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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix AW100 front
Portability
93
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 Key Specs

Canon SX280 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
  • Announced March 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX270 HS
Nikon AW100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 178g - 110 x 65 x 23mm
  • Revealed August 2011
  • Newer Model is Nikon AW110
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 Overview

Below is a thorough analysis of the Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a crucial difference between the resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and AW100 (16MP) but they use the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was brought out 20 months later than the AW100 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the SX280 HS grades against the AW100 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Nikon AW100

 SX280 HS AW100 
RevealedMarch 2013August 2011More recent by 20 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focusing
Screen resolution461k460kSharper screen (+1k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon AW100 over the Canon SX280 HS

 AW100 SX280 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Nikon AW100

 SX280 HS AW100 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch screen No Touch screen

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 Physical Comparison

If you are intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX280 HS has got outside dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) while the Nikon AW100 has dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with during that time. Here is the front view physical size comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the AW100.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the SX280 HS and AW100 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be tough to envision the gap between sensor measurements only by reading technical specs. The graphic here will help give you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the SX280 HS and AW100.

As you have seen, both of these cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should expect the Nikon AW100 to offer you more detail having its extra 4MP. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The fresher SX280 HS is going to have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon AW100 as a Portrait photography camera
34
manual focus
comes with face detect focusing
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography information
Nikon AW100 Street photography information
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (233g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
55
weather proofing
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography info
Nikon AW100 Sports photography info
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery life (210 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
33
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
weather proofing
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography highlights
Nikon AW100 Travel photography highlights
61
lighter than average (233g)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long reach (500mm)
no Time Lapse mode
low battery life (210 shots)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
67
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
pretty wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse function
does not feature selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon AW100 as a Landscape photography camera
41
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
low battery life (210 per charge)
no Time Lapse mode
41
pretty wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3 inch)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
does not have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging factors
Nikon AW100 Vlogging factors
34
pretty wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than average (233 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
29
pretty wide (28mm)
good video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.9)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
does not have microphone port
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon AW100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Nikon AW100
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSNikon Coolpix AW100
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Nikon Coolpix AW100
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Announced 2013-03-21 2011-08-24
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 -
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 12 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.9-4.8
Macro focus range 5cm -
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech - TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/3200 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 4.0 frames per second 3.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
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)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233 grams (0.51 lbs) 178 grams (0.39 lbs)
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 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 210 shots -
Battery form Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD / SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $325 $299