Nikon 1 AW1 vs Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV: A Detailed Comparison for Every Photographer

Choosing the right mirrorless camera can feel overwhelming, especially with options as varied as the Nikon 1 AW1 and the Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV. Each offers unique features aimed at different photographic needs and styles. Drawing on extensive hands-on testing experience and industry knowledge, we’ll explore these cameras across technical specs, real-world performance, and versatility. Whether you’re an outdoor adventurer, a casual snapshooter, or an aspiring pro, this comparison will help you find your perfect match.

Size and ergonomics: Nikon 1 AW1 (left) stands out for compact ruggedness; Olympus E-M10 IV (right) offers classic SLR-style grip.

First Impressions: Design and Handling

Nikon 1 AW1: The Rugged Pioneer

Announced in 2013, Nikon’s 1 AW1 broke ground as the first waterproof mirrorless camera with interchangeable lenses. Its rangefinder-style body is compact and surprisingly chunky at 114 x 72 x 37 mm but weighs only 356 g. The camera’s design focuses on durability, featuring waterproofing (down to 15m), shockproofing, and freeze resistance. You can confidently take it snorkeling, hiking in wet conditions, or into rugged environments without extra protection.
However, the absence of an electronic viewfinder means framing must rely solely on its fixed 3-inch TFT LCD, which isn’t touch-enabled. For photographers used to composing through a viewfinder, this takes some adjustment.

Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV: Classic Style Meets Modern Convenience

Released in 2020, the Olympus E-M10 IV sports a compact, yet traditionally styled SLR-like body. At 122 x 84 x 49 mm and 383 g, it sits comfortably in your hands, with a pronounced grip and a fully articulating 3-inch touchscreen LCD. The camera includes a high-resolution electronic viewfinder (2.36 million dots) covering 100% of your frame, aiding precise composition in bright outdoor settings.
While lacking weather sealing, the E-M10 IV’s design prioritizes ease of use and accessibility, making it a versatile tool for travel and everyday photography.

Ergonomics and Controls – What’s at Your Fingertips?

The AW1’s top layout is minimalist, focusing on ruggedness over tactile controls. Olympus’s E-M10 IV offers a more refined control scheme, with well-placed dials, a dedicated rear joystick, touchscreen AF, and customizable buttons. This invites quicker manual adjustments and a smoother learning curve for those who appreciate direct access to settings.

Under the Hood: Sensor and Image Quality Comparison

Sensor Specifications in a Nutshell

From a technical standpoint, sensor size and resolution heavily influence image quality. The Olympus E-M10 IV’s larger Four Thirds sensor (nearly double the area of Nikon’s 1”) delivers improved light gathering and lower noise at high ISO. The increased resolution of 20MP versus 14MP gives you more detail - important for landscape, portrait, and print work.

The Nikon 1 AW1’s smaller 1" sensor was advanced for its time but today is closer to compact camera quality than entry-level mirrorless standards. DXOmark scores reinforce this, with Nikon’s overall score at 51, showing good color depth (20.2 bits) and dynamic range (10.9 EV), but middling low-light ability (ISO 428 equivalent). Olympus’s sensor isn’t officially DXO tested but is widely recognized for better noise control and dynamic range due to its larger silicon surface.

Practically, this means Olympus produces cleaner images, especially under dim indoor or evening conditions, while Nikon’s files may show noise stepping up at ISO 800 and beyond.

Seeing Your Shot: Displays and Viewfinders

The Nikon 1 AW1 relies solely on its 3-inch fixed TFT LCD with 921K dots. Though bright enough for most daylight photography, the lack of touchscreen and no electronic viewfinder are drawbacks for precise framing and menu navigation.

Conversely, the E-M10 IV elevates usability with a 3-inch tilting touchscreen (1040K dots) and a sharp EVF (2.36M dots) that lets you preview exposure and settings in real time. For street photographers and those who prefer eye-level shooting, the Olympus model vastly improves composition confidence.

