User Report: A Nikon J5 Review by Eyal Gurevitch

User Report: A Nikon J5 Review

by Eyal Gurevitch

ZPR-NIKON-J5-FRONTLEFT-10-100MM

What makes a small camera great?

When asked what camera is compact and excellent I have no straight answer. It’s complicated, I tell them. You must sacrifice zoom range, or the max apertures of the lens, or the price of the camera, or its controllability, or its size.

So what’s the best compromise, they ask. It depends, I say. Would you call yourself an advanced photographer? Do you enjoy controlling your camera? Change its settings much? Must you have a large zoom? Can you pay more? Can you carry more?

91ekAdTmZ9L._SL1500_

How can you compete with a x30 zoom of a 240 gram camera, or a x83 in a camera the size of an entry-level DSLR? How can you challenge a 1” sensor in a 300 gram camera that also has a useful zoom range and an f/1.8-2.8 aperture range?

It’s tough for camera makers to keep pleasing us photographers. To keep surprising us. But somehow they keep it coming. Such is the Nikon 1 J5. No, it’s not a groundbreaking camera, it doesn’t bring anything entirely new to the market. What it does it to balance some really great qualities in a single, triumphant package.

DSC_0069

DSC_0067

Size matters.

With its 10-30mm kit lens, the J5 is not any taller or wider than the implicitly aforementioned RX100 IV. It is thicker, due to the length of the lens, so it’s not pocketable and that’s a big difference, but in terms of conspicuousness, they are virtually the same.

So why even consider the J5 over the RX100IV if they have the same sensor size and body size, but a large difference in max apertures, in favour of the Sony? The first and most obvious argument would be the ability to switch lenses. However, most Nikon 1 lenses mounted on the J5 would render it cumbersome and unbalanced, so other than for a niche use of a large aperture prime or a long zoom here and there, the capital practical use of this camera would undisputedly be with the 10-30mm along with its f/3.5-5.6 apertures.

DSC_0072

DSC_0445

DSC_0100

The grip. The controls.

There are two significant changes the Nikon did with the J5 over the previous body. The first is the all new BSI-CMOS sensor that delivers 20.8 megapixels but much more importantly better image quality and richer colors. The second is a thought out design of dials, buttons and controls added to the camera body without adding to its size. There’s a new Fn button in the front, a new dial around the video button, PASM modes in the main control dial and there’s a new grip. I would never understand why all cameras don’t have a grip as deep as their smallest attachable lens. The new grip of the J5 makes it oh-so-much easier to hold, especially compared to J4’s bar-of-soap-like slippery body. All these additions turn the J5 into a camera that’s easy to use and easy to control.

DSC_1254

DSC_1358

DSC_0084

The Speed

Nikon take pride in the fast shooting abilities of the J5 and they have almost every right to do so. Just like the J4, it can shoot a max of 20 shots per second with AF at full resolution, or 60 shots per second with locked focus. It has an impressive variety of slow modes in video (but an unimpressive 15fps in 4K). The only caveat being its slow processing, taking long seconds and sometimes even minutes to save the large amount of photos taken during a quick burst.

81SE1RqcMSL._SL1500_

There’s also the cool best moment capture feature, which keeps buffering images as long as you half press the shutter, taking a batch of 20 shots when you fully press it, 10 out of which are from the second before you pressed it.

In this regard there’s no change at all from its predecessor – you’re sure to capture the decisive moment, but probably not the next one.

DSC_0425

The Bottom Line

The Nikon 1 J5 is a highly capable, intuitively controllable compact mirrorless camera. It’s a huge step up from the J4 in terms of body design and as well as in image quality, making it a viable competitor in the high-end, large-sensor compact camera market, standing against the likes of the Sony RX100 IV as well as the Panasonic GM5, and with a truly attractive price tag.

Check out the Nikon 1 J5 at B&H Photo or Amazon.

11 Comments

  1. I bought the Nikon J5 a month ago , great shots , in manual and F16 it is stunning, bought it because of trouble With my Sony RX-100 m3

  2. Unlike some of the folks leaving comments, I own this camera. Love the compact size and stellar images. I usually reach for it instead of my Sony A6000. Haven’t had any trouble composing shots in bright sun. I take it along with the 30-110mm telephoto in a small case. The camera I always have in my pocket though is the Fuji XQ1.

  3. Hi Nikon, please add a built in electronic viewfinder, and the v1 battery, call it a v4 and I would probably upgrade my v1. Love the look of this camera, love the image quality that I see on flickr from this camera, won’t buy a camera without a viewfinder 😉

    Thanks for the review.

  4. Looks like a very capable small camera. I use a similar design Sony A5100 for the APS-C sensor size, the results are mind blowing. A camera without a viewfinder has of course it’s limitations, on a sunny day you’re toast.

    Thank you for the report.

    Erik Neu

  5. Sony RX-100 IV has an Electronic View Finder! It should NEVER be compared to the J5 which doesn’t have one. The J5 is a stinky diaper camera.

    • Not everybody wants or needs a VF. If you require one then move on, nothing here for you!

      I’m interested because I just tried a Samsung NX Mini – nice camera but more aimed at beginners and the 9mm pancake flares badly in the sun. I’ve experienced the Sony 10mm pancake lens on a J1 so I know that is a sweet lens. Paired with the J5 it would make a nice street camera. Slap on the 30-110mm telephoto and you can shoot action. Leave your big cameras at home and travel light for a change.

  6. Nice review. The 20MP seems pretty high for a 1″ sensor. I’m curious if you noticed much noise in your photos.

Comments are closed.