Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF3

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Nikon 1 J1

62

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

50

  
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
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Focus points
 Many focus points
135
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Built-in flash
 Built-in flash
External flash not needed
 

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 3.8 fps
Help
 Around 16x faster continuous shooting
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 23
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
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.6 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.9 more bits of color
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 50.0
Help
 More than 10% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.1 EV
Help
 0.9 f-stops more dynamic range
Startup delay Less startup delay 1400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 94 ms vs 312 ms
Help
 3.3x less delay when taking photos
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Size Slightly smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 107x67x32 mm
Help
 Around 20% smaller
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.2" vs 1.3"
Help
 Around 10% thinner
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF3
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Battery life Longer battery life 320 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 Around 40% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Slightly lower noise at high ISO 459 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF3 has a slight edge (0.3 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 17.3x13.0mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 90% larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 12 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 20% more detail in your photos
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF3's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $339.00 vs $496.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $158 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Weight Slightly lighter 264 g vs 277 g
Help
 Almost the same
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
62 vs 50
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
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
DMC-GF3:107x67x32 mm
Thickness Thin Help
J1:1.2"
DMC-GF3:1.3"
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
DMC-GF3:12 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
J1:3,200 ISO
DMC-GF3:6,400 ISO
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
DMC-GF3:10.1 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
DMC-GF3:50.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
DMC-GF3:459 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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 V1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$320 - $599 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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 J1
Compare the NX1000 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 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 Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NEX-5N vs the 1 J1
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
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 Lumix DMC-GF3
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 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
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D3100 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
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 Lumix DMC-GF3

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 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
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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$239 - $249 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Size Larger
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$380 - $555 with 14-42mm lens
Startup delay Less startup delay
Overall image quality Better image quality
Battery life Slightly shorter battery life
Weight Heavier
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$499 body only
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO
Size Significantly larger
Battery life Shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF3

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3
Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Axelander (3:41 PM, November 06, 2011)
could you kindly elaborate?
 
Rogue Friss (7:40 PM, November 02, 2011)
is the J1 really better?
 
Avatar for Alexandru Stoian Alexandru Stoian (9:01 AM, October 04, 2011)
The Panasonic GF-3 is a far superior camera in all imaginable aspects.