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Nikon 1 J5 vs Pentax K-1 II

The Nikon 1 J5 and the Pentax K-1 II are two digital cameras that were announced, respectively, in April 2015 and February 2018. The J5 is a mirrorless interchangeable lens camera, while the K-1 II is a DSLR. The cameras are based on an one-inch (J5) and a full frame (K-1 II) sensor. The Nikon has a resolution of 20.7 megapixels, whereas the Pentax provides 36.2 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
versus
Pentax K-1 II
Nikon 1 J5   Pentax K-1 II
Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
Nikon 1 mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
20.7 MP – 1" sensor 36.2 MP – Full Frame sensor
4K/15p Video 1080/60i Video
ISO 160-12,800 ISO 100-819,200
No viewfinder, LCD framing Optical viewfinder
3.0" LCD – 1037k dots 3.2" LCD – 1037k dots
Tilting touchscreen Fully flexible screen (no touchscreen)
60 shutter flaps per second 4.4 shutter flaps per second
Lens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
not weather sealedWeathersealed body
250 shots per battery charge670 shots per battery charge
98 x 60 x 32 mm, 231 g 137 x 110 x 86 mm, 1010 g
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Check J5 offers at
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Check K-1 II price at
amazon.com

Going beyond this snapshot of core features and characteristics, what are the differences between the Nikon 1 J5 and the Pentax K-1 II? 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.

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Body comparison

An illustration of the physical size and weight of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Pentax K-1 II is provided in the side-by-side display below. The two cameras are presented according to their relative size. Three successive views from the front, the top, and the rear are shown. All width, height and depth measures are rounded to the nearest millimeter.

The J5 can be obtained in three different colors (black, silver, white), while the K-1 II is available in two color-versions (black, silver).

Size Nikon 1 J5 vs Pentax K-1 II
Compare J5 versus K-1 II top
Comparison J5 or K-1 II rear

If the front view area (width x height) of the cameras is taken as an aggregate measure of their size, the Pentax K-1 II is considerably larger (156 percent) than the Nikon 1 J5. Moreover, the K-1 II is substantially heavier (337 percent) than the J5. It is noteworthy in this context that the K-1 II is splash and dust-proof, while the J5 does not feature any corresponding weather-sealing.

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.

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Body Specifications
  empty Camera
Model
Camera
Width
Camera
Height
Camera
Depth
Camera
Weight
Battery
Life
Weather
Sealing
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon 1 J5 98 mm 60 mm 32 mm 231 g 250 n Apr 2015 399ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-1 II 137 mm 110 mm 86 mm 1010 g 670 Y Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon G7 X 103 mm 60 mm 40 mm 304 g 210 n Sep 2014 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G9 X 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 209 g 220 n Oct 2015 529ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 98 mm 58 mm 31 mm 206 g 235 n Jan 2017 529ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon 1 J4 100 mm 60 mm 29 mm 232 g 300 n Apr 2014 549ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon 1 V3 111 mm 65 mm 33 mm 381 g 310 n Mar 2014 799ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 137 mm 99 mm 131 mm 831 g 360 n Jun 2014 899ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic S1R 149 mm 110 mm 97 mm 1016 g 380 Y Feb 2019 3,699 amazon.com
10.
 
Pentax K-1 137 mm 110 mm 86 mm 1010 g 760 Y Feb 2016 1,799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A7R III 127 mm 96 mm 74 mm 650 g 650 Y Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A99 II 143 mm 104 mm 76 mm 849 g 490 Y Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A850 156 mm 117 mm 82 mm 895 g 880 Y Aug 2009 1,999ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A5000 110 mm 63 mm 36 mm 269 g 420 n Jan 2014 449ebay.com
15.
 
Sony RX100 III 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 290 g 320 n May 2014 799ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 298 g 280 n Jun 2015 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 V 102 mm 58 mm 41 mm 299 g 220 n Oct 2016 999ebay.com
Note: Measurements and pricing do not include easily detachable parts, such as add-on or interchangeable lenses or optional viewfinders.

Any camera decision will obviously take relative prices into account. The listed launch prices provide an indication of the market segment that the manufacturer of the cameras have been targeting. The J5 was launched at a markedly lower price (by 80 percent) than the K-1 II, 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.

