Nikon 1 AW1 vs Sony NEX-7

Let's look more closely at the Nikon 1 AW1 versus Sony NEX-7, one being a Entry-Level Mirrorless and the other is a Advanced Mirrorless by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There exists a huge gap between the image resolutions of the 1 AW1 (14MP) and NEX-7 (24MP) and the 1 AW1 (1") and NEX-7 (APS-C) have totally different sensor sizing.

Photography Glossary

The 1 AW1 was introduced 22 months later than the NEX-7 making them a generation apart from one another. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Rangefinder-style mirrorless).

Before getting right into a full comparison, here is a brief introduction of how the 1 AW1 matches up versus the NEX-7 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

Here is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon 1 AW1 and Sony Alpha NEX-7. The whole galleries are viewable at Nikon 1 AW1 Gallery and Sony NEX-7 Gallery.

When you are planning to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and size. The Nikon 1 AW1 comes with physical measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 37mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.5") accompanied by a weight of 356 grams (0.78 lbs) and the Sony NEX-7 has specifications of 120mm x 67mm x 43mm (4.7" x 2.6" x 1.7") and a weight of 400 grams (0.88 lbs).

See the Nikon 1 AW1 versus Sony NEX-7 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with at the time. Below is a front view sizing comparison of the 1 AW1 against the NEX-7.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the 1 AW1 and NEX-7 is 86 and 84 respectively.

Normally, it's tough to visualise the contrast between sensor measurements purely by looking at specs. The graphic underneath should provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the 1 AW1 and NEX-7.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras provide different megapixels and different sensor measurements. The 1 AW1 using its tinier sensor will make achieving shallower DOF harder and the Sony NEX-7 will resolve greater detail using its extra 10 Megapixels. Greater resolution will let you crop images more aggressively. The younger 1 AW1 will have an edge when it comes to sensor tech.