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Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300 Comparison

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Nikon AW100

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon AW100
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Nikon S9300

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Nikon S9300
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Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Nikon cameras cameras with different body types: Nikon AW100, which was introduced in August 2011 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Nikon S9300, which was introduced in July 2012 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. There is only 11 months difference between AW100 and S9300 so we are expecting this to be a fair comparison regarding age and technology level.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon AW100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-08-24
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 28-140 mm F3.9-4.8 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 3.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in GPS
  • 178g. 110 x 65 x 23 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body

Nikon S9300 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2012-07-16
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 6.9fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 120fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in GPS
  • 215g. 109 x 62 x 31 mm
  • Replaced Nikon Coolpix S9100 Compare

Nikon AW100 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix AW110. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix AW110 vs Nikon Coolpix AW100
Nikon Coolpix AW110 vs Nikon Coolpix S9300

Nikon S9300 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix S9500. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix S9500 vs Nikon Coolpix S9300
Nikon Coolpix S9500 vs Nikon Coolpix AW100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix AW100 over Nikon Coolpix S9300
Weight
178 g vs 215 g 37 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
4.80 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
CHECK AW100 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S9300 over Nikon Coolpix AW100
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
LCD Resolution
921k dots vs 460k dots 100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
6.9fps vs 3.0fps 3.9 fps faster
Focal Length - Wide
25mm vs 28mm 3 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
450mm vs 140mm 310 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
18× vs 5x more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.50 vs 3.90 faster lens at wide
CHECK S9300 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix AW100 and Nikon Coolpix S9300
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
GPS
Built-in vs Built-in track your location
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix AW100 and Nikon Coolpix S9300
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support
No vs No Lower image quality
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon AW100 has external dimensions of 110 x 65 x 23 mm (4.33 x 2.56 x 0.91″) and weighs 178 g (0.39 lb / 6.28 oz) (including batteries). Nikon S9300 has external dimensions of 109 x 62 x 31 mm (4.29 x 2.44 x 1.22″) and weighs 215 g (0.47 lb / 7.58 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300. Nikon S9300 is 1mm narrower and 3mm shorter than Nikon AW100 but it is also 8mm thicker.

Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300.
Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon AW100 is significantly lighter (37g ) than the Nikon S9300 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

AW100
S9300
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

AW100
S9300
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of AW100, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to S9300.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3.00".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300: Sensor Comparison

Both Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 have 1/2.3-inch sized 16.0 MP resolution sensors so sensor size and resolution is not a differentiator between these two cameras.

Below you can see the AW100 and S9300 sensor size comparison.

Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 Cameras


Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon AW100 features a 28-140 mm F3.9-4.8 5x zoom lens whereas Nikon S9300 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens.

Nikon S9300 has 3mm wider coverage than the Nikon AW100. At f3.50, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon S9300 has 310mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon AW100. However, with a max aperture of f4.80, Nikon AW100 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

AW100
S9300
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

AW100
S9300
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

AW100
S9300
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

AW100
S9300
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon AW100 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon S9300 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon AW100 for Street Photography

POOR

Nikon S9300 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Small Body
Live-view
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Slow Lens at Wide: f3.90
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Nikon AW100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon S9300 for Sports Photography

POOR
Environmental Sealings
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
140 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Unknown Focus Points
Read the details
Image Stabilization
Fast Continuous Shooting: 6.9fps
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
450 mm Tele Lens
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.9fps
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon AW100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon S9300 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
178g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
215g
18.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon AW100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon S9300 for Landscape Photography

POOR
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Built-in GPS
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Read the details
Built-in GPS
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9300: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon AW100 and Nikon S9300 scores compare:

Nikon AW100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #233 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #858 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Nikon S9300
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #207 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #824 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon S9300 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon AW100 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon AW100
Nikon AW100
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Nikon S9300
Nikon S9300
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Nikon S9300 vs Nikon AW100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix AW100 Nikon Coolpix S9300
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-08-24 2012-07-16
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3-inch 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area 28.07mm2 28.07mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 125 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 28-140 mm (5x) 25-450 mm (18×)
Max Aperture F3.9-4.8 F3.5-5.9
Macro Focus Range n/a 4cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 460k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization No Optical
Built-in Flash
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 3.0 fps 6.9 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 178g 215g
Dimensions 110 x 65 x 23mm 109 x 62 x 31mm
Battery Life n/a 200 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
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