Nikon J5 vs Samsung NX mini Comparison

Camera to replace

Change

Nikon 1 J5

21 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

CHECK PRICE

Change

Samsung NX mini

20 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

CHECK PRICE

Nikon 1 J5 vs Samsung NX mini Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing the J5 and the NX mini, two Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras from Nikon and Samsung. Nikon 1 J5 was introduced to the market in April 2015 and Samsung NX mini was launched in March 2014. There is 13 months difference between J5 and NX mini so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger J5, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon 1 J5 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2015-04-03

21MP - 1' BSI-CMOS Sensor

No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter

ISO 160 - 12800

Nikon 1 Mount

3.00" Tilting Screen

20.0fps continuous shooting

4K (UHD) - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

1200fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

231g. 98 x 60 x 32 mm

Replaced Nikon 1 J4 Compare

Samsung NX mini Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2014-03-19

20MP - 1' BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 160 - 12800 ( expands to 100 - 25600)

Samsung NX-M Mount

3.00" Tilting Screen

6.0fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

196g. 110 x 62 x 23 mm

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Related Blog Posts

Top 10 Lightest Full-Frame Mirrorless Cameras in 2023
The Most Rented Compact Cameras in 2022
DPReview to Close
Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more
100-400mm Lens Size Comparison: Leica vs Sony vs Canon vs Nikon
Sirui 24mm f2.8 Super35 Anamorphic 1.33x Lens %50 Off
Nikon Z9 firmware Update v3.10 Released
Best Selling Lenses in Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X and Canon EF Mounts in 2023

**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.

Reasons to choose Nikon 1 J5 over Samsung NX mini

Sensor Resolution	21 MP vs 20 MP	5% more pixels
Number of Focus Points	171 vs 21	150 more focus points
LCD Resolution	1.037k dots vs 461k dots	125% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	20.0fps vs 6.0fps	14 fps faster
Timelapse Recording	Yes vs No	creative shooting
NFC Connection	Yes vs No	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Smartphone Remote	Yes vs No	Remote control your camera with a smartphone

CHECK J5 PRICE

Reasons to choose Samsung NX mini over Nikon 1 J5

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
Max Mech. Shutter	1/16000s vs 1/4000s	faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life	650 shots vs 250 shots	400 more frames with a single charge
Weight	196 g vs 231 g	35 g lighter
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

CHECK NX mini PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini

Wireless Connection	Yes vs Yes	Better connectivity
Adjustable LCD Screen	Tilting vs Tilting	Flexible shooting positions
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Touch Screen	Yes vs Yes	Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
Max Resolution	21 MP vs 20 MP	Bigger prints and more details
Max Continuous Shooting	20.0fps vs 6.0fps	Fast shooting speeds

Common Weaknesses of Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini

In-body Image Stabilization	No vs No	No Built-in stabilization
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Nikon 1 J5 vs Samsung NX mini: 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 J5 and Samsung NX mini side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon 1 J5 has external dimensions of 98 x 60 x 32 mm (3.86 x 2.36 x 1.26″) and weighs 231 g (0.51 lb / 8.15 oz) (including batteries). Samsung NX mini has external dimensions of 110 x 62 x 23 mm (4.33 x 2.44 x 0.91″) and weighs 196 g (0.43 lb / 6.91 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Samsung NX mini. Nikon 1 J5 is 12mm narrower and 2mm shorter than Samsung NX mini but it is also 9mm thicker.

Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Samsung NX mini Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini.

Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Samsung NX mini Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini.

Top View Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J5 and the the Samsung NX mini Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Samsung NX mini is significantly lighter (35g ) than the Nikon 1 J5 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 J5 and Samsung NX mini have the same 1' sized sensor, their lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will be similar in size and weight.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

NX mini

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

NX mini

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon 1 J5 nor Samsung NX mini 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 J5 and Samsung NX mini's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

Both cameras feature Tilting screens where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Samsung NX mini: Sensor Comparison

Nikon 1 J5 has a 21.0MP 1' (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed 5A processor. On the other hand, Samsung NX mini has a 20.5MP 1' (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor .

Another difference between these two cameras is that Nikon 1 J5's sensor lacks anti-alias (Low-Pass) filter. Removing anti-alias filter increases the sharpness and level of detail but at the same time, it increases the chance of moiré occurring in certain scenes.

Below you can see the J5 and NX mini sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini Cameras

Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini 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.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Samsung NX mini 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. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that the Nikon 1 J5 has an advantage over the Samsung NX mini. There are 13 lenses for the Nikon 1 J5's Nikon 1 mount, but on the other hand, there are only 2 lenses for the Samsung NX mini's Samsung NX-M lens mount.

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 for Nikon 1 mount and 1 lenses for Samsung NX-M mount with IS.

Lens Type	# of Nikon 1 J5 Lenses	# of Samsung NX mini Lenses
Standard Zoom	4	n/a
Standard Prime	2	n/a
Wideangle Zoom	1	1
Wideangle Prime	2	1
Telephoto Zoom	2	n/a
Telephoto Prime	n/a	n/a
SuperZoom	2	n/a
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	2

What types of Photography are Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon 1 J5 and Samsung NX mini 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 J5 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Samsung NX mini for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.5MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon 1 J5 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX mini for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
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 J5 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX mini for Sports Photography

GOOD

Fast Continuous Shooting: 20.0fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
171 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Poor Battery Life: 250 shots
Read the details

Fast Max shutter speed: 1/16000s
21 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 650 shots
Wireless Connection
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon 1 J5 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung NX mini for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

231g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details

196g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details

Nikon 1 J5 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Samsung NX mini for Landscape Photography

POOR

Very High Resolution Sensor: 21.0MP
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.5MP
Live-view
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon 1 J5 vs Samsung NX mini: 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 J5 and Samsung NX mini, 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 J5 and Samsung NX mini scores compare:

Nikon 1 J5

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #50 out of 135 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #285 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Samsung NX mini

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #45 out of 135 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #252 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Samsung NX mini is the clear winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon 1 J5 in all criteria.
It has better general image quality, more features, more compact body and offers more value for the money

Samsung NX mini vs Nikon 1 J5 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon 1 J5	Samsung NX mini
Brand	Nikon	Samsung
Announced	2015-04-03	2014-03-19
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type	BSI-CMOS	BSI-CMOS
Size	1'	1'
Dimensions	13.2 x 8.8 mm	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area	116.16mm²	116.16mm²
Megapixels	21 megapixels	20.5 megapixels
Max Resolution	5568 x 3712	5472 x 3648
Max Native Light sensitivity	12,800 ISO	12,800 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	25600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	160 ISO	160 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity	-	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	171	21
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon 1	Samsung NX-M
Number of Available Lenses	13	2
Screen
Type	Tilting	Tilting
Size	3.00"	3.00"
Resolution	1,037k dots	461k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/16000s
Max Electronic Shutter	1/16000s	n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization	No	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.00 m (ISO 100)	n/a
Max Flash Sync	n/a	1/200s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	20.0 fps	6.0 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	Built-In	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	231g	196g
Dimensions	98 x 60 x 32mm	110 x 62 x 23mm
Battery Life	250 shots	650 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	65	not tested
DxO Color Depth	22.1	not tested
DxO Dynamic Range	12.0	not tested
DxO Low Light ISO	479	not tested
	Report a correction	Report a correction