Nikon 1 AW1 Review

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Main Features

14MP - 1" CMOS Sensor

ISO 160 - 6400

3" Fixed Type Screen

60 fps continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video

1,200 fps High-Speed Video

Built-in GPS

356g. 114 x 72 x 37 mm

Weather Sealed Body

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Nikon 1 AW1 Overview

First introduced in September 2013 , Nikon 1 AW1 is a 14.0MP Entry-Level Mirrorless camera with a 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor.

Nikon 1 AW1 Review - Click for Table of Contents

Overview
Pros and Cons
Lens Mount and Lenses
Sensor and Photography Features
Physical Specs
LCD and Viewfinder
Connectivity, Storage and Battery
Video
Other Features
Photography Type Scores
Alternatives
Popular Comparisons
Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed Specifications

Nikon 1 AW1 has an Overall Score of 61/100 and ranked #116 out of 204 in Mirrorless cameras (Top 10 Mirrorless), and ranked #282 out of 1212 in all Cameras (Top 10 Overall).

Nikon 1 AW1 Type Scores

Imaging

Features

Value for Money

Portability

Overall Score

Check our Smart Finder Tool to filter, sort and compare all digital cameras

Nikon 1 AW1 Compared to other Mirrorless Cameras

Now let's get in to more details of our Nikon 1 AW1 review by analysing its specs and features and listing out its pros and cons compared to average competitor cameras in its class.

PROs

Full HD Video

Built-in GPS

Face Detection Focusing

135 Focus Points

921k dots LCD Resolution

60.0fps Shooting w/ Mechanical Shutter

356g Light Body

Environmental Sealing

Panorama Shooting

1,200 fps High Speed Video

Flash Sync Port

Report a correction

Buy Nikon 1 AW1 from AMAZON or B&H PHOTO

CONs

No Wireless Connection

No Image Stabilization

No Articulating Screen

No External Flash Shoe

No Touch Screen

No Built-in Viewfinder

No External Viewfinder Option

x magnification - Small Viewfinder

Low Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP

Low Battery Life: 220 shots

Poor Low Light Performance

Report a correction

Nikon 1 AW1 Lens Mount and Lenses

Nikon 1 AW1 has a Nikon 1 lens mount and currently there are 13 native lenses available for this mount. Although limited in number and versatility, Nikon 1 mount provides the compact and lightweight lenses that the system promises. With an adapter, you can mount Nikon F lenses and thanks to focal length multiplier of 2.7x, some of these lenses will give you a very long focal length reach.

Nikon 1 AW1 doesn't have a sensor based image stabilization system but 7 of these lenses already comes with Optical Image Stabilization. There are also 2 lenses with weather sealing for 1 AW1 that you can couple with its weather sealed body.

Here are some of the most popular Nikon 1 AW1 Lenses on Camera Decision:

Popular Nikon 1 Mount Lenses for Nikon 1 AW1

Model	Focal Length on 1 AW1	Coverage	Weight	Focusing	Street Price
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 70-300mm f4.5-5.6	189-810mm	1"	560gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 18.5mm f1.8	51.3mm	1"	70gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 30-110mm f3.8-5.6	81-297mm	1"	180gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6	27-270mm	1"	298gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 10mm f2.8	27mm	1"	77gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 6.7-13mm f3.5-5.6	18.9-35.1mm	1"	125gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor 32mm f1.2	86.4mm	1"	235gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo
Nikon 1 Nikkor VR 10-100mm f4.5-5.6 PD-Zoom	27-270mm	1"	515gr	AF	Amazon B&H Photo

Check our Nikon 1 AW1 Lenses page or use our Smart Lens Finder tool for more detailed lens search.

Nikon 1 AW1 Sensor and Photography Features

Nikon 1 AW1 has a 14.0MP 1" (13.2 x 8.8 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features EXPEED 3A processor. You can shoot at maximum resolution of 4608 x 3072 pixels with aspect ratios of 3:2 and 16:9. 1 AW1 has a native ISO range of 160 - 6400 and it can save files in RAW format which gives you a wider room for post processing.

