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Nikon J5 Field Test: A worthy contender in the crowded compact camera market
posted Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 6:26 PM EDT
Announced back in March 2015, the newest addition to the Nikon 1-series of compact mirrorless cameras, the Nikon 1 J5, brings about a number of upgrades and improvements over J4 in terms of image quality and performance, as well as a few design quirks like the lack of a PASM mode dial in the predecessor. Inside, the J5 shows off a brand-new CX-format (1"-type) CMOS image sensor with a slightly higher resolution of 20.8 megapixels. It's also a backside illuminated design, which should improve noise performance.
The camera also houses a newer, faster EXPEED 5A image processor, which brings about a number of performance improvements, including 20 frames per second burst shooting with autofocus between frames and at full-resolution, plus 4K video (though it's pegged at 15fps) as well as built-in slow-motion and timelapse movie features.
Putting all of these new features and performance claims to the test in our Nikon J5 Field Test is our intrepid reviewer Jeremy Gray. A seasoned Nikon shooter himself, he took the Nikon J5 out into the field along with its two compact zoom kit lenses, plus the Nikon FT1 lens adapter, so he could have some fun with his quiver of Nikon DSLR lenses.
The overall results give the Nikon J5 a fairly positive score though Jeremy did find some performance issues and few disappointments and oddities with focusing, ergonomics and certain movie features, for example. According to Jeremy, the Nikon J5, overall, is an impressive little camera that's small but capable and has some nice improvements over its predecessor. For all the details of is real-world experience, head over to our Nikon J5 Field Test!
