Nikon AW100 has a
16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic ZS8 has a
14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Venus Engine FHD processor.
Below you can see the AW100 and ZS8 sensor size comparison.
Nikon AW100 and Panasonic ZS8 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.