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Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120

Portability
81
Imaging
41
Features
31
Overall
37
Canon PowerShot SX400 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 Key Specs

Canon SX400 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 313g - 104 x 69 x 80mm
  • Released July 2014
Nikon AW120
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 213g - 110 x 66 x 26mm
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Older Model is Nikon AW110
  • New Model is Nikon AW130
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Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 Overview

Let's look a little more in depth at the Canon SX400 IS and Nikon AW120, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Waterproof by companies Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SX400 IS (16MP) and the AW120 (16MP) is fairly close and both cameras posses the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX400 IS was introduced 6 months later than the AW120 so they are both of a similar age. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a in depth comparison, here is a concise synopsis of how the SX400 IS grades versus the AW120 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX400 IS over the Nikon AW120

 SX400 IS AW120 

Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Canon SX400 IS

 AW120 SX400 IS 
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX400 IS and Nikon AW120

 SX400 IS AW120 
IntroducedJuly 2014February 2014Same age
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and measurements. The Canon SX400 IS features physical dimensions of 104mm x 69mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") having a weight of 313 grams (0.69 lbs) and the Nikon AW120 has proportions of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") along with a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX400 IS and Nikon AW120 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the SX400 IS and the AW120.

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the SX400 IS and AW120 is 81 and 92 respectively.

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing only by researching specifications. The graphic underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX400 IS and AW120.

Plainly, both of those cameras have the same sensor dimensions and the same exact MP so you can expect comparable quality of files but you will want to take the launch date of the cameras into account.

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 sensor size comparison

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Portrait photography information
Nikon AW120 Portrait photography information
36
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
35
good MP (16MP)
has face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no manual control
cannot use external flash
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Street photography information
Nikon AW120 Street photography information
52
image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
screen does not articulate
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Sports photography factors
Nikon AW120 Sports photography factors
42
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
features tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (190 per charge)
lack of phase detect autofocus
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
has tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (350 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Canon SX400 IS
Travel photography with Nikon AW120
60
megapixel count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
missing Time Lapse function
low battery power (190 shots)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
69
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
weather sealing
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse mode
does not offer selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX400 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon AW120 as a Landscape photography camera
41
really wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
low battery power (190 per charge)
missing Time Lapse function
48
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (350 shots)
manual focus not available
cannot change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
no manual control
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX400 IS Vlogging advice
Nikon AW120 Vlogging advice
28
really wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection autofocus
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
missing external mic support
33
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
good video quality (1920 x 1080 resolution)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not offer selfie friendly display
no external mic socket
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Canon SX400 IS vs Nikon AW120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX400 IS and Nikon AW120
 Canon PowerShot SX400 ISNikon Coolpix AW120
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX400 IS Nikon Coolpix AW120
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Waterproof
Released 2014-07-29 2014-02-07
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4+ -
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Highest native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 24-120mm (5.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/2.8-4.9
Macro focus distance 0cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - OLED monitor
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/1600 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 1.0fps 7.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 5.00 m 5.20 m
Flash options Auto, on, off, slow synchro -
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 313 grams (0.69 pounds) 213 grams (0.47 pounds)
Physical dimensions 104 x 69 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.7" x 3.1") 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 190 images 350 images
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model NB-11LH EN-EL12
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) -
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD / SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Cost at release $229 $350