Nikon D80 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Comparison

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Nikon D80

10 MP | APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) CCD Sensor

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Nikon 1 AW1

14 MP | 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Nikon D80 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Nikon cameras cameras with different body types: Nikon D80, which was introduced in September 2006 is a Advanced DSLR camera with a 10.0MP APS-C sensor whereas Nikon 1 AW1, which was introduced in September 2013 is a Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a 14.0MP 1-inch sensor. As you can see, D80 is 7 years older than 1 AW1. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Despite some fundamental differences of these two body types, Mirrorless cameras are becoming serious alternatives to DSLR cameras thanks to their size/weight advantages and recent improvements in their focus speeds , which makes this comparison even more interesting.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon D80 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2006-09-23

10MP - APS-C CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 1600 ( expands to 3200)

Nikon F Mount

2.5" Fixed Type Screen

Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder

3 fps continuous shooting

No Video Mode

668g. 132 x 103 x 77 mm

Replaced Nikon D70 Compare

Nikon 1 AW1 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-09-19

14MP - 1-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 160 - 6400

Nikon 1 Mount

3" Fixed Type Screen

60 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

1200fps High-Speed Video

Built-in GPS

356g. 114 x 72 x 37 mm

Weather Sealed Body

Nikon D80 was replaced by Nikon D90. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Nikon D90 vs Nikon D80
Nikon D90 vs Nikon 1 AW1

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon D80 over Nikon 1 AW1

External Flash Shoe	Yes vs No	Better for flash photography
Viewfinder	Optical vs None	Better framing and control
Flash Coverage	13.0m vs 5.0m	8m longer range
Color Depth	22.1 vs 20.2	higher color depth
Dynamic Range	11.2 vs 10.9	higher dynamic range
Low Light ISO	524 vs 428	better High ISO performance
Sensor Pixel Area	37.14µm² vs 8.20µm²	352% larger pixel area
Top LCD	Yes vs No	Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Reasons to choose Nikon 1 AW1 over Nikon D80

GPS	BuiltIn vs None	track your location
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max Sensor Resolution	14 MP vs 10 MP	39% more pixels
Max ISO	6.400 vs 1.600	300% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 2.5"	0.5 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 230k dots	300% higher resolution screen
Continuous Shooting	60.0fps vs 3.0fps	57 fps faster
Weight	356 g vs 668 g	312 g lighter
Environmental Sealing	Yes vs No	shoot at tough conditions
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs None	Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
RAW Support	Yes vs Yes	Better image quality

Common Weaknesses of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1

In-body Image Stabilization	No vs No	No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles

Nikon D80 vs Nikon 1 AW1: 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 D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon D80 has external dimensions of 132 x 103 x 77 mm (5.2 x 4.06 x 3.03″) and weighs 668 g (1.47 lb / 23.56 oz) (including batteries). Nikon 1 AW1 has external dimensions of 114 x 72 x 37 mm (4.47 x 2.81 x 1.46″) and weighs 356 g (0.78 lb / 12.6 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1. Nikon 1 AW1 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 18mm narrower, 31mm shorter and 40mm thinner than Nikon D80.

Comparison image of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon 1 AW1 is significantly lighter (312g ) than the Nikon D80 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Also keep in mind that body weight is not the only deciding factor when comparing two interchangeable camera bodies, you have to also take into account the lenses that you will be using with these bodies. Since Nikon D80 has an APS-C sized sensor and Nikon 1 AW1 has a smaller 1-inch sensor, Nikon 1 AW1's lenses for a similar focal length and aperture will generally be lighter and smaller than the Nikon D80 lenses.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D80

1 AW1

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

D80

1 AW1

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon 1 AW1's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon D80's 2.5" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Nikon D80 vs Nikon 1 AW1: Sensor Comparison

Nikon D80 has a 10.0MP APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm ) sized CCD sensor . On the other hand, Nikon 1 AW1 has a 14.0MP 1-inch (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features EXPEED 3A processor.

Below you can see the D80 and 1 AW1 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 Cameras

As seen above, Nikon D80 has a 3.2x Larger sensor area than Nikon 1 AW1. 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.

