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Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
44
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX260 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 Key Specs

Canon SX260 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 231g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed June 2012
  • Succeeded the Canon SX240 HS
  • Successor is Canon SX270 HS
Nikon AW120
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 213g - 110 x 66 x 26mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Previous Model is Nikon AW110
  • Later Model is Nikon AW130
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Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 Overview

Let's examine more closely at the Canon SX260 HS versus Nikon AW120, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Waterproof by brands Canon and Nikon. There is a noticeable difference between the resolutions of the SX260 HS (12MP) and AW120 (16MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The SX260 HS was announced 20 months earlier than the AW120 which makes the cameras a generation away from each other. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a full comparison, below is a concise view of how the SX260 HS matches up vs the AW120 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX260 HS over the Nikon AW120

 SX260 HS AW120 
Focus manually Very exact focus

Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Canon SX260 HS

 AW120 SX260 HS 
ReleasedFebruary 2014June 2012Newer by 20 months
Screen resolution921k461kClearer screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX260 HS and Nikon AW120

 SX260 HS AW120 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera often, you should factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX260 HS has got physical dimensions of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 231 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Nikon AW120 has specifications of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs).

See the Canon SX260 HS versus Nikon AW120 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the SX260 HS vs the AW120.

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the SX260 HS and AW120 is 91 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 Sensor Comparison

Often, its tough to visualize the gap between sensor dimensions just by checking specs. The image below may provide you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX260 HS and AW120.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Nikon AW120 to give extra detail with its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged SX260 HS is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 sensor size comparison

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX260 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon AW120 as a Portrait photography camera
37
has manual focus
comes with face detection focus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
35
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Street photography features
Nikon AW120 Street photography features
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (231 grams)
no moving screen
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proof
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX260 HS
Sports photography with Nikon AW120
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (230 per charge)
does not have phase detect auto focus
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
environment proof
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Travel photography features
Nikon AW120 Travel photography features
61
lighter than average (231g)
built-in flash
pretty wide (25mm)
long reach (500mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
bad battery life (230 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
69
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
environment proof
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
pretty wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX260 HS Landscape photography features
Nikon AW120 Landscape photography features
41
has manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
bad battery life (230 CIPA)
lack of Timelapse mode
48
pretty wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
environment proof
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon SX260 HS
Vlogging with Nikon AW120
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (231 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
33
pretty wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of microphone support
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Canon SX260 HS vs Nikon AW120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX260 HS and Nikon AW120
 Canon PowerShot SX260 HSNikon Coolpix AW120
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX260 HS Nikon Coolpix AW120
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Revealed 2012-06-04 2014-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 5 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Highest Possible resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 3200 6400
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Max aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/2.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 461k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen tech PureColor II TFT LCD OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 2.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m 5.20 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 231g (0.51 pounds) 213g (0.47 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 shots 350 shots
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-6L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD / SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $349 $350