Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF5

Updated (April, 2013): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic Lumix GF6

Nikon 1 J1

61

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

49

  
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
 

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
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
Continuous shooting Shoots much faster 60 fps vs 4 fps
Help
 15x 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 20.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1 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 EV
Help
 1 f-stop more dynamic range
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 108x67x37 mm
Help
 Around 30% smaller
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $396.95 vs $599.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $203 cheaper (more than 30% less)
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF5
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 573 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF5 has a slight edge (0.6 f-stops) in low noise, high ISO performance
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 360 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 Around 60% more shots per battery charge
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
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
Longest exposure Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
61 vs 49
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
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
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
External flash No external flash support Help
Less expandable
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
DMC-GF5:12 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
DMC-GF5:10 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
DMC-GF5:50.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$321 - $449 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 J2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF5
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$328 - $449 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
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 J1
Compare the NX1000 vs the Lumix DMC-GF5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$514 with 14-42mm lens
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 Lumix DMC-GF5
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-GF5
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 Lumix DMC-GF5
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 Lumix DMC-GF5
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 Lumix DMC-GF5

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

$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 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-GF5 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
True resolution Higher true resolution
Battery life Shorter battery life
Size Slightly larger
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$498 with 14-42mm lens
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Size Much larger
Thickness Much thicker
Compare the Lumix DMC-G5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-LX7

Pro digicam

$348
Image stabilization Image stabilization
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Low light performance Significantly more noise at high ISO
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Compare the Lumix DMC-LX7 vs the Lumix DMC-GF5
Olympus PEN E-PL5

Olympus PEN E-PL5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$829 with 14-42mm lens
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range
Movie continuous focus Doesn't focus continuously recording movies
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the PEN E-PL5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF5
Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-G3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$249 - $499 body only
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the Lumix DMC-G3 vs the Lumix DMC-GF5

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5
Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

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