Nikon 1 J3 Review | 108 Data compared

The Nikon 1 J3 compact system camera features a highly compact, stylish design designed for smartphone-like, point-and-shoot ease, featuring an upgraded 921k-dot resolution 3-inch fixed LCD screen. Pros highlighted in the review include this high-resolution display and overall, user-friendly, portable operation. Conversely, the camera lacks a built-in viewfinder, a hotshoe for external accessories, and does not include a touchscreen interface, notes the review. These omissions, particularly the lack of touch capabilities on the screen, contrast with competitive models, focusing the camera entirely on minimalist, button-controlled functionality.

The Nikon 1 J3 midrange mirrorless camera receives a critical review from DXOMARK, which labels the model's performance as a downgrade compared to its predecessor, the J2. The camera features an upgraded 14.2-megapixel CMOS sensor sourced from the higher-end Nikon 1 V2, but it achieves an overall DxOMark sensor score of 52, which is two points lower than the J2. This drop is primarily blamed on a restricted base sensitivity range (ISO 160 to 6400, compared to the J2’s ISO 100 to 6400), which directly compromises its portrait color depth and landscape dynamic range scores at low ISO settings. While the review notes a few minor pros—such as a slight improvement in low-light ISO performance over the J2 (reaching 420 ISO) and an ergonomic exterior update that moves the mode dial to the top of the chassis—the cons heavily outweigh the benefits. The J3 suffers from a relatively low dynamic range capped at 11 Evs and lacks competitive image quality when compared to same-priced or cheaper market rivals. Competitors like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-GF5, Olympus PEN E-PL5, and Pentax K-01...

The Nikon 1 J3 is a compact system camera that brings notable speed improvements over its predecessor, the J2, featuring a highly responsive hybrid autofocus system and a blistering burst mode capable of capturing full-size images at up to 60 frames per second. It features an upgraded 14.2-megapixel 1-inch sensor pulled from the higher-spec V2 model, which delivers well-exposed, sharp, and vibrant photos at lower ISO settings. The camera also features a redesigned external body and an overhauled, more logical six-part menu system intended to streamline navigation. Additionally, its compact system size and physically small lenses offer an appealing, highly portable balance between dimensions and image quality for casual shooters. Despite these tech upgrades, the J3 struggles to justify its hefty £575 price tag, pushing it out of its targeted entry-level appeal while simultaneously stripping away physical controls to seem more basic. For advanced photographers, accessing full manual control ("P/S/A/M" settings) is highly tedious, requiring deep navigation into submenus rather than a simple mode dial selection. The camera lacks a hotshoe or accessory port, ruling out the option to add...

The Nikon 1 J3 Review on Reviewed by Ben Keough positions this midrange mirrorless model as an approachable option tailored specifically for point-and-shoot users stepping up to a system camera. On the positive side (pros), the camera delivers exceptional speed powered by its Expeed 3A image processor, boasting an incredibly fast hybrid phase/contrast-detect autofocus system and unprecedented continuous shooting speeds of up to 60 fps at full resolution. It also provides solid, durable build quality, highly accurate color reproduction in neutral mode, and top-notch, sharp 1080p video capabilities. Furthermore, features like Best Moment Capture and the kit lens's superb 8-inch close-focusing ability add high utility for capturing unpredictable action like kids and pets. However, the reviewer highlights several significant drawbacks (cons) that compromise its everyday usability. Ergonmically, the J3 features a sleek but entirely featureless body with no handgrip, making it slippery and uncomfortable to hold. The user interface is "simple to a fault," burying traditional manual controls (PASM settings) within deep sub-menus rather than assigning them to the physical mode dial. Additionally, the fixed 3-inch LCD lacks touch capabilities...

The ePHOTOzine review of the Nikon 1 J3 praises the mirrorless camera for its compact design, rapid autofocus, and impressive 60fps continuous shooting speed, powered by a 14.2-megapixel CX-format sensor. It notes very good image quality with vibrant colors and strong noise performance up to ISO 1600. Conversely, the review identifies drawbacks, including a lack of a rubberized grip, limited access to PSAM modes on the dial, short battery life, and low-quality 1200fps video. ePHOTOzine

The Amateur Photographer review of the Nikon 1 J3 praises the mirrorless camera for its sleek, brushed-metal, premium design and a more intuitive top-plate shooting-mode dial. It features a fast 3-second startup, which can be bypassed by rotating the lens, and is lauded for rapid image processing that prevents lag during creative shooting modes. Amateur Photographer However, the camera is limited by the lack of an electronic viewfinder and hotshoe, forcing reliance on the rear screen, and its smooth, slippery body lacks a secure thumb grip. Additionally, the J3 offers only modest battery life, often requiring a recharge after half a day of active use. Amateur Photographer

The What Digital Camera review highlights the Nikon 1 J3 as a stylish, well-built compact system camera featuring a durable all-metal shell and exceptional performance, including lightning-fast hybrid autofocus and burst speeds up to 60fps. Despite these strengths, the camera is criticized for a lack of enthusiast features like a hot-shoe or touchscreen, combined with poor ergonomics, such as a slippery body lacking a proper grip. Significant drawbacks include a 14.2-megapixel CX-format sensor that offers subpar image quality, limited dynamic range, and high-ISO noise control compared to competitors. The overall user experience is further hindered by a flimsy battery hatch, making it a difficult recommendation for creative users.

