Decision tools · Compare
1 J5 vs Z50
Quick take: The Z50 has the highest resolution at 21MP; the 1 J5 is the most affordable; only the Z50 is weather sealed.
Where the 1 J5 wins
- Cheaper new: £93 vs £266
- Burst Rate: 20fps
- Weight: 265g (with battery)
Where the Z50 wins
- Resolution: 20.9MP
- Battery Life: 300 shots (CIPA)
- Weather Sealed: Yes
- Portrait: 6.6 vs 3.9
- Wedding & Events: 5.5 vs 2.9
16 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video, Clifton Cameras, MPB, eBay and Amazon UK
How to read this page. Highlighted cells win that row on the spec alone. Genre scores are the engine's base scores (enthusiast, photo and video); Camera Match re-weights them for your level and priorities. Price buttons are affiliate links; the price you pay is the same.
Price buttons are affiliate links — GearFrame may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never affects a score. Learn more
Size comparedbody only, no lens · drawn to one scale
- 1 J5 98 × 60 × 32 mm · 265 g
- Z50 126 × 94 × 60 mm · 450 g
The 1 J5 is 28 mm narrower, 34 mm shorter, 28 mm slimmer and 185 g lighter than the Z50.
Drawn to scale from the makers' dimensions (W × H × D). Front shown, depth on the slanted edge.
Verdictwhich should you buy?
Z50 — Beginner, Travel, Everyday: Nikon's Z system at its most accessible.
Who should buy what
Z50 (2019)
is the right camera for you if…
- Nikon DSLR users wanting a lighter mirrorless
- First-time enthusiast camera buyers
Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 | Z50Nikon · 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | £93 usedBest | £266 used |
| Sensor | 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS | APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MP | 20.9MPBest |
| Video | 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/60 | 4K 30fps (1.5× crop), 1080p 120fps |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject tracking | 209-point phase-detect hybrid AF |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | No stabilisation |
| Burst Rate | 20fpsBest | 11fps |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | 300 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 265g (with battery)Best | 397g (body only) |
| Dimensions | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm | 126.5 × 93.5 × 60.0mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None (rear screen only) | EVF 0.68× 2.36M-dot |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.2" downward-tilting touchscreen, 1.04M-dot |
| Mount | Nikon 1 | Nikon Z-Mount (DX) |
| Memory Cards | Single microSD slot | Single SD UHS-I |
| Connectivity | USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC | Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2, Micro USB, Micro HDMI |
Wins the row — price, resolution, burst, battery, weight and sealing are compared; text specs aren't ranked.
How they score by genreengine base scores out of 10
Genre
1 J5
Z50
Portrait
3.9/10
6.6/10
Street
6.7/10
6.3/10
Travel
6.1/10
6.1/10
Wedding & Events
2.9/10
5.5/10
Filmmaking
3.2/10
4.8/10
Documentary
4.1/10
5.8/10
Sports & Action
4.5/10
6.8/10
Landscape
3.9/10
5.3/10
Wildlife
4.3/10
7.2/10
Casual
5.1/10
5.4/10
Food
4.6/10
6.0/10
Macro
3.4/10
5.6/10
Architecture
3.4/10
5.1/10
Astrophotography
2.6/10
5.2/10
Scores come from the same engine as Camera Match: verified specifications weighted by what each genre needs, with documented adjustments. The product page and this table show the enthusiast base score. See how scores are calculated →
Next
More comparisons with 1 J5
Camera family history