Autofocus and Burst Performance: Catching the Perfect Moment

Autofocus Systems Compared

The Nikon 1 AW1’s 135-point hybrid AF system uses both phase and contrast detection, resulting in quick and accurate autofocus for its sensor class, especially outdoors with strong contrast. It achieves a blazing 60 fps continuous shooting speed with AF tracking - an exceptional feat, ideal for very fast action or wildlife photography requiring numerous frames to capture fleeting moments.

Olympus’s E-M10 IV relies fully on contrast-detection AF but employs advanced algorithms and on-sensor phase detection that provide snappy focus performance in most scenarios, though perhaps not quite matching Nikon’s speed burst. Continuous shooting is capped at 8.7 fps - considerably slower but still ample for sports and casual action shots.

For your workflow, if you seek incredibly fast burst shooting in a compact package, Nikon 1 AW1 shines; the Olympus delivers more balanced autofocus features focusing on accuracy and flexibility.

Durability and Environmental Resistance

If you venture into harsh environments, Nikon’s AW1 is purpose-built for ruggedness:

• Waterproof to 15 meters without housing
• Shockproof against 2-meter drops
• Freezeproof down to -10°C
• Dust protection (limited)

Olympus E-M10 IV, however, lacks any official weather sealing. Using it outdoors demands caution, especially in rain or dusty terrain. This is a critical consideration depending on your photography outings.

Image Stabilization and Lens Options

Image Stabilization: A Key Difference

Olympus integrates a 5-axis in-body image stabilization (IBIS) system, providing up to 4-5 stops of shake correction, making handheld low-light and video shooting smoother. This is a significant advantage for travel, macro, and night photography where tripod use is inconvenient.

The Nikon 1 AW1 does not have IBIS or in-lens stabilization, relying on fast shutter speeds and possibly stabilized lenses. This can require strict shooting technique or added gear to compensate for shake.

Lens Ecosystem and Flexibility

Olympus’s Micro Four Thirds mount offers an expansive lens ecosystem with over 100 native lenses from Olympus, Panasonic, Sigma, Tamron, and others. This includes outstanding zooms, primes, macro, and specialty optics.

Nikon 1 lenses, far fewer in number and limited in variety, restrict your creative options. Their 2.7x tele conversion factor also means standard primes yield tighter framing, less suited to wide-angle work compared to Olympus’s 2x crop factor system.

Video Capabilities: Creative Expression Beyond Stills

The Nikon 1 AW1 supports Full HD (1080p) video at 30p/60i and 720p at 30p/60p. It also includes super slow-motion capture options up to 1200 fps at very low resolution. However, video features are basic - no 4K, no external mic input, and no headphone port. Lack of IBIS makes handheld video shakier.

Olympus E-M10 IV significantly advances with true 4K UHD recording at 30/25/24 fps and Full HD 60p. IBIS benefits handheld shooting, while the touchscreen interface simplifies focus tracking and framing. However, the lack of microphone and headphone jacks limits serious videography.

If video is important, Olympus E-M10 IV clearly has more to offer for casual to intermediate video content.

Battery Life and Storage: Practical Matters

Nikon 1 AW1 uses the EN-EL20 battery with approx. 220 shots per charge, which is on the low side for extended days shooting. Storage is via a single SD card slot (SDHC/SDXC), which is standard but not speedy.

Olympus E-M10 IV’s BLS-50 battery provides approximately 360 shots (based on CIPA) - about 60% more capacity, easing worries on longer trips. It also supports high-speed UHS-II cards, contributing to fast write speeds during burst or 4K video capture.

Connectivity and Extra Features

Olympus E-M10 IV stands out with built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, enabling easy image transfer and remote control via smartphone apps. The Nikon 1 AW1’s wireless is only optional via accessories, limiting spontaneous sharing and curation.

Olympus also includes built-in timelapse recording; the Nikon does not. GPS is built-in on Nikon, useful for geotagging adventures - a handy feature for outdoor enthusiasts.

Practical Performance Across Photography Genres

Portrait Photography

• Olympus E-M10 IV: Superior skin tone reproduction, richer color depth, and smooth bokeh from the larger sensor and access to fast lenses make it the better choice for portraits. Face detection and eye autofocus work well to keep subjects sharp.
• Nikon 1 AW1: Smaller sensor struggles with background separation; bokeh is less creamy. Face detection is present but less refined.

