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Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS Comparison

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Nikon AW130

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

Nikon AW130
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Canon SD940 IS

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

Canon SD940 IS
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Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon AW130, which was introduced in February 2015 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3' sensor whereas Canon SD940 IS, which was introduced in August 2009 is a Ultracompact camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, SD940 IS is 6 years older than AW130. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon AW130 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-02-10
  • 16MP - 1/2.3' CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 24-120 mm F2.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 7.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 221g. 110 x 66 x 27 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon Coolpix AW120 Compare

Canon SD940 IS Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-08-19
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 28-112 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1.0fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 120g. 89 x 55 x 20 mm
  • Also known as Digital IXUS 120 IS

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix AW130 over Canon PowerShot SD940 IS
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 1.600 300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Continuous Shooting
7.0fps vs 1.0fps 6 fps faster
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 28mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
120mm vs 112mm 8 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 4× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
5.2m vs 4.0m 1.2m longer range
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK AW130 PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot SD940 IS over Nikon Coolpix AW130
Weight
120 g vs 221 g 101 g lighter
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area
CHECK SD940 IS PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix AW130 and Canon PowerShot SD940 IS
Image Stabilization
Optical vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix AW130 and Canon PowerShot SD940 IS
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No No flexible viewing angles
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
LCD Screen Size
2.70" vs 2.70" Small display
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
New4
Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS: 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 AW130 and Canon SD940 IS side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon AW130 has external dimensions of 110 x 66 x 27 mm (4.33 x 2.6 x 1.06″) and weighs 221 g (0.49 lb / 7.80 oz) (including batteries). Canon SD940 IS has external dimensions of 89 x 55 x 20 mm (3.5 x 2.17 x 0.79″) and weighs 120 g (0.26 lb / 4.23 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS. Canon SD940 IS is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 21mm narrower, 11mm shorter and 7mm thinner than Nikon AW130.

Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS.

Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon SD940 IS is significantly lighter (101g ) than the Nikon AW130 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

AW130
SD940 IS
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

AW130
SD940 IS
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather sealed body, we believe that AW130 has a big advantage over SD940 IS which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon AW130's 3.00" LCD screen is slightly larger than Canon SD940 IS's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS: Sensor Comparison

Nikon AW130 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Canon SD940 IS has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Digic 4 processor.

Below you can see the AW130 and SD940 IS sensor size comparison.

Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS Cameras


Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS 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. On the other hand, since Canon SD940 IS has 32% larger pixel area (2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2) compared to Nikon AW130, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon AW130 features a 24-120 mm F2.8-4.9 5× zoom lens whereas Canon SD940 IS features a 28-112 mm F2.8-5.9 4× zoom lens.

Nikon AW130 has 4mm wider coverage than the Canon SD940 IS. Both cameras has a max aperture of f2.80 at the wide end. On the tele end, Nikon AW130 has 8mm longer reach than the Canon SD940 IS. At f4.90, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

AW130
SD940 IS
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

AW130
SD940 IS
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

AW130
SD940 IS
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

AW130
SD940 IS
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon AW130 and Canon SD940 IS 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 AW130 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon SD940 IS for Portrait Photography

POOR
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
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
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 AW130 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SD940 IS for Street Photography

AVERAGE
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 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
Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
28 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 AW130 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon SD940 IS for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Fast Continuous Shooting: 7.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
Wireless Connection
120 mm Tele Lens
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
Focus Points
Read the details
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: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
9 Focus Points
112 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon AW130 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon SD940 IS for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
221g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
120g
Body Thickness 20mm
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon AW130 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon SD940 IS for Landscape Photography

POOR
24 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
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
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 AW130 vs Canon SD940 IS: 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 AW130 and Canon SD940 IS, 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 AW130 and Canon SD940 IS scores compare:

Nikon AW130
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #156 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #715 out of 1243 in all Cameras
Canon SD940 IS
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #79 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #1049 out of 1243 in all Cameras

Nikon AW130 is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Canon SD940 IS in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Nikon AW130.

Nikon AW130
Nikon AW130
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CHECK PRICE

Canon SD940 IS
Canon SD940 IS
CHECK PRICE

CHECK PRICE

Canon SD940 IS vs Nikon AW130 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix AW130 Canon PowerShot SD940 IS
Brand Nikon Canon
Announced 2015-02-10 2009-08-19
Body Type Compact Ultracompact
Sensor
Type CMOS CCD
Size 1/2.3' 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 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 6,400 ISO 1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 125 ISO 80 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 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-120 mm (5×) 28-112 mm (4×)
Max Aperture F2.8-4.9 F2.8-5.9
Macro Focus Range 1cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 2.70"
Resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/1500s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 5.20 m (at Auto ISO) 4.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 7.0 fps 1.0 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 1280 x 720
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 221g 120g
Dimensions 110 x 66 x 27mm 89 x 55 x 20mm
Battery Life 370 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS Built-in None
DxO Sensor Scores
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