Sensor comparison

The imaging sensor is at the core of digital cameras and its size is one of the main determining factors of image quality. A large sensor will generally have larger individual pixels that offer better low-light sensitivity, provide wider dynamic range, and have richer color-depth than smaller pixels in a sensor of the same technological generation. Further, a large sensor camera will give the photographer additional creative options when using shallow depth-of-field to isolate a subject from its background. On the downside, larger sensors are more costly to manufacture and tend to lead to bigger and heavier cameras and lenses.

Of the two cameras under consideration, the Nikon 1 J5 features an one-inch sensor and the Pentax K-1 II a full frame sensor. The sensor area in the K-1 II is 643 percent bigger. As a result of these sensor size differences, the cameras have a format factor of, respectively, 2.7 and 1.0. Both cameras have a native aspect ratio (sensor width to sensor height) of 3:2.

Nikon 1 J5 and Pentax K-1 II sensor measures

With 36.2MP, the K-1 II offers a higher resolution than the J5 (20.7MP), but the K-1 II nevertheless has larger individual pixels (pixel pitch of 4.88μm versus 2.37μm for the J5) due to its larger sensor. Moreover, the K-1 II is a much more recent model (by 2 years and 10 months) than the J5, and its sensor will have benefitted from technological advances during this time that further enhance the light gathering capacity of its pixel-units. Coming back to sensor resolution, it should be mentioned that neither of the two cameras has an anti-alias filter installed, so they are able to capture all the detail the sensor resolves.

The resolution advantage of the Pentax K-1 II implies greater flexibility for cropping images or the possibility to print larger pictures. The maximum print size of the K-1 II for good quality output (200 dots per inch) amounts to 36.8 x 24.6 inches or 93.5 x 62.4 cm, for very good quality (250 dpi) 29.4 x 19.6 inches or 74.8 x 49.9 cm, and for excellent quality (300 dpi) 24.5 x 16.4 inches or 62.3 x 41.6 cm. The corresponding values for the Nikon 1 J5 are 27.8 x 18.6 inches or 70.7 x 47.1 cm for good quality, 22.3 x 14.8 inches or 56.6 x 37.7 cm for very good quality, and 18.6 x 12.4 inches or 47.1 x 31.4 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.

Unlike the J5, the K-1 II has the capacity to capture high quality composite images by combining multiple shots after shifting its sensor by miniscule distances. This multi-shot, pixel-shift mode is most suitable for photography of stationary objects (landscapes, studio scenes).

The Nikon 1 J5 has a native sensitivity range from ISO 160 to ISO 12800. The corresponding ISO settings for the Pentax K-1 II are ISO 100 to ISO 819200 (no boost).

In terms of underlying technology, the J5 is build around a BSI-CMOS sensor, while the K-1 II uses a CMOS imager. Both cameras use a Bayer filter for capturing RGB colors on a square grid of photosensors. This arrangement is found in most digital cameras.

J5 versus K-1 II MP

For many cameras, data on sensor performance has been reported by DXO Mark. This service determines an overall sensor rating, as well as sub-scores for low-light sensitivity ("DXO Sports"), dynamic range ("DXO Landscape"), and color depth ("DXO Portrait"). The following table provides an overview of the physical sensor characteristics, as well as the sensor quality measurements for a selection of comparators.

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Sensor Characteristics
  empty Camera
Model
Sensor
Class
Resolution
(MP)
Horiz.
Pixels
Vert.
Pixels
Video
Format
DXO
Portrait
DXO
Landscape
DXO
Sports
DXO
Overall
1.
 
Nikon 1 J5 1-inch 20.7 5568 37124K/15p21.112.047965
2.
 
Pentax K-1 II Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60i25.114.0269893
3.
 
Canon G7 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p23.012.755671
4.
 
Canon G9 X 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.512.349563
5.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p21.912.552265
6.
 
Nikon 1 J4 1-inch 18.2 5232 34881080/60p20.810.742653
7.
 
Nikon 1 V3 1-inch 18.2 5232 34881080/60p20.810.738452
8.
 
Panasonic FZ1000 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.111.751764
9.
 
Panasonic S1R Full Frame 46.7 8368 55844K/60p26.414.13525100
10.
 
