Updated (September, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus PEN E-PL5

Nikon 1 J1

61

 
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

53

 
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
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Focus points
Many focus points
135
 

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Screen flips out
Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Movie continuous focus
Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Lens availability
Slightly more lenses available
26 lenses
External flash
External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds
 

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 5.5 fps
Help
Around 11x 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 20.9 bits
Help
Distinguishes 0.6 more bits of color
Startup delay Less startup delay 1400 ms vs 2100 ms
Help
More than 30% less delay when turning on
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 52.0
Help
Around 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 109x63x37 mm
Help
Around 30% smaller
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 313 g
Help
More than 10% lighter
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Olympus E-PL3

Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 499 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
The E-PL3 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Longer battery life 300 shots vs 230 shots
Help
More than 30% more shots per battery charge
Lens availability More lenses available 26 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
6.5x more lenses available
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
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Learn more about
the Olympus E-PL3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
61 vs 53
Explain scores
Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
J1:3,200 ISO
E-PL3:1,600 ISO
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
E-PL3:12.2 MP
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
J1:230 shots
E-PL3:300 shots
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
E-PL3:10.3 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
E-PL3:52.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
E-PL3:499 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$395 with 10-30mm lens

Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$321 - $449 with 10-30mm lens

Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Light sensitivity (boost) Slightly lower boost light sensitivity
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens

Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$328 - $449 with 20-50mm lens

True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
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
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

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
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

Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$829 with 14-42mm lens

Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Lowest price More expensive
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$369 with 14-42mm lens

Screen type Has an OLED screen
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly slower
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

Startup delay Less startup delay
Color depth Better color depth
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$690 with 14-42mm lens

Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Screen flips out Screen does not flip out
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN Lite E-PL3

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