Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Olympus PEN Lite
E-PL3

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
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 V1 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 J2 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 J1
Compare the NX1000 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the NEX-5N vs the 1 J1
Compare the NEX-5N vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the NEX-F3 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D3100 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3

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 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

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
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3
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
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN Lite E-PL3

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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