CameraDecision
  • CAMERAS
  • LENSES
  • TOOLS
    • Smart Find
    • 1-on-1 Comparison
    • Size Comparison

Nikon 1 J4 Review

  • Overview
  • Alternatives
  • Lenses
  • Nikon 1 J4

    Main Features

    • 18MP - 1" CMOS Sensor
    • ISO 160 - 12800
    • 3″ Fixed Type Screen
    • 60 fps continuous shooting
    • 1920 x 1080 video resolution
    • 1,200 fps High-Speed Video
    • Built-in Wireless
    • 232g. 100 x 60 x 29 mm
    • Replaced Nikon 1 J3
    $599.95

    Select a Camera to Compare

    x
    Add a Camera for comparison
    Nikon 1 J4 Overview

    First introduced in April 2014 , Nikon 1 J4 is a 18.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor. Nikon replaced the older 1 J3 with this model. Follow the link to read our detailed comparison of these model:
    Compare Nikon 1 J4 vs Nikon 1 J3

    Nikon 1 J4 is a member of Nikon's J series of cameras. Below you can see the latest models in this series and how their main specs have changed with each new version.

    Nikon J Series History
    Model Release Date Sensor Max FPS Dimensions Weight
    Nikon 1 J5 2015 21.0MP - 1" 20.0 fps 98 x 60 x 32mm 231g
    Nikon 1 J4 2014 18.0MP - 1" 60.0 fps 100 x 60 x 29mm 232g
    Nikon 1 J3 2013 14.0MP - 1" 15.0 fps 101 x 61 x 29mm 201g
    Nikon 1 J2 2012 10.0MP - 1" 10.0 fps 106 x 61 x 30mm 238g
    Nikon 1 J1 2012 10.0MP - 1" 10.0 fps 106 x 61 x 30mm 234g

    Check the link below to compare specs of the latest cameras in this series:
    Nikon J5 vs 1 J4 vs 1 J3 vs 1 J2 vs 1 J1

    Nikon 1 J4 has an Overall Score of 64/100 and ranked #107 out of 163 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #249 out of 1131 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

    Nikon 1 J4 Type Scores
    Imaging
    Features
    Value for Money
    Portability
    Overall Score
    Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

    Nikon 1 J4 Compared to other Mirrorless Cameras

    Now let's get in to more details of Nikon 1 J4's specs and feature, and list out its pro's and con's compared to average cameras in its class.

    PROs
    Built-in Wireless (Wi-fi)
    1920 x 1080 Max Video Resolution
    Touch Screen
    Face Detection Focusing
    18.0MP - High Resolution Sensor
    12.800 Max ISO
    171 Focus Points
    1.037k dots LCD Resolution
    1/16000s High Shutter Speed
    60.0fps Fast Continuous Shooting
    232g Light Body
    105 Cross Type Focus Points
    Panorama Shooting
    1,200 fps High Speed Video
    Flash Sync Port

    Buy Nikon 1 J4 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO


    CONs
    No Image Stabilization
    No Articulating Screen
    No External Flash Shoe
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No External Viewfinder Option
    Low Battery Life: 300 shots
    No Environmental Sealing
    Nikon 1 J4 Lens Mount and Lenses

    Nikon 1 J4 has a Nikon 1 lens mount and currently there are 13 native lenses available for this mount. Although limited in number and versatility, Nikon 1 mount provides the compact and lightweight lenses that the system promises. With an adapter, you can mount Nikon F lenses and thanks to focal length multiplier of 2.7x, some of these lenses will give you a very long focal length reach.

    Nikon 1 J4 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 7 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 2 lenses with weather sealing for 1 J4 but bear in mind that 1 J4 body doesn't have weather sealings.

