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot more faster & exact as compared to Contrast Based autofocusing.

It has 135 focus points to choose from. It also comes with Tracking Auto Focus for moving things. Nikon 1 J2 has got manual focusing in case it is needed in low light situations or you need to have more precise control on focusing.

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Nikon 1 J2 Battery life

The battery pack (EN-EL20) in the Nikon 1 J2 is designed to last for 230 shots with respect to the CIPA requirements making it lower in comparison with it's competition. The usual Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 has got the maximum (750) battery life in this kind of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras which have the highest battery life:

Nikon 1 J2 for varying styles of photography

The following illustration shows a outline of the Nikon 1 J2 for varying styles of photography. To understand more, visit the specific paragraph below.

Nikon 1 J2 Portrait photography features

The Nikon 1 J2 has a rating of 48 which is decent, and means the camera is relatively appropriate for portrait images. Taking portrait images favors greatly towards sensor dimensions, RAW support plus the ability to utilize external lighting.

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you can focus manually
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
low resolution sensor (10 megapixels)

Street photography with Nikon 1 J2

With a very good points total of 69, the Nikon 1 J2 is a fine choice to use in street photography. A decent street photography camera provides a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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sensor size is good (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than others (238 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization

Nikon 1 J2 Sports photography information

A average sports photography points tally of 48 suggests the Nikon 1 J2 is somewhat suited for taking photos of sports. A camera needs to have excellent tracking plus continuous shooting for sports photography.

Photography Glossary
silent mode (1/16,000 seconds)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports tracking focus
has phase detect autofocus
lack of image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (230 per charge)

Travel photography with Nikon 1 J2

Weight is super important when getting a camera for travel. In general, the Nikon 1 J2 gets a decent 60 as a travel camera which is reasonably adequate to take on your trips.

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lighter than others in class (238 grams)
built-in flash
terrible battery life (230 CIPA)
megapixel count low (10MP)
does not contain selfie friendly screen

Nikon 1 J2 as a Landscape photography camera

For anybody who is looking to purchase a camera for landscape photography, the biggest aspect will no doubt be image quality. The Nikon 1 J2 with it's average score of 56 as a landscape camera is somewhat acceptable compared to it's rivals.

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focusing manually
interchangeable lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
good sized screen (3 inch)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
no image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
bad battery pack (230 per charge)

Nikon 1 J2 Vlogging highlights

A vlogging camera should offer a articulating display screen, microphone input and preferably image stabilization. Taking everything in to account, the Nikon 1 J2 is just not appropriate for vlogging as it gets a awful score of 30.

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video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than others (238 grams)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
no external mic socket

Nikon 1 J2 Alternatives

If you are in the market for alternatives to the 1 J2, below is a collection of the highest scored cameras which fall in to the class of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line graph followed below shows you a summary of the 1 J2 vs it's top scoring competitors shown earlier.

These are some more cameras you might check out as alternatives. To review a comprehensive comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Manufacturer
Nikon
Model type
Nikon 1 J2
Type
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Revealed
2012-08-09
Body design
Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Powered by
Expeed 3
Sensor size
1"
Sensor dimensions
13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area
116.2mm²
Sensor resolution
10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution
3872 x 2592
RAW photos
Max native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
100
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points
135
Lens
Lens mount type
Nikon 1
Number of lenses
13
Crop factor
2.7
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3 inch
Screen resolution
921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology
TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating
54
DXO Color Depth rating
21.3
DXO Dynamic range rating
10.8
DXO Low light rating
363
Features
Min shutter speed
30s
Max shutter speed
1/4000s
Max silent shutter speed
1/16000s
Continuous shutter speed
10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance
5.00 m
Flash settings
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync
1/60s
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported 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)
Max video resolution
1920x1080
Video data format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight
238 grams (0.52 pounds)
Dimensions
106 x 61 x 30mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.2")
Other
Battery life
230 photographs
Form of battery
Battery Pack
Battery ID
EN-EL20
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots
1
Pricing at release
$550