Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Olympus PEN
E-P3

Updated (May, 2013): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus PEN E-P5 Hands-on P

Nikon 1 J1

62

  
Olympus PEN E-P3

57

  
Winner

Nikon 1 J1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 J1

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
 Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
 
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P3

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P3

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Startup delay
 Almost no delay when powering up
900 ms startup delay
Screen type
 OLED Screen
Bright and vivid
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 

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
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Catch candid moments easily
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 35
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.8 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 51.0
Help
 Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 122x69x34 mm
Help
 More than 30% smaller
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
 The J1's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 369 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.3"
Help
 More than 10% thinner
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Olympus E-P3
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Screen type Has an OLED screen OLED vs LCD
Help
 OLED screens are often brighter and more vibrant than typical LCD screens
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 536 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The E-P3 has a slight edge (0.5 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 330 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 6.5x more lenses available
Startup delay Less startup delay 900 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when turning on
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 17.3x13.0mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 90% larger sensor
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $369.00 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $128 cheaper (around 30% less)
Olympus PEN E-P3 Learn more about
the Olympus E-P3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
62 vs 57
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P3 Olympus PEN E-P3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon 1 J1.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie continuous focus Focus continuously recording movies Help
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Thickness Thin Help
J1:1.2"
E-P3:1.3"
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
J1:3,200 ISO
E-P3:1,600 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
E-P3:12.2 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
E-P3:10.1 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
E-P3:51.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
E-P3:536 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$392 - $395 with 10-30mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 V1 vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen flips out Has a screen which flips out
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-P3
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NEX-5N vs the 1 J1
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus PEN E-PL1

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$270 with 14-42mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN E-PL1 vs the PEN E-P3
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has significantly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D5100 vs the PEN E-P3

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
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Compare the 1 J3 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
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
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

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1

Olympus PEN E-P3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$854 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN E-P3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$767 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Screen type Doesn't have an OLED screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-P3
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,130 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Size Larger
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the PEN E-P3

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-P3
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-P3
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-P3

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