Landscape Photography

• Olympus’s higher resolution, wider dynamic range, and extensive lens choices (including ultra-wide primes) allow detailed, vibrant landscape shots. The lack of weather sealing needs care in wet conditions.
• Nikon’s ruggedness is an asset in harsh environments, but the smaller sensor and limited lenses reduce image quality potential.

Wildlife and Sports

• Nikon excels with ultrafast 60 fps burst and hybrid AF - ideal for rapid action. However, limited lens reach and smaller sensor limit image quality and telephoto reach.
• Olympus offers slower burst and contrast AF, but excellent stabilization and broader lens selection better suit casual wildlife and sports shooters focused on quality.

Street Photography

• Olympus’s small form factor, EVF, tilting touchscreen, and quiet shutter make it well-suited for discreet street shooting.
• Nikon’s ruggedness is less relevant here, and lack of EVF is a hindrance.

Macro Photography

• Olympus’s lens lineup includes great macro options and IBIS aids focus precision.
• Nikon’s lack of stabilization and fewer macro lenses limit its utility for close-ups.

Night and Astrophotography

• Olympus’s better noise handling at high ISOs and longer exposure support make it preferable for night scenes and star fields.
• Nikon’s novelty waterproof design is cool, but higher noise and lower max ISO make it less suited for dark conditions.

Video and Vlogging

• Olympus delivers 4K video, better stabilization, and user-friendly touchscreen controls; perfect for content creators on the go.
• Nikon is limited to Full HD and slow motion but lacks audio connectivity and stabilization.

Travel Photography

• Olympus balances performance and flexibility with good battery life; lack of weather sealing requires care.
• Nikon is built for adventure travel thanks to waterproofing and shock resistance but with compromises in image quality and features.

Professional Use

• Olympus integrates well into workflows with RAW support, UHS-II cards, and customizable controls.
• Nikon 1 AW1 is better for specialized rugged scenarios but lacks many professional-grade options.

Nikon 1 AW1 screen back Olympus E M10 IV front Olympus E M10 IV screen back

Summarizing Critical Strengths and Weaknesses

Who Should Pick Which?

Choose Nikon 1 AW1 if:

• You regularly shoot in extreme environments without additional housing.
• You prioritize durability and shockproof, waterproof design over image quality.
• You want extremely fast burst shooting (60 fps) for fleeting action without heavy telephotos.
• You need built-in GPS for geotagging outdoor adventures.
• You are experimenting with ultra slow-motion video modes at low resolution.

Choose Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV if:

• You want better image quality, richer colors, and higher resolution output.
• You value a versatile lens lineup with access to high-quality optics for all genres.
• You need IBIS and 4K video for stable handheld shooting or creative video projects.
• You prefer an EVF and articulating touchscreen for flexible framing.
• You want an all-around mirrorless camera that covers portraits, landscapes, street, macro, and travel efficiently.
• You seek good battery life and wireless connectivity for modern workflows.

Final Thoughts: Matching Your Creative Path

Your camera choice should support your creative goals and shooting style. The Nikon 1 AW1 is a niche-American rugged system still charming as a tough companion for outdoor sports photographers and adventurous hobbyists. But its smaller sensor, limited lenses, and dated UI mean compromises.

The Olympus OM-D E-M10 IV appeals to the broader enthusiast: an accessible but powerful platform that grows with you, backed by a rich lens ecosystem and strong image quality. Its less durable body demands care, but in most practical scenarios offers superior versatility.

We encourage photographers considering either model to handle them in person if possible. Feel the ergonomics, test autofocus speed, and examine image quality across your favorite shooting styles. Pair your choice with lenses tailored to your interests - whether wide-angle for landscapes, fast primes for portraiture, or telephotos for wildlife.

Get started by exploring popular lenses for each mount, and consider any additional accessories like protective gear for the AW1 or extra batteries for the Olympus.

With these insights and side-by-side analysis, you’re well-equipped to make a confident choice that inspires your photographic journey.

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