Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Sony
NEX-5N

Updated (August, 2012): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5N

92

  
Nikon 1 J1

61

  
Winner

Sony NEX-5N

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-5N

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,079 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
77.0
Color depth
 Great color depth
23.6 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.7 EV
Light sensitivity
 High ISO
25,600 ISO
Touch screen
 Touch screen
Less buttons
 
Runner-up

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
 Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate
Focus points
 Many focus points
135
 

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 10 fps
Help
 6x faster continuous shooting
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
Startup delay Less startup delay 1400 ms vs 1900 ms
Help
 Around 30% less delay when turning on
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Built-in flash Built-in flash Yes vs No
Help
 A built-in flash is useful for taking indoor shots where there is little light
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 94 ms vs 235 ms
Help
 2.5x less delay when taking photos
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $496.95 vs $649.95
Help
 The best price we've seen is $153 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5N
Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO 1,079 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N has excellent image quality 1.5 f-stops higher ISO than the J1
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality 77.0 vs 56.0
Help
 Around 40% better image quality
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 25,600 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5N's maximum light sensitivity is 3 f-stops better
Battery life Much longer battery life 460 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 2x more shots per battery charge
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.7 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 1.7 f-stops more dynamic range
Touch screen Has a touch screen Yes vs No
Help
 Fewer buttons to worry about and direct interaction with camera menus
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
Color depth Better color depth 23.6 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.1 more bits of color
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
 Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Screen flips out Has a flip-out screen Yes vs No
Help
 Flip-out screens can be helpful when composing tricky shots or taking movies
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
 Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
True resolution Significantly higher true resolution 16 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 60% more detail in your photos
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 3x larger sensor
External flash Supports an external flash Yes vs No
Help
 An external flash often produces better looking flash images
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 8 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 2x more lenses available
Sony NEX-5N Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5N
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
61 vs 92
Explain scores
Sony NEX-5N Sony NEX-5N
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-5N.

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
NEX-5N:111x59x38 mm
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Nikon 1 J3

Nikon 1 J3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$547 with 10-30mm lens
Sensor cleaning Lacks a self cleaning sensor
Color depth Has slightly less color depth
Compare the 1 J3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 J3 vs the NEX-5N
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
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is slightly larger
Compare the 1 V1 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 V1 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$656 with 18-55mm lens
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Alpha NEX-5 vs the NEX-5N
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$325 - $499 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 J1
Compare the NX1000 vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$379 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
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 NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Sony Alpha NEX-3N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the 1 J1
Compare the Alpha NEX-3N vs the NEX-5N
Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100

Pro digicam

$648 - $760
Image stabilization Has image stabilization
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Cybershot DSC-RX100 vs the NEX-5N

Nikon 1 J1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
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
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

Sony NEX-5N Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5R

Sony NEX-5R

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$498 body only

$598 with 18-55mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Significantly more focus points
Low light performance More noise at high ISO
Battery life Significantly shorter battery life
Compare the NEX-5R vs the NEX-5N
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Touch screen No touch screen
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Compare the NEX-7 vs the NEX-5N
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Touch screen No touch screen
3D Doesn't take 3D photos
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-5N

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon 1 J1 Sony NEX-5N
Nikon 1 J1 Sony NEX-5N

discussion

Showing 2 comments

Hnguy47 (5:50 PM, January 07, 2012)
I have an eight month old little girl. I have no experience in photography but would like to capture all of those candid moments with and of her. I noticed that the comparisons reported that the Nikon was quicker at snapping pictures than the Sony but the Sony was better with the quality of photos. I was wondering if the difference of the speed between the two outweighed the quality comparisons of the results. Any advice would be helpful!! Thanks in advance.
 
Avatar for David Abades David Abades (4:13 PM, January 01, 2012)
for video which is best?