Pentax K-1 Full Frame 36.2 7360 49121080/60i25.414.6328096
11.
 
Sony A7R III Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p26.014.73523100
12.
 
Sony A99 II Full Frame 42.2 7952 53044K/30p25.413.4231792
13.
 
Sony A850 Full Frame 24.4 6048 4032none23.812.2141579
14.
 
Sony A5000 APS-C 19.8 5456 36321080/60i23.813.0108979
15.
 
Sony RX100 III 1-inch 20.0 5472 36481080/60p22.412.349567
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.659170
17.
 
Sony RX100 V 1-inch 20.0 5472 36484K/30p22.812.458670
Note: DXO values in italics represent estimates based on sensor size and age.

Many modern cameras cannot only take still pictures, but also record videos. Both cameras under consideration are equipped with sensors that have a sufficiently high read-out speed for moving images, but the J5 provides a higher video resolution than the K-1 II. It can shoot video footage at 4K/15p, while the Pentax is limited to 1080/60i.

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Feature comparison

Beyond body and sensor, cameras can and do differ across a range of features. For example, the K-1 II 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 table below summarizes some of the other core capabilities of the Nikon 1 J5 and Pentax K-1 II in connection with corresponding information for a sample of similar cameras.

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Core Features
  empty Camera
Model
Viewfinder
(Type or
000 dots)
Control
Panel
(yes/no)
LCD
Specifications
(inch/000 dots)
LCD
Attach-
ment
Touch
Screen
(yes/no)
Max
Shutter
Speed *
Max
Shutter
Flaps *
Built-in
Flash
(yes/no)
Built-in
Image
Stab
1.
 
Nikon 1 J5none n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 60.0/s Y n
2.
 
Pentax K-1 IIoptical Y3.2 / 1037 full-flex n 1/8000s 4.4/s n Y
3.
 
Canon G7 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 tilting Y 1/2000s 6.5/s Y Y
4.
 
Canon G9 Xnone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 6.0/s Y Y
5.
 
Canon G9 X Mark IInone n3.0 / 1040 fixed Y 1/2000s 8.2/s Y Y
6.
 
Nikon 1 J4none n3.0 / 1037 Fixed Y 1/4000s 60.0/s Y n
7.
 
Nikon 1 V3optional n3.0 / 1037 tilting Y 1/4000s 60.0/s Y n
8.
 
Panasonic FZ10002359 n3.0 / 921 swivel n 1/4000s 12.0/s Y Y
9.
 
Panasonic S1R5760 Y3.2 / 2100 full-flex Y 1/8000s 9.0/s n Y
10.
 
Pentax K-1optical Y3.2 / 1037 full-flex n 1/8000s 4.4/s n Y
11.
 
Sony A7R III3686 n3.0 / 1440 tilting Y 1/8000s 10.0/s n Y
12.
 
Sony A99 II2400 Y3.0 / 1229 full-flex n 1/8000s 12.0/s n Y
13.
 
Sony A850optical Y3.0 / 922 fixed n 1/8000s 3.0/s n Y
14.
 
Sony A5000none n3.0 / 461 tilting n 1/4000s 3.5/s Y n
15.
 
Sony RX100 III1440 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 10.0/s Y Y
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV2359 n3.0 / 1228 tilting n 1/2000s 16.0/s Y Y
17.
 
Sony RX100 V2359 n3.0 / 1229 tilting n 1/2000s 24.0/s Y Y
Note: *) Information refers to the mechanical shutter, unless the camera only has an electronic one.

One difference between the cameras concerns the presence of an on-board flash. The J5 has one, while the K-1 II does not. While the built-in flash of the J5 is not very powerful, it can at times be useful as a fill-in light.

The J5 has an articulated LCD that can be turned to be front-facing. This characteristic will be appreciated by vloggers and photographers who are interested in snapping selfies. In contrast, the K-1 II does not have a selfie-screen.

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 and the Pentax K-1 II both have 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 K-1 II write their files to SDXC cards. The K-1 II features dual card slots, which can be very useful in case a memory card fails. In contrast, the J5 only has one slot. Both cameras can use UHS-I cards, which provide for Ultra High Speed data transfer of up to 104 MB/s.