Nikon 1 AW1 is not the highest resolution 1 inch Sensor camera. Nikon 1 J5 with its 21.0MP sensor is leading in this class. Check the comparison of Nikon 1 AW1 vs Nikon 1 J5 or take a look at Highest resolution Mirrorless cameras list.

Nikon 1 AW1 DxOMark Sensor Scores

DxOMark is a benchmark that scientifically assesses image quality of camera sensors. Nikon 1 AW1 sensor has been tested by DxO Mark and got an overall score of 51 for its image quality. You can find the details of their analysis of Nikon 1 AW1 here.

Let's look at how the size of the Nikon 1 AW1's 1" sensor compares with other standard sensor sizes.

Nikon 1 AW1 Physical Specs

Nikon 1 AW1 weighs 356 g (0.78 lb / 12.6 oz) and has external dimensions of 114 x 72 x 37 mm (4.47 x 2.81 x 1.46″). Considering that the average weight of Mirrorless type cameras is 435g, Nikon 1 AW1 is a remarkably light camera for its class. Even better, with a thickness of only 37mm, it is also quite small, 12mm thinner than the average of its class.

Weight Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Nikon 1 AW1

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Mirrorless Cameras

Nikon 1 AW1

Min

Average

Max

Here is the front and top view image of Nikon 1 AW1 with the dimensions:

Now lets compare the weight and thickness of Nikon 1 AW1 with its main competitors:

Nikon 1 AW1 Size Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Weight	vs 1 AW1	Thickness	vs 1 AW1
Sony A6000 Compare	344g	12g lighter	45mm	8mm thicker
Olympus TG-6 Compare	253g	103g lighter	32mm	5mm thinner
Nikon 1 V3 Compare	381g	25g heavier	33mm	4mm thinner
Nikon 1 J1 Compare	234g	122g lighter	30mm	7mm thinner
Nikon 1 J5 Compare	231g	125g lighter	32mm	5mm thinner
Nikon W300 Compare	231g	125g lighter	29mm	8mm thinner
Olympus TG-5 Compare	250g	106g lighter	32mm	5mm thinner
Olympus E-PL7 Compare	357g	1g heavier	38mm	1mm thicker

Weather Sealing

Nikon 1 AW1 has environmental sealings (waterproof, shockproof).

Nikon 1 AW1 LCD

Nikon 1 AW1 has a Fixed Type 3" LCD screen with a resolution of 921k dots. Both the screen size and the screen resolution is up to the standards of this class.

1 AW1 doesn't have a viewfinder and no option for external viewfinder. Lack of a viewfinder can be problematic especially under strong light where visibility of LCD screens goes down dramatically. If you need a Mirrorless camera with a built-in viewfinder in a similar price range, consider Canon EOS M50 (Compare) or Sony Alpha A7 (Compare).
If the price is not an issue, take a look at our Top Rated Cameras with Viewfinders.

Nikon 1 AW1 Connectivity, Storage and Battery

You can connect 1 AW1 to compatible devices via its HDMI port or USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) port.

Battery

Nikon 1 AW1 is powered by battery which provides a shooting life of 220 according to CIPA standards. Considering that the average battery life of Mirrorless type cameras is 366 shots, Nikon 1 AW1 has a short battery life for its class so we strongly recommend 1 AW1 owners to buy some extra batteries.

Battery Life Comparison in Entry-Level Mirrorless Cameras

Nikon 1 AW1

Min

Average

Max

Samsung NX mini with its 650shots is the model with longest battery life among Entry-Level Mirrorless cameras. Check the comparison of Nikon 1 AW1 vs Samsung NX mini or take a look at Longest Battery Life Mirrorless cameras list.

