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Nikon 1 J3

 
Nikon 1 J3 front
 
Portability
92
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51

Nikon 1 J3 summary

Nikon 1 J3 is Nikon's Entry-Level Mirrorless digital camera originally revealed on November of 2013. The camera features a 14MP, CMOS 1" size sensor with a full resolution of 4608 x 3072.

Nikon brought out this model in order to replace the older Nikon 1 J2 (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently released the newer Nikon 1 J4 (Read Full Comparison) as a way to update this model.

The 1 J3 stands at #94 out of 117 in Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras and overall #415 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our database. Please try out our Advanced camera filter to find camera results based on your personalized requirements.

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Here is a diagram of various factors used in the rating system.

Nikon 1 J3 history

The Nikon 1 J3 is part of a family of digital cameras. You can view the detailed list underneath.

ModelVisualizeResolutionSensor SizeMax fpsReleased
Nikon-1-J5 front thumbnailNikon 1 J5
1 J3 vs 1 J5
21MP1"20.0 fps2015
Nikon-1-S2 front thumbnailNikon 1 S2
1 J3 vs 1 S2
14.2MP1"60.0 fps2014
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Nikon-1-J4 front thumbnailNikon 1 J4
1 J3 vs 1 J4
18MP1"60.0 fps2014
Nikon-1-V3 front thumbnailNikon 1 V3
1 J3 vs 1 V3
18MP1"60.0 fps2014
Nikon-1-J3 front thumbnailNikon 1 J314MP1"15.0 fps2013
Nikon-1-AW1 front thumbnailNikon 1 AW1
1 J3 vs 1 AW1
14MP1"60.0 fps2013
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Nikon-1-S1 front thumbnailNikon 1 S1
1 J3 vs 1 S1
10MP1"15.0 fps2013
Nikon-1-V2 front thumbnailNikon 1 V2
1 J3 vs 1 V2
14MP1"15.0 fps2012
Nikon-1-J2 front thumbnailNikon 1 J2
1 J3 vs 1 J2
10MP1"10.0 fps2012
Nikon-1-J1 front thumbnailNikon 1 J1
1 J3 vs 1 J1
10MP1"10.0 fps2012
Nikon-1-V1 front thumbnailNikon 1 V1
1 J3 vs 1 V1
10MP1"10.0 fps2012
Photography Glossary

Nikon 1 J3 Pros and Cons

Here is a checklist of advantages and disadvantages of the Nikon 1 J3 based on features which are normally regarded as important in a digital camera.

comes with HDMI port
comes with tracking autofocus
decent MP (14MP)
decent sensor size (1")
delivers RAW files
has built in flash
has manual focus
lighter than others (201 grams)
screen has good resolution (921 k dot)
screen size is good (3")
silent shutter (1/16,000s)
supports phase detect AF
swap lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
bad battery life (220 per charge)
can't use external flash
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic port
does not have headphone port
does not have image stabilization
fixed screen
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Nikon 1 J3 Sensor information

The sensor measurement in the Nikon 1 J3 is 13.2mm x 8.8mm (1"). The 116 mm² sensor has the capability to capture 4608 x 3072 pixels using aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9.

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The CMOS sensor boasts 14MP and includes a standard ISO range of 160 - 6400. RAW photos are supported which means that the user has more room to maneuver in post.

The image underneath illustrates the 1 J3's sensor size in comparison to other popular sizes. The 1 J3 sensor comes with a crop factor of 2.7 and is showcased in green.

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To get an understanding of various aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon 1 J3 dimensions

Nikon 1 J3 weighs 0.44 pounds (201g or 7.09 ounces) and the dimensions of the camera is 101mm x 61mm x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1"). The weight of average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera is 329g so the Nikon 1 J3 is less heavy as compared to other competitors.

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Here is a image of the Nikon 1 J3 beside a soda so you're able to have a sense of its size.

Nikon 1 J3 dimensions scale

The top view just below will show you the button layout on the 1 J3.

Nikon 1 J3 topview buttons dials

Nikon 1 J3 Lens information

The 1 J3 fits the Nikon 1 mount and has 13 lenses currently available. Here is a few of the lenses we have in our collection that will work with the 1 J3.

ModelVisualizeFocal LengthApertureStabilizedWeight
Nikon-1-Nikkor-AW-11-27.5mm-f3.5-5.6 lensNikon 1 Nikkor AW 11-27.5mm f3.5-5.611-27.5mmf/3.5-5.6 182g
Nikon-1-Nikkor-VR-10-100mm-f4.5-5.6 lensNikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.610-100mmf/4.0-5.6 298g
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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
Nikon-1-Nikkor-VR-70-300mm-f4.5-5.6 lensNikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.670-300mmf/4.5-5.6 560g
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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
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Nikon 1 J3 Connectivity

The 1 J3 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes
  • Wireless Yes
  • HDMI Yes

Digital cameras which have NFC and / or Bluetooth connectivity can easily be controlled wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily send files and usually alter settings without the hassle of connecting physically with the camera.

A few apps also stream a Liveview and release the shutter whenever you are not near the camera. If the camera has a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external display. Virtually all cameras enable you to recharge the battery pack with the USB port.

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Nikon 1 J3 Video information

The highest possible video quality in the Nikon 1 J3 is 1920 x 1080 and it can record in MPEG-4 and H.264 file format. 1080p quality is an excellent balance for video quality and file size but 1080p isn't going to leave you with much room to crop. The body does not offer a mic and / or headphone port which means you have got absolutely no control over your audio. It is perhaps best to take a look at another model should you require decent audio in your videos.

