Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Nikon
D3100

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon D3200

Nikon D3100

69

  
Nikon 1 J1

34

  
Winner

Nikon D3100

Reasons to buy the Nikon D3100

Supports 24p
 24p movies
For that film look
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Autofocuses shooting video
Contrast detection
Lens availability
 Slightly more lenses available
169 lenses
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Pentamirror
Live view
 Has live view
Preview your photos
 
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 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
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 3 fps
Help
 20x faster continuous shooting
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor Yes vs No
Help
 Autofocuses with all autofocus lenses
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Size Significantly smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 124x96x73 mm
Help
 4.6x smaller
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.2" vs 2.9"
Help
 2.5x thinner
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 505 g
Help
 Around 50% lighter
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 279 ms
Help
 3x 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

Advantages of the Nikon D3100
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Lens availability Much more lenses available 169 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 Around 42.5x more lenses available
Overall image quality Better image quality 67.0 vs 56.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 550 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 Around 2.5x more shots per battery charge
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.1x15.4mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 3x larger sensor
Startup delay Less startup delay 400 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 3.5x less delay when turning on
True resolution Higher true resolution 14.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 40% more detail in your photos
Color depth Better color depth 22.5 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 more bits of color
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 919 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The D3100 has excellent image quality 1.3 f-stops higher ISO than the J1
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Pentamirror vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.3 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.3 f-stops more dynamic range
Nikon D3100 Learn more about
the Nikon D3100
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent digital cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
34 vs 69
Explain scores
Nikon D3100 Nikon D3100
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon D3100. This recommendation, however, should be taken with a grain of salt since it doesn't always make sense to compare a mirrorless interchangeable-lens with a entry-level DSLR.

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 Both have self cleaning sensors, which is uncommon in cameras similar to these Help
Avoids dust in your photos
Sensor type Better sensor types Help
Better in low light
Fastest shutter speed Fast max shutter speeds Help
J1:1/16000s
D3100:1/4000s
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
D3100:11.3 EV

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 with 18-55mm lens
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the D3100
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

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

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Dynamic range Has significantly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D5100 vs the D3100

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

$325 - $499 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

Nikon D3100 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
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Startup delay Significantly more startup delay
Compare the Rebel T3i vs the D3100
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
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the D90 vs the D3100
Canon EOS Rebel T2i

Canon Rebel T2i

Entry-level DSLR

$550 body only

$609 with 18-55mm lens
Lens focus motor Has a built-in focus motor
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Autofocus Lacks video autofocus
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Rebel T2i vs the D3100
Nikon D3000

Nikon D3000

Entry-level DSLR

$436 with 18-55mm lens
Size Slightly smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Does not take movies
Live view No live view
Compare the D3000 vs the D3100

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon D3100
Nikon 1 J1 Nikon D3100
Nikon 1 J1 Nikon D3100

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