    Here are some of the most popular Nikon 1 J4 Lenses on Camera Decision:

    Popular Nikon 1 J4 Lenses
    Model Focal Length on 1 J4 Max Aperture Weight Focusing Price
    Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6
    189-810mm F4.5 - F5.6 560gr AF $996.95
    Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.8
    51.3mm F1.8 70gr AF $186.95
    Nikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.8
    27mm F2.8 77gr AF $246.95
    Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6
    27-270mm F4.0 - F5.6 298gr AF $546.95
    Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f3.8-5.6
    81-297mm F3.8 - F5.6 180gr AF $246.95

    Check our Nikon 1 J4 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

    Nikon 1 J4 Sensor and Photography Features

    Nikon 1 J4 has a 18.0MP 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 4 processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 5232 x 3488 pixels with aspect ratios of and 3:2. 1 J4 has a native ISO range of 160 - 12800 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

    Nikon 1 J4 is not the highest resolution 1 inch Sensor camera. Nikon 1 J5 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon 1 J4 vs Nikon 1 J5 or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

    Let's look at how the size of the Nikon 1 J4's 1" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

    Nikon 1 J4 Sensor Size Comparison

    Nikon 1 J4 Physical Specs
    Nikon 1 J4 weighs 232 g (0.51 lb / 8.18 oz) and has external dimensions of 100 x 60 x 29 mm (3.92 x 2.36 x 1.12″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 395g, Nikon 1 J4 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 29mm, it is also quite small, 17mm thinner than the average of its class.
    Weight Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Nikon 1 J4
    Min
    Average
    Max
    Thickness Comparison

    Mirrorless Cameras

    Nikon 1 J4
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Here is the front and top view image of Nikon 1 J4 with the dimensions:

    Nikon 1 J4 Body Size Dimensions

    In order to give you a better idea about the real life size of Nikon 1 J4, we have added an image of how it looks next to a credit card and an AA type battery.


    Nikon 1 J4 Real Life Body Size Comparison


    Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Nikon 1 J4 with its main competitors:

    Nikon 1 J4 Size Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Sensor Weight vs 1 J4 Thickness vs 1 J4
    Nikon 1 J5 21.0MP - 1" 231g 1g lighter 32mm 3mm thicker
    Nikon 1 J3 14.0MP - 1" 201g 31g lighter 29mm equal thickness
    Sony a5000 20.0MP - APS-C 269g 37g heavier 36mm 7mm thicker
    Nikon 1 J1 10.0MP - 1" 234g 2g heavier 30mm 1mm thicker
    Sony A6000 24.0MP - APS-C 344g 112g heavier 45mm 16mm thicker
    Sony a5100 24.0MP - APS-C 283g 51g heavier 36mm 7mm thicker
    Samsung NX mini 20.5MP - 1" 196g 36g lighter 23mm 6mm thinner
    Nikon 1 S2 14.0MP - 1" 190g 42g lighter 29mm equal thickness

    Nikon 1 J4 doesn't have any environmental sealings on its body so you got to be extra careful to protect it against water and dust. If you shoot under these conditions very often, consider checking Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing page.

    Nikon 1 J4 Other Features
    LCD and Viewfinder

    Nikon 1 J4 has a Fixed Type 3″ LCD screen with a resolution of 1,037k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

    LCD is Touch screen type, so you can change the settings and set the focus point with your fingertips.

    1 J4 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 (Lumix DMC-G80) (Compare) or Sony Alpha A7 (Compare).
    If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

    Max Shutter speed
    Nikon 1 J4 can shoot continuously at max speed of 60 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/16000 sec.

    Flash
    Unfortunately 1 J4 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

    Focusing
    Nikon 1 J4 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 171 focus points and 105 of these sensors are of Cross-type. Cross-type sensors locks focus faster and more accurate compared to single type sensors.

    Nikon 1 J4 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

    Video Features
    With Nikon 1 J4, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60p,30p fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Nikon 1 J4 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

    1 J4 also a high speed mode where it captures videos at 1,200 fps for ultra slow motion videos. 1 J4 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
    Nikon 1 J4 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Panasonic Lumix DMC-G85 (Lumix DMC-G80) or Sony Alpha A7 in a similar price range.

    Connectivity and Storage
    Nikon 1 J4 features built-in wireless (Wi-Fi) connectivity ( smartphone app allows for photo sharing) which lets you transfer your photos directly to compatible devices without any physical connection.

    You can connect 1 J4 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

    Battery Nikon 1 J4 is powered by EN-EL22 battery which provides a shooting life of 300 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 353 shots, Nikon 1 J4 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend 1 J4 owners to buy some extra batteries.

    Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

    Nikon 1 J4
    Min
    Average
    Max

    Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon 1 J4 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

    Nikon 1 J4 Features Compared to Main Competitors
    Model Max Video Battery Life Wi-fi Bluetooth NFC
    Nikon 1 J5
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    3840 x 2160 250shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon 1 J3
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    1920 x 1080 220shots No No No
    Sony a5000
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    1920 x 1080 420shots Yes No Yes
    Nikon 1 J1
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    1920 x 1080 230shots No No No
    Sony A6000
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    1920 x 1080 360shots Yes No Yes
    Sony a5100
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    1920 x 1080 400shots Yes No Yes
    Samsung NX mini
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    1920 x 1080 650shots Yes No No
    Nikon 1 S2
    >>Compare to 1 J4
    1920 x 1080 270shots Yes No No

    Lowest Price
    Current Lowest price for Nikon 1 J4 is $599.95

    $599.95

    What type of Photography is Nikon 1 J4 Good for?
    In this section, we review and score Nikon 1 J4 in 5 different photography areas. This first spider web graph shows how the 1 J4 compares with the average Mirrorless camera.
    Hover your mouse over the points to see the score details for each photography type.

    Nikon 1 J4 for Portrait Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 has a score of 40 for Portrait Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list.
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
    Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
    Average Ergonomics&Handling
    No Image Stabilization
    No Built-in Viewfinder

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 J4 for Portrait Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 for Street Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 has a score of 49 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.
    Live-view
    Face-Detection Focusing
    Medium sized Body
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 J4 for Street Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 for Sports Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 has a score of 72 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.
    Fast Continuous Shooting: 60.0fps
    Fast Max shutter speed: 1/16000s
    105 Cross Type Focus sensors
    171 Focus Points
    Wireless Connection
    Average Ergonomics&Handling
    Environmental Sealings
    No Built-in Viewfinder
    No Image Stabilization

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 J4 for Sports Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 for Daily Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 has a score of 57 for Daily Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Daily is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.
    232g
    Medium size Body
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 J4 for Daily Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 for Landscape Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 has a score of 45 for Landscape Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list.
    Live-view
    Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
    Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
    No Environmental Sealings

    Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 J4 for Landscape Photography

    Nikon 1 J4 Alternatives
    In this section, we analyse how Nikon 1 J4 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of 1 J4 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.
    Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon 1 J4 alternatives.
    Popular Comparisons of Nikon 1 J4
    Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Nikon 1 J4 amongst Camera Decision readers.

    Nikon 1 J5
    Nikon 1 J5
    Compare
    Nikon 1 J3
    Nikon 1 J3
    Compare
    Sony a5000
    Sony a5000
    Compare
    Nikon 1 J1
    Nikon 1 J1
    Compare
    Sony A6000
    Sony A6000
    Compare
    Sony a5100
    Sony a5100
    Compare
    Samsung NX mini
    Samsung NX mini
    Compare
    Nikon 1 S2
    Nikon 1 S2
    Compare
    Nikon 1 J4 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras
    It would also be interesting to compare Nikon 1 J4 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Nikon 1 J4's price range.

    Pentax K-S2
    Pentax K-S2
    Compare
    Pentax K-70
    Pentax K-70
    Compare
    Pentax KP
    Pentax KP
    Compare
    Pentax K-3 II
    Pentax K-3 II
    Compare
    Nikon D5500
    Nikon D5500
    Compare
    Nikon D5600
    Nikon D5600
    Compare
    Canon SL2
    Canon SL2
    Compare
    Canon T7i
    Canon T7i
    Compare
    Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon 1 J4
    Does the Nikon 1 J4 have Image Stabilization?
    Does the Nikon 1 J4 have RAW support?
    Does the Nikon 1 J4 have Weather Sealing?
    Does the Nikon 1 J4 have built-in GPS?
    What is the Max ISO of Nikon 1 J4?
    What is the Sensor Size of Nikon 1 J4?
    is the Nikon 1 J4 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
    Does the Nikon 1 J4 have Touch Screen?
    Does the Nikon 1 J4 have built-in Wireless?
    What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon 1 J4?
    Nikon 1 J4 Detailed Specifications

