Nikon
D5100
 vs
Nikon 1
J1

Updated (October, 2012): Compare the Nikon D5200 Hands-on P vs Nikon 1 J2

Nikon D5100

100

  
Nikon 1 J1

33

  
Winner

Nikon D5100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D5100

Overall image quality
 Great image quality
80.0
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
 
Runner-up

Nikon 1 J1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 J1

Size
 Really small
Compact 106x61x29 mm
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
1,200 fps
Continuous shooting
 Rapid fire
60 fps
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Phase detection
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon D5100
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 80.0 vs 56.0
Help
 More than 40% better image quality
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 Around 42.5x more lenses available
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 2 f-stops more dynamic range
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 660 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 Around 3x more shots per battery charge
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16.1 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.6x15.6mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 3x larger sensor
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 1,183 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The D5100 has excellent image quality 1.7 f-stops higher ISO than the J1
Color depth Better color depth 23.5 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2 more bits of color
Startup delay Less startup delay 500 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 2.8x less delay when turning on
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The D5100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Nikon D5100 Learn more about
the Nikon D5100

Advantages of the Nikon J1
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 1,200 fps vs None
Help
 Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 15x faster continuous shooting
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Size Significantly smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 127x96x78 mm
Help
 5x smaller
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.2" vs 3.1"
Help
 2.6x thinner
Weight Significantly lighter 277 g vs 560 g
Help
 2x lighter
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 273 ms
Help
 2.9x less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon D5100 Nikon D5100
100 vs 33
Explain scores
Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D5100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a entry-level DSLR with a mirrorless interchangeable-lens.

similarities

Compared to recent digital cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Autofocus Both use faster phase detection autofocus which is uncommon Help
fast and accurate
Interchangeable lenses Both support interchangeable lenses, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Many lenses to choose from
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Supports RAW Supports RAW Help
Better editing
Sensor cleaning Self cleaning sensors Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
D5100:1/4000s
J1:1/16000s
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the D5100
Compare the D3200 vs the 1 J1
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the D5100
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$429 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D5100
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the 1 J1

Nikon D5100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$549 body only

$599 - $649 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
True resolution Higher true resolution
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D5100
Nikon D90

Nikon D90

Entry-level DSLR

$675 - $899 body only

$799 - $1,099 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Viewfinder size Larger viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Compare the D90 vs the D5100
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
HDR Lacks in-camera HDR
Compare the D7000 vs the D5100
Canon EOS 650D

Canon EOS 650D

Entry-level DSLR

$580 - $797 body only

$639 - $1,144 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Compare the EOS 650D vs the D5100
Canon EOS 60D

Canon EOS 60D

Pro DSLR

$699 - $899 body only

$999 - $1,279 with 18-135mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the EOS 60D vs the D5100

Nikon 1 J1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 J3

Nikon 1 J3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
True resolution Higher true resolution
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the 1 J3 vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$392 - $395 with 10-30mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Larger
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 J1
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$320 - $599 with 20-50mm lens
Supports 24p Supports 24p
True resolution Much higher true resolution
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 S1

Nikon 1 S1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$447 with 11-2mm lens
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the 1 S1 vs the 1 J1

appearance

Nikon D5100 Nikon 1 J1
Nikon D5100 Nikon 1 J1
Nikon D5100 Nikon 1 J1

discussion

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