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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 Pentax K-1 II and, in particular, the interfaces the cameras (and selected comparators) provide for accessory control and data transfer.

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Input-Output Connections
  empty Camera
Model
Hotshoe
Port
Internal
Mic / Speaker
Microphone
Port
Headphone
Port
HDMI
Port
USB
Port
WiFi
Support
NFC
Support
Bluetooth
Support
1.
 
Nikon 1 J5-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
2.
 
Pentax K-1 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0Y--
3.
 
Canon G7 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
4.
 
Canon G9 X-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
5.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II-stereo / mono--micro2.0YYY
6.
 
Nikon 1 J4-stereo / mono--mini2.0Y--
7.
 
Nikon 1 V3-stereo / monoY-mini2.0Y--
8.
 
Panasonic FZ1000Ystereo / monoY-micro2.0YY-
9.
 
Panasonic S1RYstereo / monoYYfull3.1Y-Y
10.
 
Pentax K-1Ystereo / monoYYmicro2.0Y--
11.
 
Sony A7R IIIYstereo / monoYYmicro3.1YYY
12.
 
Sony A99 IIYstereo / monoYYmicro2.0YYY
13.
 
Sony A850Y- / ---mini2.0---
14.
 
Sony A5000-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
15.
 
Sony RX100 III-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-
17.
 
Sony RX100 V-stereo / mono--micro2.0YY-

It is notable that the K-1 II has a headphone jack, which makes it possible to attach external headphones and monitor the quality of sound during the recording process. The J5 lacks such a headphone port.

Studio photographers will appreciate that the Pentax K-1 II (unlike the J5) features a PC Sync socket, so that professional strobe lights can be controlled by the camera.

Travel and landscape photographers will find it useful that the K-1 II has an internal geolocalization sensor and can record GPS coordinates in its EXIF data.

The K-1 II is a recent model that features in the current product line-up of Pentax. In contrast, the J5 has been discontinued (but can be found pre-owned on ebay). There has not been a direct replacement model for the J5 from Nikon. Further information on the features and operation of the J5 and K-1 II can be found, respectively, in the Nikon 1 J5 Manual (free pdf) or the online Pentax K-1 II Manual.

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Review summary

So what conclusions can be drawn? Is the Nikon 1 J5 better than the Pentax K-1 II or vice versa? A synthesis of the relative strong points of each of the models is listed below.

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Advantages of the Nikon 1 J5:

  • Better video: Provides higher definition movie capture (4K/15p vs 1080/60i).
  • Better live-view autofocus: Features on-sensor phase-detection for more confident autofocus.
  • 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 4.4 flaps/sec) to capture the decisive moment.
  • Less disturbing: Has an electronic shutter option for completely silent shooting.
  • More compact: Is smaller (98x60mm vs 137x110mm) and thus needs less room in the bag.
  • Less heavy: Is lighter (by 779g or 77 percent) and hence easier to carry around.
  • More legacy lens friendly: Can take a broad range of non-native lenses via adapters.
  • Easier fill-in: Is equipped with a small onboard flash to brighten deep shadow areas.
  • Easier device pairing: Supports NFC for fast wireless image transfer over short distances.
  • More affordable: Was introduced into a lower priced category (80 percent cheaper at launch).
  • More heavily discounted: Has been available for much longer (launched in April 2015).

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Reasons to prefer the Pentax K-1 II:

  • More detail: Has more megapixels (36.2 vs 20.7MP), which boosts linear resolution by 32%.
  • High quality composites: Can combine several shots after pixel-shifting its sensor.
  • Better image quality: Is equipped with a larger and more technologically advanced sensor.
  • Richer colors: The sensor size advantage translates into images with better, more accurate colors.
  • More dynamic range: Larger sensor captures a wider spectrum of light and dark details.
  • Better low-light sensitivity: Larger sensor produces good images even in poorly lit environments.
  • Better sound: Can connect to an external microphone for higher quality sound recording.
  • Better sound control: Has a headphone port that enables audio monitoring while recording.
  • Easier framing: Has an optical viewfinder for image composition and settings control.
  • Easier setting verification: Features a control panel on top to check shooting parameters.
  • Larger screen: Has a bigger rear LCD (3.2" vs 3.0") for image review and settings control.
  • More flexible LCD: Has a full-flex screen for odd-angle shots in portrait or landscape orientation.
  • Faster shutter: Has higher mechanical shutter speed (1/8000s vs 1/4000s) to freeze action.
  • Longer lasting: Gets more shots (670 versus 250) out of a single battery charge.
  • Better sealing: Is splash and dust sealed for shooting in inclement weather conditions.
  • Sharper images: Has stabilization technology built-in to reduce the impact of hand-shake.
  • Better lighting: Features a hotshoe and can thus hold and trigger an external flash gun.
  • Easier geotagging: Features an internal GPS sensor to log localization data.
  • Better studio light control: Has a PC Sync socket to connect to professional strobe lights.
  • Greater peace of mind: Features a second card slot as a backup in case of memory card failure.
  • More modern: Reflects 2 years and 10 months of technical progress since the J5 launch.

If the count of relative strengths (bullet points above) is taken as a measure, the K-1 II is the clear winner of the contest (21 : 13 points). However, the relative importance of the various individual camera aspects will vary according to personal preferences and needs, so that you might like to apply corresponding weights to the particular features before making a decision on a new camera. A professional wedding photographer will view the differences between cameras in a way that diverges from the perspective of a travel photog, and a person interested in cityscapes has distinct needs from a macro shooter. Hence, the decision which camera is best and worth buying is often a very personal one.

J5 13:21 K-1 II

How about other alternatives? Do the specifications of the Nikon 1 J5 and the Pentax K-1 II 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 the spec-sheets of cameras can offer a general idea of their imaging potential, it remains partial and cannot reveal, for example, the shooting experience and imaging performance when actually working with the J5 or the K-1 II. At times, user reviews, such as those published at amazon, address these issues in a useful manner, but such feedback is on many occasions incomplete, inconsistent, and unreliable.

Expert reviews

This is why expert reviews are important. The adjacent summary-table relays the overall verdicts of several of the most popular camera review sites (amateurphotographer [AP], cameralabs [CL], digitalcameraworld [DCW], dpreview [DPR], ephotozine [EPZ], photographyblog [PB]). 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.

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Expert Camera Reviews
  empty  Camera 
 Model 
 AP 
 score 
 CL 
 score 
 DCW 
 score 
 DPR 
 score 
 EPZ 
 score 
 PB 
 score 
Camera
Launch
Launch
Price (USD)
Street
Price
1.
 
Nikon 1 J5........4.5/54.5/5 Apr 2015 399ebay.com
2.
 
Pentax K-1 II....4.5/579/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2018 1,999 amazon.com
3.
 
Canon G7 X4/5+ +..77/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2014 699ebay.com
4.
 
Canon G9 X3.5/5+ +....4.5/54.5/5 Oct 2015 529ebay.com
5.
 
Canon G9 X Mark II4/5..4/575/1004.5/54.5/5 Jan 2017 529ebay.com
6.
 
Nikon 1 J43/5......4.5/54/5 Apr 2014 549ebay.com
7.
 
Nikon 1 V33/5....76/1004.5/54/5 Mar 2014 799ebay.com
8.
 
Panasonic FZ10004/5+ +..82/1004.5/54.5/5 Jun 2014 899ebay.com
9.
 
Panasonic S1R4.5/5..4.6/589/1004.5/54.5/5 Feb 2019 3,699 amazon.com
10.
 
Pentax K-15/5....84/1005/55/5 Feb 2016 1,799ebay.com
11.
 
Sony A7R III..+ +4/590/1004.5/55/5 Oct 2017 3,199ebay.com
12.
 
Sony A99 II....4.5/585/1004.5/54.5/5 Sep 2016 3,199ebay.com
13.
 
Sony A8503/5....75/100..4.5/5 Aug 2009 1,999ebay.com
14.
 
Sony A50003/5+....4.5/54.5/5 Jan 2014 449ebay.com
15.
 
Sony RX100 III5/5+ +..82/1004.5/55/5 May 2014 799ebay.com
16.
 
Sony RX100 IV4.5/5+ +..85/1004/54.5/5 Jun 2015 999ebay.com
17.
 
