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Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20

Portability
93
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34
Nikon Coolpix AW100 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20 front
Portability
93
Imaging
37
Features
21
Overall
30

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 Key Specs

Nikon AW100
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-4.8) lens
  • 178g - 110 x 65 x 23mm
  • Introduced August 2011
  • Successor is Nikon AW110
Panasonic FH20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 100 x 56 x 28mm
  • Revealed January 2010
  • Additionally Known as Lumix DMC-FS30
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Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 Overview

In this article, we will be looking at the Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the AW100 (16MP) and the FH20 (14MP) is pretty comparable and they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The AW100 was released 20 months later than the FH20 which makes the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a short summation of how the AW100 scores against the FH20 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW100 over the Panasonic FH20

 AW100 FH20 
RevealedAugust 2011January 2010Fresher by 20 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH20 over the Nikon AW100

 FH20 AW100 

Common features in the Nikon AW100 and Panasonic FH20

 AW100 FH20 
Manual focus No manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Missing selfie screen
Touch screen Neither features Touch screen

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera often, you will have to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon AW100 enjoys exterior dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9") with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) while the Panasonic FH20 has measurements of 100mm x 56mm x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1") along with a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Examine the Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are utilizing at the time. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the AW100 and the FH20.

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the AW100 and FH20 is 93 and 93 respectively.

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to envision the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out technical specs. The visual underneath may give you a better sense of the sensor sizes in the AW100 and FH20.

As you can tell, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You can expect the Nikon AW100 to produce more detail as a result of its extra 2MP. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop pictures far more aggressively. The newer AW100 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 sensor size comparison

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon AW100
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH20
30
good MP (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
28
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW100 Street photography factors
Panasonic FH20 Street photography factors
55
weather sealing
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW100 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Sports photography camera
33
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
35
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
slow fps (5.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW100 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FH20 as a Travel photography camera
67
weather sealing
good MP (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (28mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
64
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Time Lapse recording
does not contain selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW100 Landscape photography highlights
Panasonic FH20 Landscape photography highlights
41
decently wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
good MP (16MP)
weather sealing
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
missing Time Lapse function
37
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
manual exposure not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon AW100 Vlogging advice
Panasonic FH20 Vlogging advice
29
decently wide (28mm)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
does not contain selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
missing external mic jack
28
fairly wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.3)
does not contain selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic jack
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Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic FH20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW100 and Panasonic FH20
 Nikon Coolpix AW100Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix AW100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH20
Alternative name - Lumix DMC-FS30
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-08-24 2010-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 3200 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 28-224mm (8.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.9-4.8 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focusing distance - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of display 460k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter speed 3.0 frames per second 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.80 m (Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720 (60 fps),640 x 480 (120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 178 grams (0.39 lb) 178 grams (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 65 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9") 100 x 56 x 28mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID EN-EL12 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at release $299 $179