Nikon 1
J1
 vs
Sony Alpha
NEX-5

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

Sony Alpha NEX-5

74

  
Nikon 1 J1

62

  

Reasons to buy the Sony Alpha NEX-5

Dynamic range
 Wide dynamic range
12.2 EV
Screen flips out
 Flip-out screen
Great for movies
Sensor size
 Large sensor
APS-C 23.4x15.6mm
HDR
 In-camera HDR
Combines multiple exposures
Panorama
 In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
3D
 Takes 3D photos
View photos in 3D on 3D televisions
 
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
 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 7 fps
Help
 More than 8.5x 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
Shutter lag Less shutter lag 94 ms vs 670 ms
Help
 7.1x less delay when taking photos
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
Thickness Thinner 1.2" vs 1.5"
Help
 More than 20% thinner
Lowest price Slightly cheaper $496.95 vs $656.43
Help
 The best price we've seen is $159 cheaper (more than 20% less)
Nikon 1 J1 Learn more about
the Nikon J1

Advantages of the Sony NEX-5
Low light performance Significantly lower noise at high ISO 796 ISO vs 372 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5 has excellent image quality 1.1 f-stops higher ISO than the J1
Overall image quality Better image quality 69.0 vs 56.0
Help
 More than 20% better image quality
Dynamic range More dynamic range 12.2 EV vs 11 EV
Help
 1.2 f-stops more dynamic range
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
Color depth Better color depth 22.2 bits vs 21.5 bits
Help
 Distinguishes 0.7 more bits of color
Sensor size Significantly larger sensor APS-C 23.4x15.6mm vs Nikon CX 13.2x8.8mm
Help
 More than 3x larger sensor
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 12,800 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
 The NEX-5's maximum light sensitivity is 2 f-stops better
Battery life Significantly longer battery life 330 shots vs 230 shots
Help
 More than 40% more shots per battery charge
True resolution Higher true resolution 14 MP vs 10 MP
Help
 Capture around 40% more detail in your photos
Startup delay Less startup delay 1000 ms vs 1400 ms
Help
 Around 30% 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 Alpha NEX-5 Learn more about
the Sony NEX-5
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent mirrorless cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon 1 J1 Nikon 1 J1
62 vs 74
Explain scores
Sony Alpha NEX-5 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Sony Alpha NEX-5.

similarities

Compared to recent mirrorless cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Size Fairly small Help
J1:106x61x29 mm
NEX-5:111x59x38 mm
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
30 seconds
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
Viewfinder No viewfinders Help
Can only preview photos on the screen

dxomark

DXOMark

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-5N

Sony NEX-5N

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$650 - $699 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 NEX-5N vs the 1 J1
Compare the NEX-5N vs the Alpha NEX-5
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 Alpha NEX-5
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 Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-3

Sony Alpha NEX-3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$448 with 16-50mm lens
External mic jack Has an external mic jack
Storage slots Has more storage slots
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Autofocus Users slower contrast detection autofocus
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the 1 J1
Compare the Alpha NEX-3 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Samsung NX1000

Samsung NX1000

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$320 - $599 with 20-50mm lens
True resolution Takes significantly higher resolution photos
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the NX1000 vs the 1 J1
Compare the NX1000 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Nikon D3100

Nikon D3100

Entry-level DSLR

$447 - $740 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the D3100 vs the 1 J1
Compare the D3100 vs the Alpha NEX-5
Sony Alpha NEX-F3

Sony NEX-F3

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$399 - $730 with 18-55mm lens
Low light performance Is slightly less noisy at high ISO
True resolution Takes slightly higher resolution photos
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 Alpha NEX-5

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

Sony Alpha NEX-5 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony NEX-7

Sony NEX-7

Mirrorless interchangeable-lens

$948 body only

$1,098 with 18-55mm lens
Viewfinder Has a viewfinder
True resolution Much higher true resolution
Startup delay Slightly more startup delay
Weight Heavier
Compare the NEX-7 vs the Alpha NEX-5

appearance

Nikon 1 J1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1 Sony Alpha NEX-5
Nikon 1 J1 Sony Alpha NEX-5

discussion

Showing 3 comments

Avatar for Antonio Pires Antonio Pires (11:03 AM, December 23, 2011)
Dave, the Sony NEX-5 is better for lightpaintings using its longer exposures (until 30s), and the Nikon 1 just go until 1/3 sec. (0.33 seg.).
 
Avatar for Antonio Pires Antonio Pires (11:03 AM, December 23, 2011)
Dave, the Sony NEX-5 is better for lightpaintings using its longer exposures (until 30s), and the Nikon 1 just go until 1/3 sec. (0.33 seg.).
 
Dave (9:17 PM, November 24, 2011)
Hi, maybe it's a very noob question, but can you do lightpainting or timelapses (tuese type of things) with the nex5 or j1? Thanks.