Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Pentax
Q

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Pentax Q

Nikon 1 J1

61

  
Pentax Q

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
 
Runner-up

Pentax Q

Reasons to buy the Pentax Q

Image stabilization
 Image stabilization
Sensor shift
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Movie continuous focus
 Movie continuous focus
Makes it easy to get in-focus movies
Badge
 Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Size
 Really small
Compact 98x57x31 mm
Thickness
 Thin
1.2"
 

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 5 fps
Help
 12x faster continuous shooting
Startup delay Much less startup delay 1400 ms vs 3700 ms
Help
 2.6x less delay when turning on
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 25
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
Overall image quality Better image quality 56.0 vs 47.0
Help
 Around 20% better image quality
Low light performance Lower noise at high ISO 372 ISO vs 189 ISO
Help
 The J1 has a slight edge (1 f-stop) in low noise, high ISO performance
Color depth Better color depth 21.5 bits vs 20.2 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 1.3 more bits of color
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/2000s
Help
 8x faster max shutter speed
Sensor size Larger sensor Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
 More than 4x larger sensor
Thickness Slightly thinner 1.2" vs 1.2"
Help
 Almost the same
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Pentax Q
Image stabilization Image stabilization Sensor shift vs None
Help
 Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The Q's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Dynamic range More dynamic range 11.1 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 0.1 f-stops more dynamic range
Weight Lighter 200 g vs 277 g
Help
 Around 30% lighter
Size Slightly smaller 98x57x31 mm vs 106x61x29 mm
Help
 More than 10% smaller
Pentax Q Learn more about
the Pentax Q
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
61 vs 49
Explain scores
Pentax Q Pentax Q
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
Q:98x57x31 mm
Thickness Thin Help
1.2"
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Battery life Few shots per battery charge Help
230 shots
True resolution Capture low resolution images Help
J1:10 MP
Q:9.7 MP
Panorama Neither camera stitches together panoramas Help
You could stitch photos in post
3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support
Sensor size Very small sensors Help
J1:Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Q:1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
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
Q:6,400 ISO
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
4 lenses
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen
Dynamic range Poor dynamic range Help
J1:11 EV
Q:11.1 EV
Low light performance Above average noise at high ISO Help
J1:372 ISO
Q:189 ISO
Overall image quality Low image quality Help
J1:56.0
Q:47.0

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
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 Q
Nikon 1 J2

Nikon 1 J2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$321 - $449 with 10-30mm lens
Panorama Creates panoramas in-camera
Weight Is slightly heavier
Compare the 1 J2 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 J2 vs the Q
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$328 - $449 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes much 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 Q
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 Q
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is much 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 Q
Olympus PEN E-PM1

Olympus PEN E-PM1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$299 with 14-42mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly 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 PEN E-PM1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the PEN E-PM1 vs the Q
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 - $782 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 Q

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 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
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1

Pentax Q Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Pentax Q10

Pentax Q10

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$497 with 5-15mm lens
Color depth Better color depth
Battery life Longer battery life
Dynamic range Less dynamic range
Size Slightly larger
Compare the Q10 vs the Q
Pentax K-01

Pentax K-01

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Much better image quality
Size Much larger
Weight Much heavier
Compare the K-01 vs the Q
Fujifilm Finepix X10

Fujifilm Finepix X10

Pro digicam

$549
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
Interchangeable lenses Built-in lens only
Compare the Finepix X10 vs the Q

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Pentax Q
Nikon 1 J1 Pentax Q
Nikon 1 J1

discussion

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