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Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3 Comparison

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Nikon 1 J2

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

Nikon 1 J2
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Nikon 1 J3

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

Nikon 1 J3
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Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the 1 J2 and the 1 J3, two Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras by Nikon. Nikon 1 J2 was introduced to the market in August 2012 and Nikon 1 J3 was launched in November 2013. There is 16 months difference between 1 J2 and 1 J3 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger 1 J3, especially in sensor tech.

1 J2 and 1 J3 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
  
April 2015 21.0MP - 1' 98 x 60 x 32mm 231g
Nikon 1 J4
  
April 2014 18.0MP - 1' 100 x 60 x 29mm 232g
Nikon 1 J3
November 2013 14.0MP - 1-inch 101 x 61 x 29mm 201g
Nikon 1 J2
August 2012 10.0MP - 1-inch 106 x 61 x 30mm 238g
Nikon 1 J1
  
January 2012 10.0MP - 1-inch 106 x 61 x 30mm 234g

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

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 J3 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-11-30
  • 14MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 6400
  • Nikon 1 Mount
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 15.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 1200fps High-Speed Video
  • 201g. 101 x 61 x 29 mm
  • Replaced Nikon 1 J2 Compare

Nikon 1 J3 was replaced by Nikon 1 J4. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon 1 J4 vs Nikon 1 J3
Nikon 1 J4 vs Nikon 1 J2

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Nikon 1 J2 Nikon 1 J2
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Nikon 1 J3 Nikon 1 J3
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Nikon 1 J2
See at AMAZON
Nikon 1 J3
See at AMAZON
Reasons to choose Nikon 1 J2 over Nikon 1 J3
Battery Life
230 shots vs 220 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Color Depth
21.3 vs 20.4 higher color depth
Sensor Pixel Area
11.57µm2 vs 8.20µm2 41% larger pixel area
CHECK 1 J2 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon 1 J3 over Nikon 1 J2
Sensor Resolution
14 MP vs 10 MP 39% more pixels
Continuous Shooting
15.0fps vs 10.0fps 5 fps faster
Weight
201 g vs 238 g 37 g lighter
Dynamic Range
11.0 vs 10.8 higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO
420 vs 363 better High ISO performance
CHECK 1 J3 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
RAW Support
Yes vs Yes Better image quality
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 921k dots High resolution screens
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Common Weaknesses of Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3
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
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
AE Bracketing
No vs No Not good for multi-exposure HDR
Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3: 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 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. 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). Nikon 1 J3 has external dimensions of 101 x 61 x 29 mm (3.98 x 2.4 x 1.14″) and weighs 201 g (0.44 lb / 7.09 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon 1 J2 and the Nikon 1 J3. Nikon 1 J2 has the same height with Nikon 1 J3. On the other hand, with a width of 106mm, it is 5 wider and also with a thickness of 30mm, it is 1mm thicker than Nikon 1 J3.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J2 and the Nikon 1 J3 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3.
Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J2 and the Nikon 1 J3 Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon 1 J3 is significantly lighter (37g ) than the Nikon 1 J2 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

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 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 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 J2
1 J3
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

1 J2
1 J3
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon 1 J2 nor Nikon 1 J3 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 J2 and Nikon 1 J3'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 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3: Sensor Comparison

Nikon 1 J2 has a 10.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Expeed 3 processor. On the other hand, Nikon 1 J3 has a 14.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the 1 J2 and 1 J3 sensor size comparison.

Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 Cameras


Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 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. On the other hand, since Nikon 1 J2 has 41% larger pixel area compared to Nikon 1 J3, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 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 J2 has scored 54, 2 points higher than 1 J3.

Model Overall Color Depth Dynamic Range Low-light ISO
Nikon 1 J2 54 21.3 bits 10.8 Evs 363 ISO
Nikon 1 J3 52 20.4 bits 11.0 Evs 420 ISO
Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3 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 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 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 J2 Lenses # of Nikon 1 J3 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 J2 and the 1 J3
Model Coverage Weight Focusing Street Price
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 Lens 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 Lens 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 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-30mm f3.5-5.6
1" 115gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 32mm f1.2 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor 32mm f1.2
1" 235gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.8 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.8
1" 77gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 6.7-13mm f3.5-5.6 Lens 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 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6
1" 298gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.8 Lens Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.8
1" 70gr AF Amazon B&H Photo
What types of Photography are Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon 1 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 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 J2 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 J3 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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon 1 J2 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J3 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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Street Photography
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 J2 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J3 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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Fast Continuous Shooting: 15.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
41 Cross Type Focus sensors
135 Focus Points
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Read the details

Nikon 1 J2 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 J3 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
238g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details
201g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details

Nikon 1 J2 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 J3 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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon 1 J2 vs Nikon 1 J3: 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 J2 and Nikon 1 J3, 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 J2 and Nikon 1 J3 scores compare:

Nikon 1 J2
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #123 out of 140 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #518 out of 1275 in all Cameras
Nikon 1 J3
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #118 out of 140 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #495 out of 1275 in all Cameras

Nikon 1 J3 is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon 1 J2 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Nikon 1 J2
Nikon 1 J2
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Nikon 1 J3
Nikon 1 J3
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Nikon 1 J3 vs Nikon 1 J2 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon 1 J2 Nikon 1 J3
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2012-08-09 2013-11-30
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 14 megapixels
Max Resolution 3872 x 2592 4608 x 3072
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 160 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 921k 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 15.0 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 Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 238g 201g
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 30mm 101 x 61 x 29mm
Battery Life 230 shots 220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score 54 52
DxO Color Depth 21.3 20.4
DxO Dynamic Range 10.8 11.0
DxO Low Light ISO 363 420
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