    General
    Brand Nikon
    Model Nikon 1 J4
    Announced 2014-04-10
    Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless
    Price $599.95
    Lens
    Manual Focus
    Lens Mount Nikon 1
    Number of Lenses 13
    Focal Length Multiplier 2.7×
    Macro Focus Range n/a
    Screen
    Screen Type Fixed Type
    Screen Size 3″
    Screen Resolution 1,037k dots
    Live View
    Touch Screen
    Viewfinder
    Viewfinder None
    Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder
    Viewfinder Coverage n/a
    Viewfinder Magnification n/a
    Photography Features
    Min Shutter Speed 30s
    Max Shutter Speed 1/16000s
    Continuous Shooting 60.0 fps
    Shutter Priority
    Aperture Priority
    Manual Exposure Mode
    Exposure Compensation Yes
    Custom White Balance
    Image Stabilization
    Built-in Flash
    Flash Range 5.00 m (ISO 100)
    Flash Modes Auto, auto + red-eye reduction, fill-flash, fill-flash w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear curtain w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye reduction w/slow sync, off
    External Flash
    AE Bracketing
    WB Bracketing
    Exposure Modes
    Multi-Segment
    Average
    Spot
    Partial
    AF-Area
    Center Weighted
    DxO Sensor Scores
    DxO Overall Score not tested
    DxO Color Depth not tested
    DxO Dynamic Range not tested
    DxO Low Light ISO not tested
    Report a correction

    Sensor
    Sensor Type CMOS
    Sensor Size 1"
    Sensor Dimensions 13.2 x 8.8 mm
    Sensor Area 116.16mm2
    Sensor Resolution 18 megapixels
    Max Image Resolution 5232 x 3488
    Max Native ISO 12,800
    Min Native ISO 160
    RAW Support
    Autofocus
    AF Touch
    AF Continuous
    AF Single
    AF Tracking
    AF Selective
    AF Center
    AF Multi Area
    AF Live View
    AF Face Detection
    AF Contrast Detection
    AF Phase Detection
    Number of Focus Points 171
    Number of Cross Focus Points 105
    Video Features
    Video Resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60p, 30p), 1472 x 984 (60p, 30p)
    Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080
    Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264
    Microphone Port
    Headphone Port
    Connectivity
    Wireless Connectivity Built-In
    HDMI
    USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
    Physical
    Environmental Sealing
    Water Proof
    Dust Proof
    Shock Proof
    Crush Proof
    Freeze Proof
    Weight 232g
    Physical Dimensions 100 x 60 x 29mm
    Battery Life 300 shots
    Battery Type Battery Pack
    Battery Model EN-EL22
    Other Features
    Self Timer Yes (2 or 10 secs)
    Timelapse Recording
    GPS None
    Storage Type microSD/SDHC/SDXC
    Storage Slots 1
    LATEST DEALS!

    Panasonic GX8 with 12-60mm and Freebies for $998
    4TB Seagate Expansion Desktop External HDD USB 3.0 for $100
    Olympus E-M1II with 12-40mm Lens - $300 Off
    New Rebates on Sony Alpha A7 Series

  • See all Active Deals here

  • TOP Ranked DSLR Cameras
    Nikon D850
    Nikon D850
    46 MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Nikon F Mount
    Sony A99 II
    Sony A99 II
    42 MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
    Pentax K-1
    Pentax K-1
    36 MP | Full frame CMOS | Pentax KAF2 Mount

    TOP Ranked Mirrorless Cameras
    Fujifilm GFX 50S
    Fujifilm GFX 50S
    51 MP | Medium format CMOS | Fujifilm G Mount
    Sony A7R III
    Sony A7R III
    42 MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Sony E Mount
    Sony A7R II
    Sony A7R II
    42 MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | Sony E Mount

    TOP Ranked Large Sensor Compact Cameras
    Sony RX1R II
    Sony RX1R II
    42 MP | Full frame BSI-CMOS | 35 mm Lens
    Leica Q
    Leica Q
    24 MP | Full frame CMOS | 28 mm Lens
    Canon G1 X III
    Canon G1 X III
    24 MP | APS-C CMOS | 24-72 mm Lens

    TOP Ranked Compact Cameras
    Nikon P7800
    Nikon P7800
    12 MP | 1/1.7" BSI-CMOS | 28-200 mm Lens
    Fujifilm X30
    Fujifilm X30
    12 MP | 2/3" CMOS X-TRANS II | 28-112 mm Lens
    Panasonic ZS70
    Panasonic ZS70
    20 MP | 1/2.3 BSI-CMOS | 24-720 mm Lens


    Copyright © 2017 by CameraDecision
    About Feedback Privacy

    Report a Correction