Nikon 1 J5 vs D3100

The Nikon 1 J5 and the Nikon D3100 are two digital cameras that were revealed to the public, respectively, in April 2015 and August 2010. The J5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the D3100 is a DSLR. The cameras are based on an one-inch (J5) and an APS-C (D3100) sensor. The J5 has a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, whereas the D3100 provides 14.2 MP.

Below is an overview of the main specs of the two cameras as a starting point for the comparison.

Headline Specifications

Nikon 1 J5		Nikon D3100
Mirrorless system camera		Digital single lens reflex
Nikon 1 mount lenses		Nikon F mount lenses
20.7 MP, 1" Sensor		14.2 MP, APS-C Sensor
4K/15p Video		1080/24p Video
ISO 160-12,800		ISO 100-3,200 (100 - 12,800)
No viewfinder, LCD framing		Optical viewfinder
3.0 LCD, 1037k dots		3.0 LCD, 230k dots
Tilting touchscreen		Fixed screen (not touch-sensitive)
60 shutter flaps per second		3 shutter flaps per second
250 shots per battery charge		550 shots per battery charge
98 x 60 x 32 mm, 231 g		124 x 96 x 75 mm, 505 g

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon 1 J5 and the Nikon D3100? Which one should you buy? Read on to find out how these two cameras compare with respect to their body size, their imaging sensors, their shooting features, their input-output connections, and their reception by expert reviewers.

Body comparison

The side-by-side display below illustrates the physical size and weight of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Nikon D3100. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three consecutive perspectives from the front, the top, and the back are available. All size dimensions are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The J5 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the D3100 is available in two color-versions (black, red).

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Nikon D3100 is considerably larger (102 percent) than the Nikon 1 J5. Moreover, the D3100 is substantially heavier (119 percent) than the J5. In this context, it is worth noting that neither the J5 nor the D3100 are weather-sealed.

The above size and weight comparisons are to some extent incomplete since they do not consider the interchangeable lenses that both of these cameras require. Hence, you might want to study and compare the specifications of available lenses in order to get the full picture of the size and weight of the two camera systems.

The adjacent table lists the principal physical characteristics of the two cameras alongside a wider set of alternatives. If you would like to visualize and compare a different camera combination, you can navigate to the CAM-parator app and make your selection from a broad list of cameras there.

Body Specifications

	Camera Model	Camera Width	Camera Height	Camera Depth	Camera Weight	Battery Life	Weather Sealing	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Nikon 1 J5	3.9 in	2.4 in	1.3 in	8.1 oz	250	n	Apr 2015	399
	Nikon D3100	4.9 in	3.8 in	3.0 in	17.8 oz	550	n	Aug 2010	599
	Canon G9 X Mark II	3.9 in	2.3 in	1.2 in	7.3 oz	235	n	Jan 2017	529
	Canon G9 X	3.9 in	2.3 in	1.2 in	7.4 oz	220	n	Oct 2015	529
	Canon G7 X	4.1 in	2.4 in	1.6 in	10.7 oz	210	n	Sep 2014	699
	Nikon 1 V3	4.4 in	2.6 in	1.3 in	13.4 oz	310	n	Mar 2014	799
	Nikon 1 J4	3.9 in	2.4 in	1.1 in	8.2 oz	300	n	Apr 2014	549
	Nikon D3200	4.9 in	3.8 in	3.0 in	17.8 oz	540	n	Apr 2012	599
	Nikon D5100	5.0 in	3.8 in	3.1 in	19.8 oz	660	n	Apr 2011	749
	Nikon D7000	5.2 in	4.1 in	3.0 in	27.5 oz	1050	Y	Sep 2010	1,499
	Nikon D3000	5.0 in	3.8 in	2.5 in	18.9 oz	500	n	Jul 2009	599
	Nikon D5000	5.0 in	4.1 in	3.1 in	20.8 oz	510	n	Apr 2009	749
	Panasonic FZ1000	5.4 in	3.9 in	5.2 in	29.3 oz	360	n	Jun 2014	899
	Sony RX100 V	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.6 in	10.5 oz	220	n	Oct 2016	999
	Sony RX100 IV	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.6 in	10.5 oz	280	n	Jun 2015	999
	Sony A5000	4.3 in	2.5 in	1.4 in	9.5 oz	420	n	Jan 2014	449
	Sony RX100 III	4.0 in	2.3 in	1.6 in	10.2 oz	320	n	May 2014	799
Notes: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.
Convert to Metric

The price is, of course, an important factor in any camera decision. The retail prices at the time of the camera’s release place the model in the market relative to other models in the producer’s line-up and the competition. The J5 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 33 percent) than the D3100, which puts it into a different market segment. Usually, retail prices stay at first close to the launch price, but after several months, discounts become available. Later in the product cycle and, in particular, when the replacement model is about to appear, further discounting and stock clearance sales often push the camera price considerably down. Then, after the new model is out, very good deals can frequently be found on the pre-owned market.

