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Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW100 Comparison

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Nikon S9100

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

Nikon S9100
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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 S9100 vs Nikon AW100 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Nikon cameras cameras with different body types: Nikon S9100, which was introduced in July 2011 is a Small Sensor Superzoom camera with a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Nikon AW100, which was introduced in August 2011 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. There is only 1 months difference between S9100 and AW100 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 S9100 and Nikon AW100 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon S9100 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-07-19
  • 12MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 214g. 105 x 62 x 35 mm

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 S9100 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix S9300. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix S9300 vs Nikon Coolpix S9100
Nikon Coolpix S9300 vs Nikon Coolpix AW100

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 S9100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100 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 S9100 over Nikon Coolpix AW100
In-built Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift 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
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 3.0fps 7 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
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area
CHECK S9100 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix AW100 over Nikon Coolpix S9100
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Weight
178 g vs 214 g 36 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

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Nikon Coolpix AW100
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Nikon Coolpix AW100
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 Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW100: 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 S9100 and Nikon AW100 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon S9100 has external dimensions of 105 x 62 x 35 mm (4.13 x 2.44 x 1.38″) and weighs 214 g (0.47 lb / 7.55 oz) (including batteries). 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).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100. Nikon S9100 is 5mm narrower and 3mm shorter than Nikon AW100 but it is also 12mm thicker.

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW100 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100.
Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW100 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100 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 (36g ) than the Nikon S9100 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

S9100
AW100
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

S9100
AW100
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 S9100.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100'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 S9100 vs Nikon AW100: Sensor Comparison

Nikon S9100 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Nikon AW100 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S9100 and AW100 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW100 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100 Cameras


Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100 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 Nikon S9100 has 32% larger pixel area compared to Nikon AW100, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW100 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9100 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens whereas Nikon AW100 features a 28-140 mm F3.9-4.8 5x zoom lens.

Nikon S9100 has 3mm wider coverage than the Nikon AW100. At f3.50, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon S9100 has 310mm longer reach than the Nikon AW100. However, with a max aperture of f4.80, Nikon AW100 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW100
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW100
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW100
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW100
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW100 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 S9100 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Nikon AW100 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
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 Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
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

Nikon S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon AW100 for Street Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
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
Read the details
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

Nikon S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon AW100 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 10.0fps
450 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 270 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details
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

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon AW100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Compact Body
214g
18.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Compact Body
178g
Environmental Sealings
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon AW100 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Manual Focus Mode
25 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 Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Environmental Sealings
Built-in GPS
28 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
Read the details

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW100: 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 S9100 and Nikon AW100, 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 S9100 and Nikon AW100 scores compare:

Nikon S9100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #175 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #773 out of 1257 in all Cameras
Nikon AW100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #233 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #858 out of 1257 in all Cameras

Nikon S9100 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon AW100 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon S9100
Nikon S9100
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Nikon AW100
Nikon AW100
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Nikon AW100 vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9100 Nikon Coolpix AW100
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-07-19 2011-08-24
Body Type Compact Compact
Sensor
Type BSI-CMOS 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 12 megapixels 16 megapixels
Max Resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 3,200 ISO 3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 160 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 9 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 25-450 mm (18×) 28-140 mm (5x)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.9 F3.9-4.8
Macro Focus Range 4cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 921k dots 460k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Sensor-shift No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 3.0 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 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 214g 178g
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm 110 x 65 x 23mm
Battery Life 270 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
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