Nikon 1 AW1 Features Compared to Main Competitors

Model	Max Video	Battery Life	Wi-fi	Bluetooth	NFC
Sony A6000 Compare	1920 x 1080	360shots	Yes	No	Yes
Olympus TG-6 Compare	3840 x 2160	340shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon 1 V3 Compare	1920 x 1080	310shots	Yes	No	No
Nikon 1 J1 Compare	1920 x 1080	230shots	No	No	No
Nikon 1 J5 Compare	3840 x 2160	250shots	Yes	No	Yes
Nikon W300 Compare	3840 x 2160	280shots	Yes	Yes	No
Olympus TG-5 Compare	3840 x 2160	340shots	Yes	No	No
Olympus E-PL7 Compare	1920 x 1080	350shots	Yes	No	No

Nikon 1 AW1 Video Features

With Nikon 1 AW1, you can record your videos at a highest resolution of 1920 x 1080 at 60i,30p fps and save in MPEG-4 and H.264 formats. Full HD resolution of Nikon 1 AW1 will be adequate in most of the situations. But if you are after the highest resolution videos available, see our list of Top Cameras with 4K (Ultra-HD) Video.

1 AW1 also a high speed mode where it captures videos at 1,200 fps for ultra slow motion videos. 1 AW1 has a built-in Stereo microphone and a Mono speaker.
Nikon 1 AW1 doesn't have any connections for external microphones and headphones. If you need a Mirrorless camera with external microphone connectivity, consider Canon EOS M50 or Sony Alpha A7 in a similar price range.

Nikon 1 AW1 Other Features

Max Shutter speed

Nikon 1 AW1 can shoot continuously at max speed of 60 fps and has max shutter speed of 1/4000 sec.

Flash

Unfortunately 1 AW1 doesn't have an external flash shoe so you are limited with the built-in flash.

Focusing

Nikon 1 AW1 features both Contrast Detection and Phase Detection autofocus (AF) systems which ensures speed and accuracy of focusing in most situations. The AF system has 135 points to choose from.

Nikon 1 AW1 also features Face detection AF where it intelligently detects the faces in the frame and locks the focus automatically.

What type of Photography is Nikon 1 AW1 Good for?

In this section, we review and score Nikon 1 AW1 in 5 different photography areas.

Nikon 1 AW1 for Portrait Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 has a score of 39 for Portrait Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Portrait We strongly recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Portrait Photography list and consider these alternatives over the1 AW1.

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 of how we scored Nikon 1 AW1 for Portrait Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 for Street Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 has a score of 54 for Street Photography which makes it an AVERAGE candidate for this type of photography. If Street is important for you, we recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Street Photography list.

Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Medium sized Body

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 AW1 for Street Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 for Sports Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 has a score of 71 for Sports Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Sports Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Sports Photography list.

Fast Continuous Shooting: 60.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
135 Focus Points

Average Ergonomics&Handling
Poor Battery Life: 220 shots
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Image Stabilization

Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 AW1 for Sports Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 for Daily Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 has a score of 64 for Daily Photography which makes it a GOOD candidate for this type of photography. If you are looking for a camera that is better suited to Daily Photography, we recommend you to check our Top 10 Mirrorless Cameras for Daily Photography list.

Environmental Sealings
Medium size Body

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
356g

Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 AW1 for Daily Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 for Landscape Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 has a score of 38 for Landscape Photography which makes it a POOR candidate for this type of photography. If Landscape We strongly recommend you to check our Top Mirrorless Cameras for Landscape Photography list and consider these alternatives over the1 AW1.

Live-view
Built-in GPS
Environmental Sealings

Average sized 1″ (13.2 x 8.8 mm) sensor
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP

Read the details of how we scored Nikon 1 AW1 for Landscape Photography

Nikon 1 AW1 Alternatives

In this section, we analyse how Nikon 1 AW1 compares with other Mirrorless cameras within a similar price range. In the Bubble chart below, you can see Overall Score vs Price comparison of 1 AW1 and the top 10 contenders in the same range. Hover your mouse on the bubbles to see the details of the cameras.

