Leica D-LUX 5 vs Nikon AW100

Here is a in-depth overview of the Leica D-LUX 5 versus Nikon AW100, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by competitors Leica and Nikon. There exists a sizable gap among the sensor resolutions of the D-LUX 5 (10MP) and AW100 (16MP) and the D-LUX 5 (1/1.63") and AW100 (1/2.3") provide totally different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The D-LUX 5 was introduced 11 months before the AW100 which means that they are both of a similar age. The two cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a detailed comparison, here is a simple view of how the D-LUX 5 scores vs the AW100 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

This is a preview of the gallery images for Leica D-LUX 5 & Nikon Coolpix AW100. The whole galleries are viewable at Leica D-LUX 5 Gallery & Nikon AW100 Gallery.

In case you're aiming to carry your camera often, you will need to consider its weight and dimensions. The Leica D-LUX 5 comes with physical measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 43mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.7") with a weight of 271 grams (0.60 lbs) while the Nikon AW100 has dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9") accompanied by a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Take a look at the Leica D-LUX 5 versus Nikon AW100 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at the time. Underneath is a front view over all size comparison of the D-LUX 5 compared to the AW100.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the D-LUX 5 and AW100 is 88 and 93 respectively.

Sometimes, its difficult to see the difference in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The graphic below may offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the D-LUX 5 and AW100.

As you have seen, both of the cameras feature different megapixel count and different sensor sizing. The D-LUX 5 having a bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF simpler and the Nikon AW100 will provide greater detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop pictures way more aggressively. The older D-LUX 5 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.