The Nikon J3 is an ultra-compact, lightweight interchangeable lens camera featuring a 14-megapixel CX-format sensor and a striking, minimalist aesthetic. It stands out for its exceptional speed, delivering a nearly instantaneous shutter lag of 0.04 seconds, rapid autofocus that performs flawlessly during video recording, and a blistering continuous shooting mode capable of reaching up to 60 frames per second. The camera features a built-in fold-out flash and a wide dynamic range that easily handles high-contrast scenes when shooting in automatic modes. It offers a highly competitive price-to-quality ratio, making it an excellent, hassle-free companion for family use and casual photography. However, the camera's compact design compromises its manual usability and advanced capabilities. Serious photographers will find the interface frustrating, as adjusting basic exposure settings like shutter speed, aperture, and ISO requires tedious navigation through deep internal software menus. Because the CX sensor is significantly smaller than Micro Four Thirds or APS-C alternatives, image quality suffers from visible noise, woolly textures, and desaturated colors at high sensitivity levels, making ISO 6400 suitable only for emergencies. Furthermore, the system lacks an accessory...

The Nikon 1 J3 is a highly compact, discontinued 14-megapixel mirrorless camera built around a 1" sensor with a 2.7x crop factor and a unique electric Nikon 1 lens mount. It is exceptionally well-suited for fast-paced action photography due to its high-speed CMOS sensor and electronic shutter, which together allow for an ultra-quiet operation, a maximum shutter speed of 1/16000s, and continuous shooting up to 60 FPS (or 15 FPS with continuous autofocus). Additionally, it boasts advanced features like a 73-point phase-detect autofocus system, full manual controls (PASM), RAW image capture, a crisp 3" 920K-pixel LCD screen, and versatile video capabilities including 1080p Full HD recording and extreme slow-motion modes up to 1200 FPS. However, the camera's ultra-compact, smooth rectangular design lacks a hand-grip, making the body slippery and heavily reliant on a strap for secure handling. While it offers full manual controls and custom parameters, its limited number of external controls makes adjusting these settings tedious and time-consuming. Other notable downsides include a flimsy battery and memory card door, a self-timer that frustratingly resets after every shot, and an...

The 2013 Nikon 1 J3 is a fast, entry-level mirrorless camera featuring a 14.2MP 1"-type CMOS sensor, capable of shooting up to 15 frames per second with a robust hybrid autofocus system. Its key advantages include impressive speed for capturing moving subjects, good image quality in favorable lighting, and an image-stabilized 10-30mm kit lens. Conversely, the J3's smaller sensor produces significantly more noise at high ISO settings (ISO 6400) compared to competitors, often resulting in blurred images due to the auto mode opting for slower shutter speeds. Furthermore, the interface restricts access to exposure settings, limiting the camera's appeal for users desiring manual control and making it better suited for automatic shooting.

Shutterbug's laboratory test of the Nikon 1 J3 highlights the mirrorless camera's compact design, fast autofocus, and rapid continuous shooting capabilities. The 14.2-megapixel sensor delivers strong dynamic range (10.6 f/stops) and maintains excellent color saturation, while the automatic white balance performs well in natural and tungsten lighting. However, the review notes significant cons, specifically that aggressive anti-noise filtering leads to soft image details at high ISO speeds of 3200 and 6400. Furthermore, the camera shows minor color inaccuracies under fluorescent light and lower resolution performance compared to the Nikon 1 S1, along with slight color noise at lower ISO settings. Shutterbug.com

Nikon 1 J3 Review Summary The Nikon 1 J3 is an exceptionally fast mirrorless camera that provides a compact compromise between point-and-shoot portability and interchangeable-lens image quality. Its headline strength is its extreme speed, driven by a fast hybrid autofocus system with 73 phase-detection points that allows it to lock focus quicker than any other mirrorless camera in good light. Performance pros include spectacular, nearly instant shutter-lag, a rapid 60 FPS continuous drive mode, accurate Matrix metering, and smooth 1080p Full HD video recording. Image quality is reasonably clean with low noise up to ISO 800, and standard color mode yields accurate, consumer-appealing tones.