Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic ZS1

In this write-up, we will be analyzing the Nikon AW100 and Panasonic ZS1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a significant gap between the resolutions of the AW100 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the AW100 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") feature different sensor dimensions.

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The AW100 was brought out 2 years after the ZS1 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief overview of how the AW100 grades vs the ZS1 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix AW100 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1. The entire galleries are available at Nikon AW100 Gallery and Panasonic ZS1 Gallery.

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you should consider its weight and size. The Nikon AW100 offers physical dimensions of 110mm x 65mm x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS1 has specifications of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

See the Nikon AW100 and Panasonic ZS1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at the time. Below is the front view over all size comparison of the AW100 vs the ZS1.

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the AW100 and ZS1 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Typically, it can be difficult to picture the contrast between sensor dimensions merely by reading specifications. The image below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the AW100 and ZS1.

To sum up, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The AW100 featuring a bigger sensor is going to make getting shallow DOF simpler and the Nikon AW100 will deliver greater detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures a little more aggressively. The newer AW100 provides an edge with regard to sensor technology.