Sensor comparison

The size of the sensor inside a digital camera is one of the key determinants of image quality. All other things equal, a large sensor will have larger individual pixel-units that offer better low-light sensitivity, wider dynamic range, and richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Moreover, a large sensor camera will give the photographer more control over depth-of-field in the image and, thus, the ability to better isolate a subject from the background. On the downside, larger sensors tend to be associated with larger, more expensive camera bodies and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon 1 J5 features an one-inch sensor and the Nikon D3100 an APS-C sensor. The sensor area in the D3100 is 207 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 1.5. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

In terms of chip-set technology, the J5 uses a more advanced image processing engine (EXPEED 5) than the D3100 (EXPEED 2), with benefits for noise reduction, color accuracy, and processing speed.

Despite having a smaller sensor, the Nikon 1 J5 offers a higher resolution of 20.7 megapixels, compared with 14.2 MP of the Nikon D3100. This megapixels advantage comes at the cost of a higher pixel density and a smaller size of the individual pixel (with a pixel pitch of 2.37μm versus 5.01μm for the D3100). However, it should be noted that the J5 is much more recent (by 4 years and 7 months) than the D3100, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that make it possible to gather light more efficiently. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that the J5 has no anti-alias filter installed, so that it can capture all the detail its sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Nikon 1 J5 implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the J5 for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon D3100 are 23 x 15.4 inches or 58.5 x 39 cm for good quality, 18.4 x 12.3 inches or 46.8 x 31.2 cm for very good quality, and 15.4 x 10.2 inches or 39 x 26 cm for excellent quality prints.

The J5 has on-sensor phase detect pixels, which results in fast and reliable autofocus acquisition even during live view operation.

The Nikon 1 J5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Nikon D3100 are ISO 100 to ISO 3200, with the possibility to increase the ISO range to 100-12800.

Consistent information on actual sensor performance is available from DXO Mark for many cameras. This service is based on lab testing and assigns an overall score to each camera sensor, as well as ratings for dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), color depth ("DXO Portrait"), and low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"). The Overall DXO ratings for the two cameras under consideration are close, suggesting that they provide similar imaging performance. The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

Sensor Characteristics

	Camera Model	Sensor Class	Resolution (MP)	Horiz. Pixels	Vert. Pixels	Video Format	DXO Portrait	DXO Landscape	DXO Sports	DXO Overall
	Nikon 1 J5	1-inch	20.7	5568	3712	4K/15p	21.1	12.0	479	65
	Nikon D3100	APS-C	14.2	4608	3072	1080/24p	22.5	11.3	919	67
	Canon G9 X Mark II	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.9	12.5	522	65
	Canon G9 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	21.5	12.3	495	63
	Canon G7 X	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	23.0	12.7	556	71
	Nikon 1 V3	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	384	52
	Nikon 1 J4	1-inch	18.2	5232	3488	1080/60p	20.8	10.7	426	53
	Nikon D3200	APS-C	24.1	6016	4000	1080/30p	24.1	13.2	1131	81
	Nikon D5100	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	1080/30p	23.5	13.6	1183	80
	Nikon D7000	APS-C	16.1	4928	3264	10800/24p	23.5	13.9	1167	80
	Nikon D3000	APS-C	10.0	3872	2592	none	22.3	11.1	563	62
	Nikon D5000	APS-C	12.2	4288	2848	720/24p	22.7	12.5	868	72
	Panasonic FZ1000	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.1	11.7	517	64
	Sony RX100 V	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.4	586	70
	Sony RX100 IV	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	4K/30p	22.8	12.6	591	70
	Sony A5000	APS-C	19.8	5456	3632	1080/60i	23.8	13.0	1089	79
	Sony RX100 III	1-inch	20.0	5472	3648	1080/60p	22.4	12.3	495	67

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration have a sensor with sufficiently fast read-out times for moving pictures, but the J5 provides a higher video resolution than the D3100. It can shoot video footage at 4K/15p, while the D3100 is limited to 1080/24p.

Feature comparison

Apart from body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the D3100 has an optical viewfinder, which can be very useful when shooting in bright sunlight. In contrast, the J5 relies on live view and the rear LCD for framing. The adjacent table lists some of the other core features of the Nikon 1 J5 and Nikon D3100 along with similar information for a selection of comparators.