DxOMark Sensor Scores

Both Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 sensors have been tested by DxoMark. DxoMark scores camera sensors for color depth (DXO Portrait), dynamic range (DXO Landscape) and low-light sensitivity (DXO Sports), and also gives them an overall score. Of the two cameras that we are comparing, D80 has scored 61, 10 points higher than 1 AW1.

Model	Overall	Color Depth	Dynamic Range	Low-light ISO
Nikon D80	61	22.1 bits	11.2 Evs	524 ISO
Nikon 1 AW1	51	20.2 bits	10.9 Evs	428 ISO

Nikon D80 vs Nikon 1 AW1 Comparison of Available Lenses

Which camera has more lenses?

Number of available lenses is a big decision factor while choosing your interchangeable lens camera. When we look at the available lenses for these two cameras, we see that Nikon D80 has an advantage over Nikon 1 AW1 There are 309 lenses for Nikon D80's Nikon F mount, on the other hand there are only 13 lenses for Nikon 1 AW1's Nikon 1 lens mount.

Another important factor is the availability of image stabilization. None of these bodies have sensor based image stabilization so you have to buy lenses with Optical stabilization feature. Currently there are 106 lenses for Nikon F mount and 7 lenses for Nikon 1 mount with IS.

Lens Type	# of Nikon D80 Lenses	# of Nikon 1 AW1 Lenses
Standard Zoom	33	4
Standard Prime	21	2
Wideangle Zoom	33	1
Wideangle Prime	48	2
Telephoto Zoom	53	2
Telephoto Prime	45	n/a
SuperZoom	30	2
Wideangle Fisheye Prime	8	n/a
Macro Prime	26	n/a
Perspective Control Prime	11	n/a
Telephoto Mirror Prime	1	n/a
TOTAL	309	13

What types of Photography are Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 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 D80 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 AW1 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 AW1 for Street Photography

AVERAGE

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization
No Live-view
Large Body
Read the details

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium sized Body
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Nikon 1 AW1 for Sports Photography

GOOD

Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
No Image Stabilization
Slow Continuous Shooting: 3.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Read the details

Fast Continuous Shooting: 60.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
135 Focus Points
Average Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
No Built-in Viewfinder
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon 1 AW1 for Daily Photography

GOOD

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Large Body
668g
Body Thickness 77mm
Read the details

Environmental Sealings
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Medium size Body
356g
Read the details

Nikon D80 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon 1 AW1 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Large APS-C (23.6 x 15.8 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Environmental Sealings
No Live-view
Read the details

Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Built-in GPS
Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Read the details

Nikon D80 vs Nikon 1 AW1: 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 D80 and Nikon 1 AW1, 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 D80 and Nikon 1 AW1 scores compare:

Nikon D80

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #71 out of 95 in Mid-size SLR cameras
Ranked #611 out of 1225 in all Cameras

Nikon 1 AW1

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #58 out of 128 in Rangefinder-style mirrorless cameras
Ranked #293 out of 1225 in all Cameras

Nikon 1 AW1 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon D80. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that 1 AW1 trails behind the D80: Imaging
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Nikon D80. If not, we recommend the Nikon 1 AW1.

Nikon 1 AW1 vs Nikon D80 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon D80	Nikon 1 AW1
Brand	Nikon	Nikon
Announced	2006-09-23	2013-09-19
Body Type	Mid-size SLR	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Sensor
Type	CCD	CMOS
Size	APS-C	1-inch
Dimensions	23.6 x 15.8 mm	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Area	372.88mm²	116.16mm²
Megapixels	10 megapixels	14 megapixels
Max Resolution	3872 x 2592	4608 x 3072
Max Native Light sensitivity	1,600 ISO	6,400 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity	3200 ISO	-
Min Native Light sensitivity	100 ISO	160 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	135
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon F	Nikon 1
Number of Available Lenses	309	13
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.5"	3"
Resolution	230k dots	921k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	Optical (pentaprism)	None
Viewfinder Coverage	95%	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	0.64x	n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/4000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	No	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	13.00 m	5.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync	1/200s	1/60s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	3.0 fps	60.0 fps
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	None	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	n/a	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	668g	356g
Dimensions	132 x 103 x 77mm	114 x 72 x 37mm
Battery Life	n/a	220 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	61	51
DxO Color Depth	22.1	20.2
DxO Dynamic Range	11.2	10.9
DxO Low Light ISO	524	428
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