Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Olympus PEN
E-PM1

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus PEN E-PM1

Nikon 1 J1

61

  
Olympus PEN E-PM1

55

  
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-PM1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PM1

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
12,800 ISO
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
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 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 21 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.5 more bits of color
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 1400 ms vs 1800 ms
Help
 More than 20% less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
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
Size Slightly smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 110x64x34 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
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-PM1
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The E-PM1's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 330 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 499 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The E-PM1 has a slight edge (0.4 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
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
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $299.00 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $198 cheaper (around 40% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 263 g vs 277 g
Help
 Around 10% lighter
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Learn more about
the Olympus E-PM1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
61 vs 55
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PM1 Olympus PEN E-PM1
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
Size Fairly small Help
J1:106x61x29 mm
E-PM1:110x64x34 mm
Thickness Thin Help
J1:1.2"
E-PM1:1.3"
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
E-PM1:12.2 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
E-PM1:10.3 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
E-PM1:52.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
E-PM1:499 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
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 V1 vs the PEN E-PM1
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 with 10-30mm lens
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 J2 vs the PEN E-PM1
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$325 - $499 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
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 E-PM1
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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PM1
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-PM1
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 E-PM1
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 E-PM1

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
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NEX-5N vs the 1 J1

Olympus PEN E-PM1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PM2

Olympus PEN E-PM2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$767 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the PEN E-PM2 vs the PEN E-PM1

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-PM1
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-PM1

discussion

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