Sony RX100 V4.5/5+ +..83/1004/54.5/5 Oct 2016 999ebay.com
Note: (+ +) 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.

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Check K-1 II price at
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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. Alternatively, you can follow any of the listed hyperlinks for comparisons that others found interesting.

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    Specifications: Nikon 1 J5 vs Pentax K-1 II

    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.

    Camera Specifications
    Camera Model Nikon 1 J5 Pentax K-1 II
    Camera Type Mirrorless system camera Digital single lens reflex
    Camera Lens Nikon 1 mount lenses Pentax K mount lenses
    Launch Date April 2015 February 2018
    Launch Price USD 399 USD 1,999
    Sensor Specs Nikon 1 J5 Pentax K-1 II
    Sensor Technology BSI-CMOS CMOS
    Sensor Format 1" Sensor Full Frame Sensor
    Sensor Size 13.2 x 8.8 mm 35.9 x 24.0 mm
    Sensor Area 116.16 mm2 861.6 mm2
    Sensor Diagonal 15.9 mm 43.2 mm
    Crop Factor 2.7x 1.0x
    Sensor Resolution 20.7 Megapixels 36.2 Megapixels
    Image Resolution 5568 x 3712 pixels 7360 x 4912 pixels
    Pixel Pitch 2.37 μm 4.88 μm
    Pixel Density 17.79 MP/cm2 4.20 MP/cm2
    Moiré control no AA filter no AA filter
    Movie Capability 4K/15p Video 1080/60i Video
    ISO Setting 160 - 12,800 ISO 100 - 819,200 ISO
    Image Processor EXPEED 5 PRIME IV
    DXO Sensor Quality (score) 65 ..
    DXO Color Depth (bits) 21.1 ..
    DXO Dynamic Range (EV) 12.0 ..
    DXO Low Light (ISO) 479 ..
    Screen Specs Nikon 1 J5 Pentax K-1 II
    Viewfinder Type no viewfinder Optical viewfinder
    Viewfinder Field of View 100%
    Viewfinder Magnification 0.70x
    Top-Level Screen no Top Display Control Panel
    LCD Framing Live View Live View
    Rear LCD Size 3.0inch 3.2inch
    LCD Resolution 1037k dots 1037k dots
    LCD Attachment Tilting screen Fully flexible screen
    Touch Input Touchscreen no Touchscreen
    Shooting Specs Nikon 1 J5 Pentax K-1 II
    Focus System On-Sensor Phase-detect Phase-detect AF
    Manual Focusing Aidno Peaking FeatureFocus Peaking
    Max Shutter Speed (mechanical) 1/4000s 1/8000s
    Continuous Shooting 60 shutter flaps/s 4.4 shutter flaps/s
    Electronic Shutterup to 1/16000sno E-Shutter
    Time-Lapse PhotographyIntervalometer built-inIntervalometer built-in
    Image StabilizationLens stabilization onlyIn-body stabilization
    Fill Flash Built-in Flash no On-Board Flash
    Storage Medium SDXC cards SDXC cards
    Single or Dual Card Slots Single card slot Dual card slots
    UHS card support UHS-I UHS-I
    Connectivity Specs Nikon 1 J5 Pentax K-1 II
    External Flash no Hotshoe Hotshoe
    Studio Flash no PC Sync PC Sync socket
    USB Connector USB 2.0 USB 2.0
    HDMI Port micro HDMI micro HDMI
    Microphone Port no MIC socket External MIC port
    Headphone Socket no Headphone port Headphone port
    Wifi Support Wifi built-in Wifi built-in
    Near-Field Communication NFC built-in no NFC
    Geotagging no internal GPS GPS built-in
    Body Specs Nikon 1 J5 Pentax K-1 II
    Environmental Sealingnot weather sealedWeathersealed body
    Battery Type Nikon EN-EL24 Pentax D-LI90
    Battery Life (CIPA)250 shots per charge670 shots per charge
    Body Dimensions 98 x 60 x 32 mm
    (3.9 x 2.4 x 1.3 in)
    137 x 110 x 86 mm
    (5.4 x 4.3 x 3.4 in)
    Camera Weight 231 g (8.1 oz) 1010 g (35.6 oz)
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