Nikon 1 J5 Black 2015

A tiny speed demon with a dead lens mount and a cheap-feeling body. Buy it for the incredible 20fps burst and great daylight photos, not for video or low-light heroics.

The 20fps burst with continuous autofocus genuinely surprised us. It's not just a spec sheet flex, this thing rips through frames faster than most modern mirrorless cameras that cost five times as much. The 105-point phase-detect AF is snappy and accurate in daylight, making it a tiny sports car. The real shocker, though, is how much the build quality lets it down. It feels plasticky and hollow, landing in the 7th percentile in our database, which is a real letdown when the images it produces look so premium.

The Sony Alpha a6400 is the obvious modern alternative with a real lens ecosystem, a viewfinder, and vastly superior video, but it costs significantly more. The Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II is another strong competitor that offers in-body stabilization and weather sealing, things the J5 completely lacks. But neither can touch the J5's pocketability. If you're cross-shopping, the J5 is for someone who prioritizes tiny size and burst speed over everything else. The Panasonic Lumix S5 IIX is in a completely different league for video, so if that's your focus, just skip the J5 entirely.

At around $227 on the used market, it's a steal for the sheer speed and image quality you get. You're buying a quirky, capable second body for daylight fun, not a primary workhorse. For the price of a decent dinner, you get a camera that can out-shoot your phone and fits in a jacket pocket. Just know you're buying into a dead system.

The Nikon 1 J5 is a weird, wonderful little camera that Nikon abandoned way too soon. It's basically a point-and-shoot with the guts of a speed demon and the ability to swap lenses. The one thing you need to know is that it's a pocket rocket for good light. In bright conditions, the 20.8MP 1-inch sensor and 20fps burst shooting make it an absolute joy for capturing fast action or your kid's soccer game. But the moment the sun dips or you try to shoot serious video, its age and design compromises start to show.

If you're looking for a serious video camera or something to shoot in dimly lit restaurants and parties, this isn't it. The lack of stabilization, no viewfinder, and poor low-light performance will drive you nuts. Go get a used Sony a6400 or a Panasonic GX85 instead.

The Nikon 1 J5 is a flawed gem. It's a fantastic little daylight camera for stills shooters who value speed and portability above all else. If you can live without a viewfinder, don't plan on shooting much video, and find a good deal on a used one with a lens, it's a fun and unique addition to your bag. It's not a sensible, practical choice, but it's a deeply enjoyable one.