Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-PL1

Updated (September, 2011): Compare the Nikon 1 J1 vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Nikon 1 J1

59
Winner

Nikon 1 J1

Reasons to buy the Nikon 1 J1

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
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
Olympus PEN E-PL1

44
Runner-up

Olympus PEN E-PL1

Reasons to buy the Olympus PEN E-PL1

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
External mic jack
 External mic jack
Record higher quality audio with a microphone
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Interchangeable lenses
 Interchangeable lenses
Many lenses to choose from
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
Screen size Much larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Shutter lag Much less shutter lag 94 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 8.7x less delay when taking photos
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
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1400 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when turning on
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
 Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
 2x higher resolution screen
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 8x faster max shutter speed
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 56.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness Significantly thinner 1.2" vs 1.7"
Help
 Around 30% thinner
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 334 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Olympus PEN E-PL1
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 487 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The PEN E-PL1 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
Battery life Longer battery life 290 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 Around 30% more shots per battery charge
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 Cheaper $259.99 vs $546.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $287 cheaper (2.1x less)
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Learn more about
the Olympus PEN E-PL1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
59 vs 44
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
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
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..."
1
votes
by pandiba last month
Nikon J1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

I'm a beginner. I want to upgrade my point & shoot but nothing as intense (or bulky) as a full-f...

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Lowest price Inexpensive Help
J1:$546.95
PEN E-PL1:$259.99
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
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
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
J1:230 shots
PEN E-PL1:290 shots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
PEN E-PL1:12.2 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
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-PL1:230k dots
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
PEN E-PL1:487 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
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-PL1
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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the PEN E-PL1
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
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
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
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-PL1
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430
Image stabilization Has better image stabilization
Dynamic range Has slightly wider dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Longest exposure Slightly shorter exposures
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Powershot S100 vs the PEN E-PL1
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is significantly less noisy at high ISO
Overall image quality Has slightly better image quality
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D3100 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$485 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1

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
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm 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
Movie format Lower resolution movies
Compare the NEX C3 vs the 1 J1

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$185 body only

$375 with 17mm lens
Screen size Much larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Nikon 1 J1 Olympus PEN E-PL1

discussion

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