Nikon has expanded their line of 1-series mirrorless cameras with the J5 and it looks to be one of the most feature-rich models they’ve released despite sticking to an entry-level price. The J5 will have a MSRP of $599.95 with a 1 NIKKOR 10-30mm F3.5-5.6 PD-Zoom lens and Nikon says it be available at approximately the end of April in silver or black.
The 1-series 1-inch sensor now has 20.8 megapixels compared to the previous model’s (J4) 18.4 megapixel count. Also impressive are the Hybrid Autofocus specs with 171 contrast-detect and 105 phase-detect autofocus points which combine with the new Expeed 5A processor for a 20 fps burst mode with continuous focus and up to 60 fps with single focus. Although the 2.7x crop factor of the 1-inch sensor may not allow for as much in terms of shallow depth of field as some other sensors, you’ll get quite a reach on the telephoto end so sports shooters looking for a high frame rate and fast focusing might be interested in Nikon’s latest.
With it’s faux leather wrap, the J5 has a noticeably more retro look than its predecessors but it may also be a little more comfortable to hold as it has a grip on the right side and a bit more faux leather on the rear for your thumb too. It borrows a bit more from last year’s V3 than the brushed metal-looking J4. The grip is also the contact point for NFC so you can pair your phone to the J5’s Wi-Fi with just a tap.
There’s no hot shoe at the top of the camera but there is a small pop-up flash. The presence of a 3″ LCD that can be flipped up and down, including 180-degrees upward for selfies, tells you this is a fun camera for fun people. The LCD is a touchscreen that allows you to change focus points or navigate the menu.
Movie mode includes 4K support, albeit at only 15 fps. 1080p goes up to 60 fps while there are high speed modes from 120 fps at 720p up to 1200 fps at a resolution of 400×144.
There are a few features that will appeal to more advanced shooters but a flip-up selfie screen means it isn’t taking itself too seriously.