Both Nikon AW120 and Panasonic G5 have 16.0 MP resolution sensors but Nikon AW120's sensor is 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) and Panasonic G5's sensor is Four Thirds (17.3 x 13 mm ).
Since Panasonic G5's has a larger sensor area with the same resolution, this means that it also has a larger pixel area hence better light collecting capacity for a given aperture compared to Nikon AW120.
Below you can see the AW120 and G5 sensor size comparison.
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon AW120 and Panasonic G5 Cameras
As seen above, Panasonic G5 has a 8.0x Larger sensor area than Nikon AW120. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.
Sensor size sets the circle of confusion, so it drives how much depth of field each
of these bodies gives you at a given aperture. You can calculate it exactly for the
Nikon AW120
or the
Panasonic G5 ,
including hyperfocal distance.
One thing to watch when comparing these two: they have different sensor sizes
(1/2.3-inch versus Four Thirds),
so compare them at the same framing rather than the same focal length.
Put the same focal length on the smaller sensor and it will show less depth of
field, not more, because it also crops tighter. The calculator shows the
full frame equivalent focal length for each body so you can match the framing.
