• 1 inch 116.2mm2
  • 20.8 megapixels
  • ISO 160 - 12,800
  • 4/3 224.9mm2
  • 20.2 megapixels
  • ISO 100 - 25,600

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Differences

Nikon J5 advantages over YI M1

  • Slower slow-motion
    1200 fps vs 240 fps
    Supports slower slow-mo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Tiltable vs Fixed
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • NFC
    Yes vs No
    Simplifies pairing your camera with supported phones
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Yes vs No
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Internal flash
    Internal flash vs None
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash
  • Faster JPEG shooting
    59.4 fps vs 5.0 fps
    Faster JPEG shooting (burst mode)
  • Faster shutter
    1/16000 vs 1/4000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

YI M1 advantages over Nikon J5

  • Lens selection
    Excellent vs Limited
    Better lens selection gives you more options
  • Focus peaking
    Peaker vs Non-peaker
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Larger sensor
    4/3 vs 1 inch
    More sensor area. Bigger is (generally) better.
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 3.34 vs 2.37 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Yes vs No
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 380 vs 250 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Higher max flash sync
    1/125 vs 1/60 sec
    Reduce the effect of ambient light in flash shots
  • Shoots 24p video
    Yes vs No
    Gives your movies a big-screen feel
  • Hot shoe
    Hot shoe vs None
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Wider angle kit lens
    24 mm vs 27 mm
    Capture more of the scene with the included lens
  • Longer exposure
    60 vs 30 sec
    Long exposures for night shots
  • Higher extended ISO
    25600 vs 12800 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Shoot 4K video
    Both provide
    Make sure you have a fast computer
  • Touchscreen
    Both provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Both provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Both provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • HDMI out
    Both provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Bulb shutter
    Both provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures
  • Slow-motion videos
    Both provide
    Shoot slow-motion videos

Common Weaknesses

  • Tilt-swivel screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt and swivel the screen for maximum shooting flexibility
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Neither provide
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • Top deck display
    Neither provide
    Check settings with a screen on top of the camera
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • Dual card slots
    Neither provide
    Gives you more storage flexibility
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video

User reviews

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Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon J5
Kit with 10-30mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 10-30mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 10-100mm lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 10-100mm lens (White)
  • Kit with 10-30mm & 30-110mm lenses (Silver)
  • Kit with 10-30mm & 30-110mm lenses (White)
  • Kit with 10-30mm lens (Silver)
  • Kit with 10-30mm lens (White)
All J5 Deals

Your purchases support this site

Buy the YI M1
Kit with 12-40mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 12-40mm lens (Black)
  • Kit with 12-40mm & 42.5mm lenses (Silver)

Review Excerpt

  • Photographer-friendly controls; Impressive dynamic range for its class; Very fast hybrid autofocus; Fast high-speed shooting capabilities; Tilting touchscreen display.

  • No hot shoe or viewfinder; Aggressive noise reduction, even at base ISO; 4K video is limited to 15fps.

  • Read our Nikon J5 Review

  • Cheap as chips (and with a kit lens!); Quality Sony Exmor Four Thirds sensor; Widely-supported Micro Four Thirds lens mount; Good image quality from raw files; Reasonable burst performance for price; 4K video capture.

  • Poor ergonomics; Controls too easily bumped; Frustrating user interface; Mediocre JPEG image quality; Heavy-handed noise reduction; Unreliable white balance; No raw+JPEG; Buffer is almost nonexistent; Focus confirmation beep happens while still focusing; AF is poor in low light; Laggy user interface in playback; Extreme crop for 4K video; Kit lenses feel cheap; No bundled flash.

  • Read our YI M1 Express Review

The Competition

Compared to Nikon J3

Nikon J5
Nikon J3
  • $497
  • 1 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Touchscreen
  • $617
  • 1 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Has anti-aliasing filter

Compare Nikon J5 vs Nikon J3

YI M1
Nikon J3
  • $199
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $617
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compare YI M1 vs Nikon J3

Compared to Olympus E-PL6

Nikon J5
Olympus E-PL6
  • $497
  • 1 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • In-camera panoramas
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Larger sensor

Compare Nikon J5 vs Olympus E-PL6

YI M1
Olympus E-PL6
  • $199
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Shoot 4K video
  • $299
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare YI M1 vs Olympus E-PL6

Compared to Samsung NX Mini

Nikon J5
Samsung NX Mini
  • $497
  • 1 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $600
  • 1 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Thinner

Compare Nikon J5 vs Samsung NX Mini

YI M1
Samsung NX Mini
  • $199
  • 4/3
  • Focus peaking
  • Larger sensor
  • $600
  • 1 inch
  • Tiltable Screen
  • NFC

Compare YI M1 vs Samsung NX Mini

Compared to Nikon J4

Nikon J5
Nikon J4
  • $497
  • 1 inch
  • Shoot 4K video
  • Tiltable Screen
  • $350
  • 1 inch
  • Longer stills battery life

Compare Nikon J5 vs Nikon J4

YI M1
Nikon J4
  • $199
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking
  • $350
  • 1 inch
  • Slower slow-motion
  • On-sensor phase detect

Compare YI M1 vs Nikon J4

Compared to Panasonic GX850

Nikon J5
Panasonic GX850
  • $497
  • 1 inch
  • NFC
  • On-sensor phase detect
  • $548
  • 4/3
  • Lens selection
  • Focus peaking

Compare Nikon J5 vs Panasonic GX850

YI M1
Panasonic GX850
  • $199
  • 4/3
  • Less expensive
  • Built-in Bluetooth
  • $548
  • 4/3
  • Tiltable Screen
  • Internal flash

Compare YI M1 vs Panasonic GX850

Compare Other Cameras?