Read a more detailed analysis of Nikon 1 AW1 alternatives.

Popular Comparisons of Nikon 1 AW1

Here is the eight most popular comparisons of Nikon 1 AW1 amongst Camera Decision readers.

Sony A6000

Compare

Olympus TG-6

Compare

Nikon 1 V3

Compare

Nikon 1 J1

Compare

Nikon 1 J5

Compare

Nikon W300

Compare

Olympus TG-5

Compare

Olympus E-PL7

Compare

Nikon 1 AW1 Alternatives in DSLR Cameras

It would also be interesting to compare Nikon 1 AW1 with DSLR Cameras. Below we have listed 4 highest ranked DSLR cameras in Nikon 1 AW1's price range.

Pentax K-3

Compare

Pentax K-70

Compare

Nikon D7200

Compare

Sony A77

Compare

Canon SL3

Compare

Nikon D5500

Compare

Nikon D5600

Compare

Canon SL2

Compare

Frequently Asked Questions about Nikon 1 AW1

Does the Nikon 1 AW1 have Image Stabilization?
Does the Nikon 1 AW1 have RAW support?
Does the Nikon 1 AW1 have Weather Sealing?
Does the Nikon 1 AW1 have built-in GPS?
What is the Max ISO of Nikon 1 AW1?
What is the Sensor Size of Nikon 1 AW1?
is the Nikon 1 AW1 a Full Frame (FF) camera?
Does the Nikon 1 AW1 have Touch Screen?
Does the Nikon 1 AW1 have built-in Wireless?
What is the Max Continuous Shooting Speed (fps) of Nikon 1 AW1?

Nikon 1 AW1 Detailed Specifications

General
Brand	Nikon
Model	Nikon 1 AW1
Announced	2013-09-19
Body Type	Rangefinder-style mirrorless
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	Nikon 1
Number of Lenses	13
Focal Length Multiplier	2.7×
Macro Focus Range	n/a
Screen
Screen Type	Fixed Type
Screen Technology	TFT LCD
Screen Size	3"
Screen Resolution	921k dots
Live View
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None
Viewfinder Resolution	no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage	n/a
Viewfinder Magnification	n/a
Photography Features
Min Shutter Speed	30s
Max Mechanical Shutter Speed	1/4000s
Continuous Shooting	60.0 fps
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Exposure Compensation	Yes
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	5.00 m (at ISO 100)
Max Flash Sync	1/60s
Flash Modes	Fill flash, fill w/slow sync, rear curtain sync, rear w/slow sync, redeye reduction, redeye w/slow sync, off
External Flash
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Exposure Modes
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score	51
DxO Color Depth	20.2
DxO Dynamic Range	10.9
DxO Low Light ISO	428
	Report a correction

Sensor
Sensor Type	CMOS
Sensor Size	1"
Sensor Dimensions	13.2 x 8.8 mm
Sensor Area	116.16mm²
Sensor Resolution	14 megapixels
Max Image Resolution	4608 x 3072
Max Native ISO	6,400
Min Native ISO	160
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	135
Number of Cross Focus Points	Unknown
Video Features
Video Resolutions	1920 x 1080 (60i, 30p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 30p), 640 x 240 (400 fps), 320 x 120 (1200 fps)
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	Optional
HDMI
USB	USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Water Proof
Dust Proof
Shock Proof
Crush Proof
Freeze Proof
Weight	356g
Physical Dimensions	114 x 72 x 37mm
Battery Life	220 shots
Battery Type	Battery Pack
Battery Model	EN-EL20
Other Features
Self Timer	Yes (2, 5, 10 secs)
Timelapse Recording
GPS	BuiltIn
Storage Type	SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Storage Slots	1