Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Sony
NEX-7

Updated (March, 2013): Compare the Nikon 1 J2 vs Sony NEX-7n

Sony NEX-7

90

  
Nikon 1 J1

62

  
Winner

Sony NEX-7

Reasons to buy the Sony NEX-7

Low light performance
 Low noise at high ISO
1,016 ISO
Overall image quality
 Great image quality
81.0
Viewfinder
 Great viewfinder
Digital
Color depth
 Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
13.4 EV
True resolution
 High true resolution
24 MP
 
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
Fastest shutter speed Much faster max shutter speed 1/16000s vs 1/4000s
Help
 4x faster max shutter speed
Size Smaller 106x61x29 mm vs 111x59x38 mm
Help
 More than 20% smaller
Shutter lag Slightly less shutter lag 94 ms vs 223 ms
Help
 2.4x less delay when taking photos
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 350 g
Help
 More than 20% lighter
Lowest price Cheaper $496.95 vs $948.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $451 cheaper (around 50% less)
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 1,016 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The NEX-7 has excellent image quality 1.4 f-stops higher ISO than the J1
Overall image quality Much better image quality 81.0 vs 56.0
Help
 More than 40% better image quality
True resolution Much higher true resolution 24 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 2.5x more detail in your photos
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder Digital vs None
Help
 A viewfinder can help save battery life by keeping the screen turned off
Dynamic range More dynamic range 13.4 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 2.4 f-stops more dynamic range
Battery life Much longer battery life 430 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 Around 90% more shots per battery charge
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
 Record high quality audio with an external microphone
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
 Get that real film feel
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
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 16,000 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The NEX-7's maximum light sensitivity is 2.3 f-stops better
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.6mm 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
Startup delay Slightly less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 More than 10% less delay when turning on
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available 8 lenses vs 4 lenses
Help
 2x more lenses available
Sony NEX-7 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-7
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
62 vs 90
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-7.

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-7:111x59x38 mm
Built-in flash Each has a built-in flash Help
External flash not needed
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Image stabilization No image stabilization Help
Risk of blur

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 with 18-55mm lens
Light sensitivity Slightly higher maximum light sensitivity
Touch screen Has a touch screen
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 NEX-7
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$392 - $395 with 10-30mm lens
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 NEX-7
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
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 NEX-7
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$497 body only

$597 - $805 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D5100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D5100 vs the NEX-7
Nikon 1 V2

Nikon 1 V2

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$697 body only

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens
Thickness Is thicker
Size Is significantly larger
Compare the 1 V2 vs the 1 J1
Compare the 1 V2 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D3200

Nikon D3200

Entry-level DSLR

$547 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3200 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D3200 vs the NEX-7

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
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-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,114 body only

$1,099 with 14-42mm lens
Weather sealed Weather sealed
Image stabilization Image stabilization
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the OM-D E-M5 vs the NEX-7
Sony Alpha NEX-6

Sony Alpha NEX-6

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 body only

$898 with 16-50mm lens
Autofocus Faster autofocus
Focus points Significantly more focus points
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the Alpha NEX-6 vs the NEX-7
Fujifilm X-E1

Fujifilm X-E1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$999 - $1,000 body only

$1,399 with 18-55mm lens
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the X-E1 vs the NEX-7
Samsung NX300

Samsung NX300

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$748 - $749 with 20-50mm lens
Screen size Significantly larger screen
Screen type Has an OLED screen
Viewfinder No viewfinder
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Compare the NX300 vs the NEX-7
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$897 body only

$997 with 18-105mm lens
Battery life Much longer battery life
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Size Much larger
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Compare the D7000 vs the NEX-7

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Sony NEX-7
Nikon 1 J1 Sony NEX-7
Nikon 1 J1 Sony NEX-7

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