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Nikon J5 vs Sony A7R V Comparison

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Nikon 1 J5

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

Nikon 1 J5
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Sony A7R V

61 MP | Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Sony A7R V
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Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing J5 and A7R V, two Mirrorless cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon 1 J5 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless class camera and Sony Alpha A7R V is a Pro Mirrorless class camera.

Nikon 1 J5 was introduced to the market in April 2015 and Sony A7R V was launched in October 2022. As you can see, J5 is 7 years older than A7R V. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon 1 J5 and Sony A7R V 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

Sony A7R V Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2022-10-26
  • 61MP - Full frame BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • No Anti-aliasing (AA) filter
  • ISO 100 - 32000 ( expands to 50 - 102800)
  • Sony E Mount
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.20" Fully articulated Screen
  • 9440k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 10.0fps (7.0fps Electronic) continuous shooting
  • 8K - 7680 x 4320 video resolution
  • 120fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 723g. 131 x 97 x 82 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Sony Alpha A7R IV Compare

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon 1 J5 and Sony A7R V 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.

Reasons to choose Nikon 1 J5 over Sony Alpha A7R V
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 10.0fps 10 fps faster
Weight
231 g vs 723 g 492 g lighter
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
CHECK J5 PRICE


Reasons to choose Sony Alpha A7R V over Nikon 1 J5
Gyroscopic Stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilize video in post process
Video Record Limit
Unlimited vs Limited Record clips longer than 30 minutes
Lens Breathing Correction
Yes vs No Corrects Lens Breathing for supported lenses
Anti-dust Shutter Mechanism
Yes vs No Shutter is closed to protect the sensor
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Tilt and Flip Screen
Yes vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
Sensor Resolution
61 MP vs 21 MP 190% more pixels
Max ISO
32.000 vs 12.800 150% higher Max ISO
Number of Focus Points
693 vs 171 522 more focus points
LCD Screen Size
3.2″ vs 3" 0.2 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
2.360k dots vs 1.037k dots 127% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/4000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
600 shots vs 250 shots 350 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Headphone Port
Yes vs No better video control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Sensor Pixel Area
14.15µm2 vs 5.62µm2 151% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
7680 x 4320 vs 1920 x 1080 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Full-size HDMI Port
Yes vs No Use standard HDMI cables without adapters
Pixel Shift High-Res Mode
Yes (241.0MP) vs No Increased resolution with pixel shift
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Focus Bracketing
Yes vs No Take multiple photos shifting focus point
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
Digital video stabilization
Yes vs No Stabilizes your videos in-camera
UHS Card Support
UHS-II vs none Read/Write in High Speeds
CFexpress Card Support
Yes (Type A) vs none Read/Write in Ultra High Speeds
USB Version
USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 GBit/sec) vs USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) Faster Data transfer from the camera
Animal Eye AF Tracking
Yes vs No Easily lock and track focus on animals
Focus Mapping
Yes vs No Alternate Method to Focus during Video recording
Vehicle Tracking AF
Yes vs No Easily lock and track racing cars and bikes
Insect Tracking AF
Yes vs No Great for Macro photography
Webcam Function
Yes vs No Use your camera as a Webcam
Anti Flicker
Yes vs No Reduced uneven color and exposure under flickering light
Eye Tracking Focus
Yes vs No Autofocus system locks on the eye and tracks the subject
CHECK A7R V PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon 1 J5 and Sony Alpha A7R V
Wireless Connection
Yes vs Yes Better connectivity
Adjustable LCD Screen
Tilting vs Fully articulated Flexible shooting positions
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 61 MP Bigger prints and more details
LCD Screen Size
3.20" vs 3.20" Large display
LCD Screen Resolution
1.037k dots vs 2.360k dots High resolution screens
Max Continuous Shooting
20.0fps vs 10.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs Yes creative shooting
Selfie/Vlogger Friendly LCD
Yes vs Yes Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs Yes Remote control your camera with a smartphone
Common Weaknesses of Nikon 1 J5 and Sony Alpha A7R V
Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V: 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 Sony A7R V 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). Sony A7R V has external dimensions of 131 x 97 x 82 mm (5.25 x 3.87 x 3.25″) and weighs 723 g (1.59 lb / 25.50 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Sony A7R V. Nikon 1 J5 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 33mm narrower, 37mm shorter and 50mm thinner than Sony A7R V.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Sony A7R V Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon 1 J5 and Sony A7R V.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Sony A7R V Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon 1 J5 and Sony A7R V.
Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon 1 J5 and the the Sony A7R V Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon 1 J5 is significantly lighter (492g ) than the Sony A7R V 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 Sony A7R V has a Full frame sensor and Nikon 1 J5 has a smaller 1' sensor, Nikon 1 J5's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Sony A7R V lenses.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

J5
A7R V
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

J5
A7R V
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather-sealed body of the A7R V, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the J5.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Sony A7R V's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon 1 J5's 3" screen.



Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V: 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, Sony A7R V has a 61.0MP Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Bionz XR processor.

Sony A7R V's sensor provides 40MP more than Nikon 1 J5's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Another similarity between these two cameras is that both Sony A7R V and Nikon 1 J5 sensors lack anti-alias (Low-Pass) filters. 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 A7R V sensor size comparison.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon 1 J5 and Sony A7R V Cameras


As seen above, Sony A7R V has a 7.3x Larger sensor area than Nikon 1 J5. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V 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 Sony A7R V has an advantage over the Nikon 1 J5 There are 194 lenses for the Sony A7R V's Sony E mount, but on the other hand, there are only 13 lenses for the Nikon 1 J5's Nikon 1 lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. Sony A7R V has a big advantage in this regard because it has a sensor based image stabilization which means that all the lenses mounted to this body will be stabilized. A7R V's built-in Image stabilization system is effective for compensating vibration up to 8.0-stops according to CIPA standards.
On the other hand, Nikon 1 J5 doesn't have this feature so you have to buy a lens with optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 7 lenses for Nikon 1 mount with Optical Image Stabilization features.

Lens Type # of Nikon 1 J5 Lenses # of Sony A7R V Lenses
Standard Zoom 4 19 (14 Full Frame)
Standard Prime 2 34 (21 Full Frame)
Wideangle Zoom 1 14 (11 Full Frame)
Wideangle Prime 2 59 (40 Full Frame)
Telephoto Zoom 2 18 (16 Full Frame)
Telephoto Prime n/a 26 (20 Full Frame)
SuperZoom 2 10 (2 Full Frame)
Wideangle Fisheye Prime n/a 2 (0 Full Frame)
Macro Prime n/a 9 (8 Full Frame)
Perspective Control Prime n/a 2 (2 Full Frame)
Telephoto Mirror Prime n/a n/a
TOTAL 13 194 (134 Full Frame)

What types of Photography are Nikon 1 J5 and Sony A7R V Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon 1 J5 and Sony A7R V 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

Sony A7R V for Portrait Photography

EXCELLENT
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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 61.0MP
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Portrait Photography

Nikon 1 J5 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7R V for Street Photography

EXCELLENT
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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Street Photography
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully articulated LCD Screen
Medium sized Body
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Street Photography

Nikon 1 J5 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7R V 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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Sports Photography
Image Stabilization
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
693 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 600 shots
Good Low Light ISO
Wireless Connection
Anti Flicker feature
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Sports Photography

Nikon 1 J5 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony A7R V for Daily Photography

EXCELLENT
231g
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
Read the details
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Anti Flicker feature
Medium size Body
723g
Body Thickness 82mm
Read the details

Nikon 1 J5 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Sony A7R V for Landscape Photography

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

Check the Best Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography
Large Full frame (35.8 x 23.8 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 61.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Check the Best Sony E Mount Lenses for Landscape Photography

Nikon 1 J5 vs Sony A7R V: 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 Sony A7R V, 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 Sony A7R V scores compare:

Nikon 1 J5
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #51 out of 137 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #273 out of 1268 in all Cameras
Sony A7R V
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #1 out of 114 in SLR-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #1 out of 1268 in all Cameras

Sony A7R V is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon 1 J5 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon 1 J5. Otherwise, Sony A7R V is the better camera overall.

Nikon 1 J5
Nikon 1 J5
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Sony A7R V
Sony A7R V
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Sony A7R V vs Nikon 1 J5 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon 1 J5 Sony Alpha A7R V
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2015-04-03 2022-10-26
Body Type Rangefinder-style mirrorless SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1' Full frame
Dimensions 13.2 x 8.8 mm 35.8 x 23.8 mm
Area 116.16mm2 852.04mm2
Megapixels 21 megapixels 61 megapixels
Max Resolution 5568 x 3712 9504 x 6336
Max Native Light sensitivity 12,800 ISO 32,000 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 102800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 50 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 171 693
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount Nikon 1 Sony E
Number of Available Lenses 13 194
Screen
Type Tilting Fully articulated
Size 3.00" 3.20"
Resolution 1,037k dots 2,360k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder Resolution no electronic viewfinder 9,440k dots
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.9x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/8000s
Max Electronic Shutter 1/16000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.00 m (ISO 100) no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 20.0 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 7680 x 4320
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, XAVC S, XAVC HS, XAVC S-I, H.264, H.265
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 231g 723g
Dimensions 98 x 60 x 32mm 131 x 97 x 82mm
Battery Life 250 shots 600 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
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