Nikon J5 Image Quality

Here at the cameras' base ISO of 160, there's a noticeable improvement in image quality from the newer 20.8-megapixel J5 over its 18.4-megapixel predecessor, with slightly higher resolution, crisper detail, slightly lower noise and more vibrant colors. And the J5 does much better in the pink fabric, though only marginally better in our tricky red-leaf swatch.

The Canon G7X uses a 20.2-megapixel 1"-type sensor but has a fixed zoom lens. Fine detail from the Canon is a little better than the Nikon here at base ISO (which is rated a bit lower for the G7X at ISO 125), but the G7X's image is also a little noisier, though the noise "grain" is quite fine and tight. Colors from the Nikon are however more pleasing and vibrant.

The 16-megapixel E-PL5 produces about the same amount of detail the J5 -- if not a little more -- despite the lower pixel count. That's partially because of the different aspect ratios (the J5's extra resolution is mostly in the x-axis with vertical resolution only greater by 256 pixels), but also because the higher noise from the J5's 1-inch sensor requires stronger noise reduction. Noise is a little higher from the E-PL5 simply because its default noise reduction is not quite as aggressive, but both do well with our red-leaf and pink fabrics.

The 24-megapixel APS-C sensor in the Sony A5100 clearly resolves more detail while producing lower noise, and the Sony's processing also shows fewer sharpening artifacts. The Sony does however generate more false colors in the mosaic, however some of the coloration is actually present from the offset printing process.

Like we saw with the Canon G7X at base ISO, the 20-megapixel Sony RX100 II retains a little more detail than the J5, but noise is also a bit higher. Colors are once again more pleasing and vibrant from the Nikon.

The Nikon J5 continues to generate higher image quality than the J4 at ISO 1600, with better clarity, better detail and more vibrant colors, though noise levels in flat areas are a touch higher. Both cameras struggle with our difficult red-leaf swatch but the J5 manages to reproduce at least some of the fine, low-contrast pattern while the J4 reproduces a more vague and diffuse representation of the red-leaf pattern.

The Nikon J5 arguably produces a better image overall at ISO 1600 than the Canon G7X, with lower noise, brighter colors and slightly better detail in most subject matter, however the J5's image is a little softer with more evident noise reduction artifacts.

At ISO 1600, the Olympus E-PL5 produces a much clearer, crisper image with better detail, but some obvious noise reduction artifacts are visible. The Nikon actually does a little better with fine detail in our tricky red-leaf swatch, though contrast is higher from the Olympus.

The Sony A5100 continues to hold onto more detail than the Nikon J5 at ISO 1600, while producing lower noise and fewer sharpening artifacts, though the advantage isn't a great as the relative sensor sizes imply, due to differences in image processing. The Sony does much better than the Nikon in the red-leaf swatch, though some of the apparent detail is quite distorted.

Noise levels appear similar from these two cameras at ISO 1600, but the Sony manages to hold onto more low-contrast detail in general, while the Nikon produces better high-contrast detail, and renders a smoother, brighter image with more pleasing colors.

Both cameras struggle with fine detail and noise at ISO 3200, producing soft and fuzzy images, but the J5 gets the nod for better overall results at this sensitivity, particularly in subject matter with higher contrast. The J5 also does a bit better with the low-contrast red-leaf pattern, though there's little detail left from either camera. The J5's noise reduction does however produce more obvious color bleeding, though.

The Canon G7X produces better detail and more defined edges at ISO 3200 in most areas, but its image is also quite a bit noisier. The Canon's noise grain is still fairly fine, though. Overall, the Nikon continues to produce a softer, smoother, brighter image with more pleasing colors.

Here at ISO 3200, the Olympus produces a much crisper, more contrasty image that continues to retain better detail, but with much stronger noise reduction artifacts. Still, the E-PL5's larger sensor and aggressive processing easily comes out ahead at this sensitivity.

At ISO 3200, the advantage of the A5100's much larger, higher resolution sensor is still evident, with much better detail in most subject matter, as well as lower noise levels. The Sony's image does however look a little more "processed" than the Nikon's, particularly in flatter areas.

Similar to what we saw at ISO 1600, noise levels are comparable between these two cameras at ISO 3200, but the Sony manages to hold onto more detail in the mosaic crop, while the Nikon does better with high contrast detail and color. At this ISO, the Sony's noise reduction heavily smears the red-leaf pattern.