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Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120 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 AW120

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

Nikon AW120
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Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120 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 AW120, which was introduced in February 2014 is a Waterproof camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor. As you can see, S9100 is 3 years older than AW120. 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 S9100 and Nikon AW120 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" Fixed Type Screen
  • 10 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • 214g. 105 x 62 x 35 mm

Nikon AW120 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-02-07
  • 16MP - 1/2.3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • 24-120 mm F2.8-4.9 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3" Fixed Type Screen
  • 7 fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • Built-in GPS
  • 213g. 110 x 66 x 26 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Replaced Nikon Coolpix AW110 Compare

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 AW120

Nikon AW120 was replaced by Nikon Coolpix AW130. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon Coolpix AW130 vs Nikon Coolpix AW120
Nikon Coolpix AW130 vs Nikon Coolpix S9100

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S9100 over Nikon Coolpix AW120
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 7.0fps 3 fps faster
Focal Length - Tele
450mm vs 120mm 330 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
18× vs 5x more flexible focal coverage
Sensor Pixel Area
2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2 32% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix AW120 over Nikon Coolpix S9100
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
GPS
BuiltIn vs None track your location
Max Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
350 shots vs 270 shots 80 more frames with a single charge
Weight
213 g vs 214 g 1 g lighter
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 25mm 1 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
4.90 vs 5.90 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
5.2m vs 4.0m 1.2m longer range
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Nikon Coolpix AW120
Image Stabilization
Sensor-shift vs Optical Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 921k dots High resolution screens
Continuous Shooting
10.0fps vs 7.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix S9100 and Nikon Coolpix AW120
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
Manual Exposure
No vs No No manual exposure control
Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120: 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 AW120 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 AW120 has external dimensions of 110 x 66 x 26 mm (4.33 x 2.6 x 1.02″) and weighs 213 g (0.47 lb / 7.51 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120. Nikon S9100 is 5mm narrower and 4mm shorter than Nikon AW120 but it is also 9mm thicker.

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120.

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120.
Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon AW120 is 1g lighter than the Nikon S9100 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

S9100
AW120
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Waterproof Cameras

S9100
AW120
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120: 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 AW120 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the S9100 and AW120 sensor size comparison.

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 Cameras


Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 have 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 AW120, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon S9100 vs Nikon AW120 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon S9100 features a 25-450 mm F3.5-5.9 18× zoom lens whereas Nikon AW120 features a 24-120 mm F2.8-4.9 5x zoom lens.

Nikon AW120 has 1mm wider coverage than the Nikon S9100. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon S9100 has 330mm longer reach than the Nikon AW120. However, with a max aperture of f4.90, Nikon AW120 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW120
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW120
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW120
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

S9100
AW120
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon S9100 and Nikon AW120 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 AW120 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
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 S9100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Nikon AW120 for Street Photography

GOOD
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
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

Nikon S9100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon AW120 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
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
Unknown Focus Points
Read the details

Nikon S9100 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Nikon AW120 for Daily Photography

GOOD
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
213g
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 AW120 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
24 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 AW120: 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 AW120, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 AW120 scores compare:

Nikon S9100
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #174 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #727 out of 1223 in all Cameras
Nikon AW120
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #60 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #491 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon AW120 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon S9100 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon S9100
Nikon S9100
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Nikon AW120
Nikon AW120
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Nikon AW120 vs Nikon S9100 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix S9100 Nikon Coolpix AW120
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2011-07-19 2014-02-07
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 6,400 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×) 24-120 mm (5x)
Max Aperture F3.5-5.9 F2.8-4.9
Macro Focus Range 4cm 1cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 3"
Resolution 921k dots 921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 4.00 m 5.20 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 10.0 fps 7.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
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 Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 214g 213g
Dimensions 105 x 62 x 35mm 110 x 66 x 26mm
Battery Life 270 shots 350 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
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