Core Features

	Camera Model	Viewfinder (Type or 000 dots)	Control Panel (yes/no)	LCD Size (inch)	LCD Resolution (000 dots)	LCD Attach- ment	Touch Screen (yes/no)	Mech Shutter Speed	Shutter Flaps (1/sec)	Built-in Flash (yes/no)	Built-in Image Stab
	Nikon 1 J5	none	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0	Y	n
	Nikon D3100	optical	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Canon G9 X Mark II	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	8.2	Y	Y
	Canon G9 X	none	n	3.0	1040	fixed	Y	1/2000s	6.0	Y	Y
	Canon G7 X	none	n	3.0	1040	tilting	Y	1/2000s	6.5	Y	Y
	Nikon 1 V3	optional	n	3.0	1037	tilting	Y	1/4000s	60.0	Y	n
	Nikon 1 J4	none	n	3.0	1037	Fixed	Y	1/4000s	60.0	Y	n
	Nikon D3200	optical	n	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
	Nikon D5100	optical	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
	Nikon D7000	optical	Y	3.0	921	fixed	n	1/8000s	6.0	Y	n
	Nikon D3000	optical	n	3.0	230	fixed	n	1/4000s	3.0	Y	n
	Nikon D5000	optical	n	2.7	230	full-flex	n	1/4000s	4.0	Y	n
	Panasonic FZ1000	2359	n	3.0	921	swivel	n	1/4000s	12.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 V	2359	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	24.0	Y	Y
	Sony RX100 IV	2359	n	3.0	1228	tilting	n	1/2000s	16.0	Y	Y
	Sony A5000	none	n	3.0	461	tilting	n	1/4000s	3.5	Y	n
	Sony RX100 III	1440	n	3.0	1229	tilting	n	1/2000s	10.0	Y	Y

One differentiating feature between the two cameras concerns the touch sensitivity of the rear screen. The J5 has a touchscreen, while the D3100 has a conventional panel. Touch control can be particularly helpful, for example, for setting the focus point.

The reported shutter speed information refers to the use of the mechanical shutter. Yet, some cameras only have an electronic shutter, while others have an electronic shutter in addition to a mechanical one. In fact, the J5 is one of those camera that have an additional electronic shutter, which makes completely silent shooting possible. However, this mode is less suitable for photographing moving objects (risk of rolling shutter) or shooting under artificial light sources (risk of flickering).

The Nikon 1 J5 has an intervalometer built-in. This enables the photographer to capture time lapse sequences, such as flower blooming, a sunset or moon rise, without purchasing an external camera trigger and related software.

Concerning the storage of imaging data, both the J5 and the D3100 write their files to SDXC cards. The J5 supports UHS-I cards (Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s), while the D3100 cannot take advantage of Ultra High Speed SD cards.

Connectivity comparison

For some imaging applications, the extent to which a camera can communicate with its environment can be an important aspect in the camera decision process. The table below provides an overview of the connectivity of the Nikon 1 J5 and Nikon D3100 and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

Input-Output Connections

	Camera Model	Hotshoe Port	Internal Microphone	Internal Speaker	Microphone Port	Headphone Port	HDMI Port	USB Port	WiFi Support	NFC Support	Bluetooth Support
	Nikon 1 J5	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Nikon D3100	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Canon G9 X Mark II	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	Y
	Canon G9 X	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Canon G7 X	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Nikon 1 V3	-	stereo	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Nikon 1 J4	-	stereo	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	Y	-	-
	Nikon D3200	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon D5100	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon D7000	Y	mono	mono	Y	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon D3000	Y	-	-	-	-	-	2.0	-	-	-
	Nikon D5000	Y	mono	mono	-	-	mini	2.0	-	-	-
	Panasonic FZ1000	Y	stereo	mono	Y	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 V	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 IV	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony A5000	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-
	Sony RX100 III	-	stereo	mono	-	-	micro	2.0	Y	Y	-

It is notable that the J5 offers wifi support, while the D3100 does not. Wifi can be a very convenient means to transfer image data to an off-camera location.

Both the J5 and the D3100 have been discontinued, but can regularly be found used on eBay. The D3100 was replaced by the Nikon D3200, while the J5 does not have a direct successor. Further information on the two cameras (e.g. user guides, manuals), as well as related accessories, can be found on the official Nikon website.

Review summary

So what is the bottom line? Which of the two cameras – the Nikon 1 J5 or the Nikon D3100 – has the upper hand? Is one clearly better than the other? Below is a summary of the relative strengths of each of the two contestants.

