Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-P2

Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Nikon 1 J1 vs Olympus PEN E-P3

Nikon 1 J1

59
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
Badge
 Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
Shutter lag
 Barely any delay taking photos
94 ms shutter lag
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Olympus PEN E-P2

47
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-P2

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-P2

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
Thickness
 Thin
1.4"
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
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.4 EV
Help
 0.6 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 121x70x36 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
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
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 355 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.4"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-P2
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 505 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-P2 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
Sensor size Larger sensor Four thirds 18.0x13.5mm vs 1" 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 2x larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 12.2 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture more than 20% more detail in your photos
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $479.95 vs $546.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $67 cheaper (more than 10% less)
Olympus PEN E-P2 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-P2
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
59 vs 47
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-P2 Olympus PEN E-P2
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon 1 J1.

advice

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0
votes
by Meg-Stevens yesterday
Nikon J1 vs Nikon P510

I'm intermediate.  I take hundreds of pictures but am not well versed in SLR cameras yet
3
votes
by Nicole-Chan last week
Nikon J1 vs Olympus E-PM1

I am a beginner. My husband has a Nikon D7000 but I find it too bulky. Although the picture qual...

6 people recommend the Olympus E-PM1:

"The Nikon 1 J1 has and optional lens adapter that would make you use your husband's lenses since h..."

" The J1 has too small of a sensor for high quality photos in anything but bright daylight. Nikon ..."

" 4/3 lenses are more common. Most optically perfect m39 screw mount lenses can be used perfectly ..."
0
votes
by Stacy-Smith-Prater last month
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

I want to capture my son out on the soccer field and my daughter at swim meets in low light in ind...

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" Get the Nikon D3100, you should only consider the J1 if its really important for the camera to b..."

"Go with the Nikon D3100, DSLRs are a proven technology, Mirrorless cameras will one day be better ..."
1
votes
by bobby-loomba last month
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

I love photography, lighting and taking artistic snaps. Not new to it but not a pro yet.

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

"The D3100 offers you more range, than the J1, because there are more lenses."
0
votes
by tdlorimer last week
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

Years ago I used to take professional pictures for portraits, modeling (people just starting out...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" it would be great to use Fuji Velvia dia slide film with F100 nikon as it's the best 35 mm after..."

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
J1:$546.95
PEN E-P2:$479.95
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
PEN E-P2:12.2 MP
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
External mic jack Neither has an external mic jack Help
Limited to the in-camera mic
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Screen resolution Low resolution screens Help
J1:460k dots
PEN E-P2:230k dots
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
PEN E-P2:505 ISO

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 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 E-P2
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 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 Alpha NEX-5 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-P2
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$500 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the PEN E-P2
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm 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
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the NEX C3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the NEX C3 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-P2
Canon PowerShot G12

Canon PowerShot G12

Pro digicam

$390 - $496
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PowerShot G12 vs the PEN E-P2

Nikon 1 J1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Size Significantly larger
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Image stabilization Image stabilization
GPS Has a GPS
High-speed framerate Lower speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the 1 J1
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1

Olympus PEN E-P2 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-P3

Olympus PEN E-P3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$849 - $900 with 17mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Color depth Worse color depth
Overall image quality Worse image quality
Compare the PEN E-P3 vs the PEN E-P2
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$185 body only

$375 with 17mm lens
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
Lowest price Cheaper
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-P2

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-P2
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-P2
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-P2

discussion

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