Clicky

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX270 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix AW100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
38
Features
28
Overall
34

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 Key Specs

Canon SX270 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Revealed March 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX260 HS
  • Replacement is Canon SX280 HS
Nikon AW100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 178g - 110 x 65 x 23mm
  • Launched August 2011
  • Newer Model is Nikon AW110
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 Overview

The following is a in-depth review of the Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Canon and Nikon. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the SX270 HS (12MP) and AW100 (16MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Mastering Nature Photography with a Digital Microscope Camera

The SX270 HS was revealed 20 months after the AW100 making the cameras a generation away from one another. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX270 HS scores against the AW100 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

        

Reasons to pick Canon SX270 HS over the Nikon AW100

 SX270 HS AW100 
LaunchedMarch 2013August 2011Newer by 20 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Display resolution461k460kCrisper display (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon AW100 over the Canon SX270 HS

 AW100 SX270 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX270 HS and Nikon AW100

 SX270 HS AW100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display measurements
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display No Touch friendly display

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to travel with your camera, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Canon SX270 HS features external measurements of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Nikon AW100 has sizing of 110mm x 65mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have at that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the SX270 HS and the AW100.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX270 HS and AW100 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its tough to visualise the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over specs. The pic below might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the SX270 HS and AW100.

As you can plainly see, both of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Nikon AW100 to offer you extra detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more modern SX270 HS is going to have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Portrait photography advice
Nikon AW100 Portrait photography advice
34
you can focus manually
provides face detection focusing
no external flash support
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
29
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Street Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Street photography camera
Nikon AW100 as a Street photography camera
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
no moving screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
54
weather proof
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Canon SX270 HS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon AW100 as a Sports photography camera
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames/s)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
doesn't have phase detect AF
33
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
continuous shooting slow (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Travel photography advice
Nikon AW100 Travel photography advice
61
lighter than competition in class (233g)
has built in flash
quite wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse recording
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
megapixel count low (12MP)
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
67
weather proof
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX270 HS
Landscape photography with Nikon AW100
41
you can focus manually
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
megapixel count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery pack (210 CIPA)
no Time Lapse recording
41
pretty wide (28mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proof
no manual focus
cannot switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual exposure
no image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX270 HS Vlogging details
Nikon AW100 Vlogging details
34
quite wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (233 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
no external mic support
29
pretty wide (28mm)
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
missing external mic socket
Photography Glossary

Canon SX270 HS vs Nikon AW100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX270 HS and Nikon AW100
 Canon PowerShot SX270 HSNikon Coolpix AW100
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX270 HS Nikon Coolpix AW100
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Revealed 2013-03-21 2011-08-24
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 -
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Min native ISO 100 125
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.9-4.8
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen technology - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 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 (60, 30 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720 (60 fps),640 x 480 (120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233g (0.51 lb) 178g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 110 x 65 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 210 photos -
Form of battery 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 Single Single
Price at launch $284 $299