Arguments in favor of the Nikon 1 J5:

• More detail: Offers more megapixels (20.7 vs 14.2MP) with a 21% higher linear resolution.
• Maximized detail: Lacks an anti-alias filter to exploit the sensor's full resolution potential.
• More dynamic range: Captures a larger spectrum of light and dark details (0.7 EV of extra DR).
• Better jpgs: Has a more modern image processing engine (EXPEED 5 vs EXPEED 2).
• Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/15p vs 1080/24p).
• Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
• More detailed LCD: Has a higher resolution rear screen (1037k vs 230k dots).
• More flexible LCD: Has a tilting screen for odd-angle shots in landscape orientation.
• Fewer buttons to press: Is equipped with a touch-sensitive rear screen to facilitate handling.
• More selfie-friendly: Has an articulated screen that can be turned to be front-facing.
• Faster burst: Shoots at higher frequency (60 vs 3 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
• Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
• Easier time-lapse photography: Has an intervalometer built-in for low frequency shooting.
• More compact: Is smaller (98x60mm vs 124x96mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
• Less heavy: Is lighter (by 274g or 54 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
• More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
• Easier file upload: Has wifi built in for automatic backup or image transfer to the web.
• Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
• Faster buffer clearing: Has an SD card interface that supports the UHS-I standard.
• More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (33 percent cheaper at launch).
• More modern: Reflects 4 years and 7 months of technical progress since the D3100 launch.

Advantages of the Nikon D3100:

• Better moiré control: Has an anti-alias filter to avoid artificial patterns to appear in images.
• Richer colors: Generates noticeably more natural colors (1.4 bits more color depth).
• Better low-light sensitivity: Can shoot in dim conditions (0.9 stops ISO advantage).
• Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
• Longer lasting: Gets more shots (550 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
• Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
• More heavily discounted: Has been around for much longer (launched in August 2010).

If the number of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a guide, the J5 is the clear winner of the match-up (21 : 7 points). However, the pertinence of the various camera strengths will differ across photographers, so that you might want to weigh individual camera traits according to their importance for your own imaging needs before making a camera decision. A professional wildlife photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a family photog, and a person interested in architecture has distinct needs from a sports shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Nikon D3100 place the cameras among the top in their class? Find out in the latest Best Mirrorless Interchangeable Lens Camera and Best DSLR Camera listings whether the two cameras rank among the cream of the crop.

In any case, while the comparison of technical specifications can provide a useful overview of the capabilities of different cameras, it says little about, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance of the J5 and the D3100 in practical situations. User reviews that are available, for instance, at amazon can sometimes shed light on these issues, but such feedback is all too often partial, inconsistent, and inaccurate.

Expert reviews

This is where reviews by experts come in. The following table reports the overall ratings of the cameras as published by some of the major camera review sites (cameralabs, dpreview, ephotozine, imaging-resource, and photographyblog). As can be seen, the professional reviewers agree in many cases on the quality of different cameras, but sometimes their assessments diverge, reinforcing the earlier point that a camera decision is often a very personal choice.

Review Scores

	Camera Model	camera   labs	dp review	ephoto   zine	imaging resource	photography   blog	Camera Launch	Launch Price (USD)	Street Price
	Nikon 1 J5	..	..	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Apr 2015	399
	Nikon D3100	+ +	72/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Aug 2010	599
	Canon G9 X Mark II	..	75/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jan 2017	529
	Canon G9 X	+ +	..	4.5/5	4/5	4.5/5	Oct 2015	529
	Canon G7 X	+ +	77/100	4.5/5	3.5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2014	699
	Nikon 1 V3	..	76/100	4.5/5	3/5	4/5	Mar 2014	799
	Nikon 1 J4	..	..	4.5/5	..	4/5	Apr 2014	549
	Nikon D3200	+ +	73/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2012	599
	Nikon D5100	+ +	76/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2011	749
	Nikon D7000	..	80/100	4.5/5	5/5	4.5/5	Sep 2010	1,499
	Nikon D3000	+	72/100	4/5	3.5/5	4.5/5	Jul 2009	599
	Nikon D5000	+ +	75/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Apr 2009	749
	Panasonic FZ1000	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2014	899
	Sony RX100 V	+ +	83/100	4/5	5/5	4.5/5	Oct 2016	999
	Sony RX100 IV	+ +	85/100	4/5	4.5/5	4.5/5	Jun 2015	999
	Sony A5000	+	..	4.5/5	o	4.5/5	Jan 2014	449
	Sony RX100 III	+ +	82/100	4.5/5	4.5/5	5/5	May 2014	799
Notes: (+ +) highly recommended; (+) recommended; (o) reviewed; (..) not available.

The above review scores should be interpreted with care, though. The assessments were made in relation to similar cameras of the same technological generation. Thus, a score needs to be put into the context of the launch date and the launch price of the camera, and comparing ratings of very distinct cameras or ones that are far apart in terms of their release date have little meaning. Also, please note that some of the review sites have changed their methodology and reporting over time.

Other camera comparisons

Did this review help to inform your camera decision process? In case you would like to check on the differences and similarities of other camera models, just make your choice using the following search menu. There is also a set of direct links to comparison reviews that other users of the CAM-parator app explored.

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Specifications: Nikon 1 J5 vs Nikon D3100

Below is a side-by-side comparison of the specs of the two cameras to facilitate a quick review of their differences and common features.

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