Nikon 1 J1 vs Nikon 1 J2 Comparison

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Nikon 1 J1

10 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Nikon 1 J2

10 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Nikon 1 J1 vs Nikon 1 J2 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the 1 J1 and the 1 J2, two Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by Nikon. Nikon 1 J1 was introduced to the market in January 2012 and Nikon 1 J2 was launched in August 2012. There is only 7 months difference between 1 J1 and 1 J2 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

1 J1 and 1 J2 are members of Nikon's J series of cameras. Below you can find the latest models from this series.

Nikon J Series History

Model	Release Date	Sensor	Dimensions	Weight
Nikon 1 J5	2015	21.0MP - 1'	98 x 60 x 32mm	231g
Nikon 1 J4	2014	18.0MP - 1'	100 x 60 x 29mm	232g
Nikon 1 J3	2013	14.0MP - 1-inch	101 x 61 x 29mm	201g
Nikon 1 J2	2012	10.0MP - 1-inch	106 x 61 x 30mm	238g
Nikon 1 J1	2012	10.0MP - 1-inch	106 x 61 x 30mm	234g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon 1 J1 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-01-20

10MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

Nikon 1 Mount

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

10.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

1200fps High-Speed Video

234g. 106 x 61 x 30 mm

Nikon 1 J2 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2012-08-09

10MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

Nikon 1 Mount

3.00" Fixed Type Screen

10.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

1200fps High-Speed Video

238g. 106 x 61 x 30 mm

Replaced Nikon 1 J1 Compare

Nikon 1 J2 was replaced by Nikon 1 J3. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon 1 J2
Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon 1 J1

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

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Reasons to choose Nikon 1 J1 over Nikon 1 J2

Weight	234 g vs 238 g	4 g lighter
Color Depth	21.5 vs 21.3	higher color depth
Dynamic Range	11.0 vs 10.8	higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO	372 vs 363	better High ISO performance

CHECK 1 J1 PRICE

Reasons to choose Nikon 1 J2 over Nikon 1 J1

LCD Resolution	921k dots vs 460k dots	100% higher resolution screen

CHECK 1 J2 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Max Continuous Shooting	10.0fps vs 10.0fps	Fast shooting speeds
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs Yes	creative shooting

Common Weaknesses of Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2

In-body Image Stabilization	No vs No	No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
Max Resolution	10 MP vs 10 MP	Less details and smaller prints
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing	No vs No	Not good for multi-exposure HDR

Nikon 1 J1 vs Nikon 1 J2: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon 1 J1 has external dimensions of 106 x 61 x 30 mm (4.17 x 2.4 x 1.18″) and weighs 234 g (0.52 lb / 8.25 oz) (including batteries). Nikon 1 J2 has external dimensions of 106 x 61 x 30 mm (4.17 x 2.4 x 1.18″) and weighs 238 g (0.52 lb / 8.40 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon 1 J1 and the Nikon 1 J2. In this case, we can see that Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 have the exact same height, width and thickness.

Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J1 and the Nikon 1 J2 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2.

Top View Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J1 and the the Nikon 1 J2 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon 1 J1 is 4g lighter than the Nikon 1 J2 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you also have to take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since both Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 have the same Nikon 1 lens mount and 1 inch Sensor sized sensors, lenses will not be a differentiator on total size of the system.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

1 J1

1 J2

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

1 J1

1 J2

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon 1 J1 nor Nikon 1 J2 provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Mirrorless Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Nikon 1 J1 vs Nikon 1 J2: Sensor Comparison

Both Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 have 1-inch sized 10.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the 1 J1 and 1 J2 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 Cameras

Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, 1 J1 has scored 56, 2 points higher than 1 J2.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Nikon 1 J1	56	21.5 bits	11.0 Evs	372 ISO
Nikon 1 J2	54	21.3 bits	10.8 Evs	363 ISO

Nikon 1 J1 vs Nikon 1 J2 Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

The number of available lenses is a big deciding factor when choosing your interchangeable lens camera. Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 have the same Nikon 1 lens mount and currently there are 13 native lenses available for these cameras.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 7 lenses with Image stabilization for Nikon 1 mount.

Lens Type	# of Nikon 1 J1 Lenses	# of Nikon 1 J2 Lenses
Standard Zoom	4	4
Standard Prime	2	2
Wideangle Zoom	1	1
Wideangle Prime	2	2
Telephoto Zoom	2	2
Telephoto Prime	n/a	n/a
SuperZoom	2	2
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	n/a	n/a
Macro Prime	n/a	n/a
Perspective Control Prime	n/a	n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime	n/a	n/a
TOTAL	13	13

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

Popular Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for the 1 J1 and the 1 J2

	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6	1"	560gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f3.8-5.6	1"	180gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f3.5-5.6	1"	115gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 32mm f1.2	1"	235gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.8	1"	77gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 6.7-13mm f3.5-5.6	1"	125gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6	1"	298gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.8	1"	70gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

What types of Photography are Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon 1 J1 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 J2 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon 1 J1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J2 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon 1 J1 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J2 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
135 Focus Points
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
Read the details

Nikon 1 J1 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J2 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

234g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details

238g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details

Nikon 1 J1 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 J2 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon 1 J1 vs Nikon 1 J2: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon 1 J1 and Nikon 1 J2 scores compare:

Nikon 1 J1

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #122 out of 135 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #520 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Nikon 1 J2

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #118 out of 135 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #504 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J1 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon 1 J1	Nikon 1 J2
Brand	Nikon	Nikon
Announced	2012-01-20	2012-08-09
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CMOS
Size	1-inch	1-inch
Dimensions	13.2 x 8.8 mm	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area	116.16mm²	116.16mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	10 megapixels
Max Resolution	3872 x 2592	3872 x 2592
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	100 ISO
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	135	135
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon 1	Nikon 1
Number of Available Lenses	13	13
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	460k dots	921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/4000s
Max Electronic Shutter	1/16000s	1/16000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	No	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.00 m	5.00 m
Max Flash Sync	1/60s	1/60s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	10.0 fps	10.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	234g	238g
Dimensions	106 x 61 x 30mm	106 x 61 x 30mm
Battery Life	230 shots	230 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	56	54
DxO Color Depth	21.5	21.3
DxO Dynamic Range	11.0	10.8
DxO Low Light ISO	372	363
	Report a correction	Report a correction