Nikon 1 J5 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon 1 J5 and the Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Nikon 1 J5 was introduced in April 2015 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 was introduced in July 2011. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon 1 J5 over Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 over Nikon 1 J5.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Nikon 1 J5 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 have 3.0" screens with 1,037k dot and 460k dot resolutions respectively. Nikon 1 J5 has a Tilting screen which makes it very useful for photography purposes but not so useful for video shooting. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 has a Fixed screen Nikon 1 J5 also features touchscreen which has advantages such as easy menu navigation, intuitive controls, quick setting adjustment and most importantly a Touch-to-Focus functionality allowing users to select a specific point on the screen where they want the camera to focus. This feature can be helpful for achieving precise focus in both photo and video recording.

Nikon 1 J5 features a 20.8 megapixel 1-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 13.2 x 8.8 mm and a total area of 116.2 mm². Its native ISO range is 160 - 12,800. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 features a 12.1 megapixel 1/2.33-inch CCD sensor with dimensions of 6.08 x 4.56 mm and a total area of 20.8 mm². Its native ISO range is 80 - 6,400.

Nikon 1 J5 has BSI-CMOS sensor, short for Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor sensor. In traditional CMOS sensors, the wiring and circuitry are located on the front side of the sensor, which can block some of the incoming light. BSI technology flips this design by placing the photosensitive elements (pixels) on the backside of the sensor, allowing more light to reach the pixels. This significantly enhances light sensitivity and improves low-light performance. BSI-CMOS sensors are particularly effective in low-light conditions, as they can capture more light, resulting in brighter and less noisy images. This makes them well-suited for indoor and night photography. BSI-CMOS sensors deliver a higher SNR and reduced cross-talk.

Nikon 1 J5 is equipped with EXPEED 5A processor and can take pictures up to 5568 x 3712 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4176 x 2784, 2784 x 1856 with 3:2 aspect ratios. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 is equipped with Venus Engine HD II processor and can take pictures up to 4000 x 3000 resolution. It can also take pictures with lower resolution like 4176 x 2784 4320 x 2432, 3264 x 2448, 3392 x 2264, 3552 x 2000, 2560 x 1920, 2656 x 1768, 2784 x 1568, 2048 x 1536, 2048 x 1360, 1920 x 1080, 1600 x 1200, 640 x 480, 640 x 424, 640 x 360 with 4:3, 3:2, 16:9 aspect ratios.

No Low-Pass Filter on Nikon 1 J5

There is no optical low-pass filter (OLPF), also known as an anti-aliasing filter, in front of the sensor on Nikon 1 J5. This results in a slightly sharper image but may also introduce moiré patterns and aliasing artifacts when photographing subjects with fine, repetitive patterns or details.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 has an image stabilization.

Built-in GPS on Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 has a built-in GPS (Global Positioning System) technology which allows you to automatically tag the location where you took your photos. You can later categorize, organize, and search for photos based on location. This is very useful for travel and outdoor photographers for documenting the locations where images were captured.
  Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in GPS.

Built-in Wi-Fi on Nikon 1 J5

Nikon 1 J5 has a built-in Wi-Fi (802.11b/g, 2.4 GHz) which allows to easily transfer photos and videos from the camera to other Wi-Fi-enabled devices, such as smartphones, tablets, printers, or computers. This eliminates the need for cables and allows for quick and convenient media sharing and social media integration. It gives you the ability to control your camera remotely using a smartphone or tablet. This is particularly useful for taking self-portraits, group shots, or capturing images in challenging conditions without having to touch the camera. Firmware updates can also be downloaded and installed wirelessly.
  Check out the cameras in our database that have built-in WiFi.

NFC on Nikon 1 J5

Nikon 1 J5 has Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.

USB Inputs and HDMI Outputs

Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer. Nikon 1 J5 has a Micro HDMI and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 has an HDMI connector for video signal output.

Battery

Nikon 1 J5 comes with EN-EL24 battery pack with battery life of 250 shots.

External Storage Slots

Nikon 1 J5 has a single MicroSD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot.

Shutter

Nikon 1 J5 has Electronic shutter. Shutter speed can go up to 1/16000 sec with electronic shutter and up to 1/4000 sec with mechanical shutter on Nikon 1 J5, and up to 1/2000 sec on Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7. Nikon 1 J5 can shoot continuously up to 20.0 fps. Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 can shoot continuously up to 2.3 fps.

Focusing

Nikon 1 J5 has Hybrid autofocus (phase detection/contrast-detect AF)
AF-assist illuminator system with 171 focusing points and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 has 11 focusing points..

Flash

Cameras have built-in flash with maximum range of 5.00 m at ISO 100 on Nikon 1 J5 and 5.30 m on Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7..

Nikon 1 J5 body has dimensions of 98 x 60 x 32 mm (3.86 x 2.36 x 1.26") and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 body has dimensions of 103 x 60 x 33 mm (4.06 x 2.36 x 1.3"). Nikon 1 J5 weighs 231 g (0.51 lb / 8.15 oz) and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7 weighs 218 g (0.48 lb / 7.69 oz).

Nikon 1 J5

Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS7

98 mm

60 mm

103 mm

60 mm

60 mm

60 mm

32 mm

33 mm