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Nikon 1 J3 Weather Sealing

Nikon 1 J3 does not have environment sealing so damp conditions could ruin the camera.

Nikon 1 J3 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon 1 J3 features a 3" fixed display screen having a resolution of 921k dots.

Unfortunately the display screen isn't a touch screen.

Nikon 1 J3 screen and viewfinder President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The ViewFinder specs regarding Nikon 1 J3 are below:

  • ViewFinder None

In those sunny outdoor conditions that make the camera displays washed out and hard to view, viewfinders will be rather helpful.

Nikon 1 J3 Shutter information

Nikon 1 J3 has the capability to shoot continuously at 15.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 seconds. The camera also features silent electronic shutter of 1/16000 seconds. Beware that the electronic shutter may cause "rolling shutter" in some circumstances.

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Nikon 1 J3 Flash and Hot shoe information

Nikon 1 J3 boasts just inbuilt flash without external flash support. The highest flash sync is 1/60 seconds.

Nikon 1 J3 Autofocusing information

Nikon 1 J3 boasts both Phase Detect Autofocus along with Contrast Detect Autofocus. Phase Detection focusing is more faster and exact as compared to Contrast Detect focusing.

The AF system features 135 focus points to pick from. It also includes Tracking Autofocus for subjects on the move. Nikon 1 J3 has manual focus in case it is needed for low light conditions or you want to have more precise control on focus.

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Nikon 1 J3 Battery life

The battery life (EN-EL20) on the Nikon 1 J3 is made to last for 220 shots as per the CIPA measurements making it less in comparison with its competition. The average Entry-Level Mirrorless camera battery life is 343. Fujifilm X-S20 features the best (750) battery life for this category of cameras.

Listed below is a list of Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras that come with the best battery life:

Nikon 1 J3 for various forms of photography

The following bar chart gives a summary of the Nikon 1 J3 for various forms of photography. To understand more, visit the specific paragraph underneath.

Nikon 1 J3 Portrait photography advice

The Nikon 1 J3 receives a score of 58 which is moderate, and means the camera is reasonably suitable for portrait images. Shooting portraits favors greatly towards sensor dimension, RAW support & ability to use off-camera flash.

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manual focus
sensor resolution is decent (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
supports RAW files
cannot use external flash

Street photography with Nikon 1 J3

With a very good score of 70, the Nikon 1 J3 is a good pick for street photography. A very good street photography camera offers a fine balance of image quality plus portability.

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sensor size is nice (1")
supports RAW files
lighter than competitors (201g)
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization

Nikon 1 J3 Sports photography info

A decent sports photography points total of 57 indicates the Nikon 1 J3 is somewhat acceptable for taking photos of sports. A camera should have very good autofocus plus fast shutter speeds for sports photography.

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quiet shooting (1/16,000 seconds)
resolution is good (14MP)
sensor size is decent (1")
has tracking autofocus
comes with phase detect autofocus
no image stabilization
not so great battery (220 shots)

Travel photography with Nikon 1 J3

Weight is really crucial in getting a travel camera. All things considered, the Nikon 1 J3 gets a above average 69 for a travelling camera which makes it a very decent pick to take on your journeys.

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lighter than average in class (201 grams)
decent megapixels (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
low battery power (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly

Nikon 1 J3 as a Landscape photography camera

For anybody planning to buy a camera for landscape pictures, the most important aspect is going to be image quality. The Nikon 1 J3 at it's very good score of 64 for a landscape camera is a good fit within the current market.

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manual focus
switch lenses (Nikon 1 mount)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
good MP (14 megapixels)
sensor size is decent (1")
exports RAW files
does not have image stabilization
bad battery power (220 shots)

Nikon 1 J3 Vlogging features

A camera for vlogging ought to have a moving screen, mic port and if possible image stabilization. Considering every thing, the Nikon 1 J3 is not really very good for vlogging as it receives a bad rating of 30.

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high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (201 grams)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
doesn't have microphone port

Nikon 1 J3 Alternatives

If you are shopping for alternatives to the 1 J3, here is a number of the top scored cameras which fall into the class of Entry-Level Mirrorless.

The line chart here offers you a bird's eye view of the 1 J3 compared to it's highest rated competitors listed earlier.

There are a bunch of cameras you might look at as alternatives. To browse through a full comparison, go to the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Brand Name
Nikon
Model
Nikon 1 J3
Category
Entry-Level Mirrorless
Introduced
2013-11-30
Body design
Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Sensor type
CMOS
Sensor size
1"
Sensor dimensions
13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor area
116.2mm²
Sensor resolution
14MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio
3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution
4608 x 3072
RAW format
Highest native ISO
6400
Min native ISO
160
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Number of focus points
135
Cross focus points
41
Lens
Lens mount
Nikon 1
Amount of lenses
13
Focal length multiplier
2.7
Screen
Screen type
Fixed Type
Screen sizing
3"
Resolution of screen
921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology
TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
52
DXO Color Depth score
20.4
DXO Dynamic range score
11.0
DXO Low light score
420
Features
Minimum shutter speed
30 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Fastest silent shutter speed
1/16000 secs
Continuous shutter speed
15.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation
Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range
5.00 m
Flash options
Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow sync, Rear curtain
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Fastest flash sync
1/60 secs
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
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)
Highest video resolution
1920x1080
Video format
MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless
Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
201g (0.44 lb)
Dimensions
101 x 61 x 29mm (4.0" x 2.4" x 1.1")
Other
Battery life
220 photos
Battery form
Battery Pack
Battery model
EN-EL20
Self timer
Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage
SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage slots
One
Cost at release
$170