Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Olympus
PEN E-PL1

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Olympus PEN E-PL2

Nikon 1 J1

61

  
Olympus PEN E-PL1

41

  
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-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
External flash
 External flash
Better lighting
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

differences

Advantages of the Nikon J1
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
 Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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 3 fps
Help
 20x faster continuous shooting
Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
 More than 10% larger screen
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 11
Help
 Set focus accurately within the frame
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
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Startup delay Less startup delay 1400 ms vs 2200 ms
Help
 Around 40% less delay when turning on
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 820 ms
Help
 8.7x less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 8x faster max shutter speed
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 115x72x42 mm
Help
 More than 40% smaller
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 56.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Almost the same
Thickness 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
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
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 $270.00 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $227 cheaper (around 50% 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
61 vs 41
Explain scores
Olympus PEN E-PL1 Olympus PEN E-PL1
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon 1 J1.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 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
PEN E-PL1:12.2 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
J1:230 shots
PEN E-PL1:290 shots
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
PEN E-PL1:10.1 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
PEN E-PL1:54.0
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
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
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
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-PL1
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 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

$339 - $514 with 14-42mm lens
Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Startup delay Has slightly more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm 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-3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the PEN E-PL1
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
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN Lite E-PL3 vs the PEN E-PL1
Canon Rebel T3

Canon Rebel T3

Entry-level DSLR

$332 body only

$449 - $499 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 Rebel T3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Rebel T3 vs the PEN E-PL1

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 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
Size Larger
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$449 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Overall image quality Slightly worse image quality
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 J1
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$325 - $499 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Supports 24p Supports 24p
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Compare the NX1000 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 E-PL1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus PEN E-PL2

Olympus PEN E-PL2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the PEN E-PL2 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-P1

Olympus PEN E-P1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$285 body only

$399 with 14-42mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Startup delay More startup delay
Compare the PEN E-P1 vs the PEN E-PL1
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PL5 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

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