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1 J5 vs K-50
Quick take: The 1 J5 has the highest resolution at 21MP; the K-50 is the most affordable; only the K-50 is weather sealed.
15 specs side by side·14 genres scored·UK prices from Wex Photo Video and Clifton Cameras
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.
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Full specificationsthe better value in each row is highlighted
| Specification | 1 J5Nikon · 2015 | K-50Pentax · 2013 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | 20.8MP 1-inch (CX) BSI CMOS | 16.3MP APS-C CMOS |
| Resolution | 20.8MPBest | 16.3MP |
| Video | 4K UHD/15p, 1080p/60 | Full HD 1080p/30 |
| Autofocus | Hybrid AF: 171 areas, 105 with phase detection; face detection, subject tracking | SAFOX IX i+ phase-detect AF, 11 points (9 cross-type); contrast AF with face detection in live view |
| Stabilisation | No IBIS (lens-based stabilisation only) | Sensor-shift Shake Reduction |
| Burst Rate | 20fpsBest | 6fps |
| Battery Life | ~250 shots (CIPA) | ~410 shots (CIPA)Best |
| Weight | 265g (with battery)Best | 675g (with battery) |
| Dimensions | 98.3 × 59.7 × 31.5mm | 129 × 96.5 × 70mm |
| Weather Sealed | Not weather sealed | YesBest |
| Viewfinder | None (rear screen only) | Pentaprism, ~100%, 0.92x |
| Screen | 3.0" tilting touchscreen, 1.04M dots | 3.0" fixed LCD, 921k dots |
| Mount | Nikon 1 | Pentax K |
| Memory Cards | Single microSD slot | Single SD slot |
| Connectivity | USB, micro HDMI, Wi-Fi, NFC | USB 2.0, AV out, cable switch |
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
K-50
Portrait
4.3/10
5.5/10
Street
6.7/10
5.1/10
Travel
6.1/10
5.0/10
Wedding & Events
2.9/10
4.7/10
Filmmaking
3.2/10
—
Documentary
4.1/10
4.4/10
Sports & Action
4.9/10
5.3/10
Landscape
3.9/10
4.6/10
Wildlife
5.1/10
5.9/10
Casual
5.0/10
3.2/10
Food
4.8/10
4.4/10
Macro
3.4/10
4.3/10
Architecture
3.9/10
4.1/10
Astrophotography
3.0/10
4.3/10
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 →
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