Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-GF1

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Nikon 1 J1

62

  
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

36

  
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-GF1

Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Battery life
 Great battery life
400 shots
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
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
Movie continuous focus Continuous video focus Yes vs No
Help
 Record movies without worrying about focus
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11 EV vs 10.3 EV
Help
 0.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 21.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.3 more bits of color
Overall image quality Slightly better image quality 56.0 vs 54.0
Help
 Almost the same
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 409 ms
Help
 4.4x less delay when taking photos
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 119x71x36 mm
Help
 Around 40% smaller
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.4"
Help
 Around 20% thinner
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $1,099.99
Help
 The best price we've seen is $603 cheaper (2.2x less)
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 330 g
Help
 Around 20% lighter
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-GF1
Battery life Much longer battery life 400 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 More than 70% more shots per battery charge
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 513 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The DMC-GF1 has a slight edge (0.5 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 Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 2x larger sensor
True resolution Higher true resolution 12 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 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 Longer exposures 60s vs 30s
Help
 2x longer exposures
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-GF1
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
62 vs 36
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
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
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Light sensitivity Poor maximum light sensitivity Help
3,200 ISO
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
DMC-GF1:12 MP
Screen flips out No flip-out screens Help
Less flexible
Supports 24p No support for 24p Help
Missing that film look
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
DMC-GF1:10.3 EV
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
DMC-GF1:54.0
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
DMC-GF1:513 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-GF1
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-GF1
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-GF1
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 Lumix DMC-GF1
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-GF1
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-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$600 with 14-42mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
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-GF1

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
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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$229 - $239 body only

$399 - $419 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Battery life Shorter battery life
Color depth Worse color depth
Compare the Lumix DMC-GX1 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$380 - $555 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Touch screen Has a touch screen
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the Lumix DMC-GF2 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,114 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Movie format Higher resolution movies
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Size Larger
Built-in flash No built-in flash
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the Lumix DMC-GF1

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1
Nikon 1 J1 Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF1

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