Sony NEX-7

97

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
Color depth
Great color depth
24.1 bits
Dynamic range
Wide dynamic range
13.4 EV
True resolution
High true resolution
24 MP
Light sensitivity
High ISO
16,000 ISO
Nikon 1 J1

59

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
Badge
Phase detection video autofocus
fast and accurate
Shutter lag
Barely any delay taking photos
94 ms shutter lag
Badge
Built-in focus motor
Autofocuses with more lenses
Badge
Phase detection autofocus
fast and accurate

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
Autofocus Faster autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Catch candid moments easily
Focus points Many more focus points 135 vs 25
Help
Set focus accurately within the frame
Autofocus Faster video autofocus Phase detection vs Contrast detection
Help
Shoot videos without worrying about focus
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 223 ms
Help
2.4x less delay when taking photos
Lowest price Significantly cheaper $546.95 vs $1,199.99
Help
The best price we've seen is $653 cheaper (2.2x less)
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
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
More than 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 277 g vs 350 g
Help
More than 20% lighter
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-7

Low light performance Much 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
Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen 921k dots vs 460k dots
Help
More than 2x higher resolution screen
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
Supports 24p Supports 24p Yes vs No
Help
Get that real film feel
Color depth Better color depth 24.1 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
Distinguishes 2.6 more bits of color
External mic jack Has an external mic jack Yes vs No
Help
Record high quality audio with an external microphone
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
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
HDR Has in-camera HDR Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple exposures to capture high dynamic range
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
3D Takes 3D photos Yes vs No
Help
Combines multiple photos into a 3D image
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.5x15.6mm vs 1" 13.2x8.8mm
Help
More than 3x larger sensor
Startup delay Less startup delay 1200 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
More than 10% less delay when turning on
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-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
59 vs 97
Explain scores
Sony NEX-7 Sony NEX-7
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony NEX-7.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Nikon J1 or the Sony NEX-7,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Meg-Stevens yesterday
Nikon J1 vs Nikon P510

I'm intermediate.  I take hundreds of pictures but am not well versed in SLR cameras yet

0
votes
by Stacy-Smith-Prater last month
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

I want to capture my son out on the soccer field and my daughter at swim meets in low light in ind...

2 people recommend the Nikon D3100:

" Get the Nikon D3100, you should only consider the J1 if its really important for the camera to b..."

"Go with the Nikon D3100, DSLRs are a proven technology, Mirrorless cameras will one day be better ..."

1
votes
by bobby-loomba last month
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

I love photography, lighting and taking artistic snaps. Not new to it but not a pro yet.

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

"The D3100 offers you more range, than the J1, because there are more lenses."

0
votes
by tdlorimer last week
Nikon J1 vs Nikon D3100

Years ago I used to take professional pictures for portraits, modeling (people just starting out...

One person recommends the Nikon D3100:

" it would be great to use Fuji Velvia dia slide film with F100 nikon as it's the best 35 mm after..."

1
votes
by pandiba last month
Nikon J1 vs Panasonic DMC-GF2

I'm a beginner. I want to upgrade my point & shoot but nothing as intense (or bulky) as a full-f...

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Full HD (1080p) video Help
J1:1080p @ 30fps
NEX-7:1080p @ 60fps
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
Lens availability Few lenses available Help
J1:4 lenses
NEX-7:8 lenses
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

$598 - $600 body only

$698 - $700 with 18-55mm lens

Light sensitivity Significantly 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
Nikon 1 V1

Nikon 1 V1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$797 - $947 with 10-30mm lens

Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Sony Alpha NEX-5

Sony Alpha NEX-5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$569 with 18-55mm lens

Startup delay Has slightly less startup delay
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Built-in flash Doesn't have a built-in flash
Nikon D5100

Nikon D5100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $597 body only

$600 - $697 with 18-55mm lens

Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Canon PowerShot G1X

Canon PowerShot G1X

Boutique

$799 - $800

Image stabilization Has image stabilization
Longest exposure Significantly longer exposures
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Canon Rebel T3i

Canon Rebel T3i

Entry-level DSLR

$619 - $700 body only

$745 - $1,000 with 18-55mm lens

Viewfinder Has higher quality type of viewfinder
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$643 - $1,125 body only

$739 - $964 with 14-42mm lens

Touch screen Has a touch screen
Lens availability Slightly more lenses available
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker

Nikon 1 J1 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$433 body only

Touch screen Has a touch screen
3D Takes 3D photos
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Canon Powershot S100

Canon Powershot S100

Pro digicam

$356 - $430

Image stabilization Image stabilization
GPS Has a GPS
High-speed framerate Lower speed movies
Continuous shooting Shoots much slower
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$500 - $547 with 18-55mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Lens focus motor Doesn't have a built-in focus motor
Sony NEX C3

Sony NEX C3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$548 with 16mm lens

Low light performance Much lower noise at high ISO
Overall image quality Significantly better image quality
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Movie format Lower resolution movies

Sony NEX-7 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Olympus OM-D E-M5

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,000 - $1,299 body only

$1,100 with 14-42mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Image stabilization Image stabilization
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Supports 24p No 24p support
Fujifilm X-Pro1

Fujifilm X-Pro1

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$1,991 - $2,298 body only

Screen resolution Higher resolution screen
True resolution Much lower true resolution
External mic jack Lacks an external mic jack
Nikon D7000

Nikon D7000

Entry-level DSLR

$1,000 - $1,197 body only

$1,100 with 55-200mm lens

Lens availability Much more lenses available
Battery life Much longer battery life
Size Much larger
True resolution Much lower true resolution
Sony SLT-A77

Sony SLT A77

Pro DSLR

$1,398 body only

$1,998 with 16-50mm lens

Weather sealed Weather sealed
Lens availability Much more lenses available
Startup delay Much more startup delay
Size Much larger

appearance

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

discussion

Showing 0 comments