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Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500

Portability
93
Imaging
39
Features
28
Overall
34
Nikon Coolpix AW100 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 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
  • Announced August 2011
  • Successor is Nikon AW110
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released April 2015
  • Replaced the Sony WX350
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Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 Overview

Following is a thorough comparison of the Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the AW100 (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is relatively close and both cameras offer the identical sensor size (1/2.3").

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The AW100 was launched 4 years before the WX500 which is a fairly significant gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a comprehensive comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the AW100 grades against the WX500 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW100 over the Sony WX500

 AW100 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Nikon AW100

 WX500 AW100 
ReleasedApril 2015August 2011More modern by 44 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kSharper screen (+461k dot)

Common features in the Nikon AW100 and Sony WX500

 AW100 WX500 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen size3"3"Same screen size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

If you're intending to carry around your camera, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon AW100 features physical measurements 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 Sony WX500 has dimensions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Check out the Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you choose at the time. Here is a front view dimensions comparison of the AW100 vs the WX500.

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the AW100 and WX500 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to see the gap in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the AW100 and WX500.

As you can plainly see, both of those cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Sony WX500 to result in more detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged AW100 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon AW100 Portrait photography advice
Sony WX500 Portrait photography advice
30
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
39
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
no manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW100 Street photography advice
Sony WX500 Street photography advice
55
weather proofing
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
69
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competitors (236 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon AW100
Sports photography with Sony WX500
33
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
painfully slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has tracking focus
good battery (360 per charge)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon AW100
Travel photography with Sony WX500
67
weather proofing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
really wide (28mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
71
good battery (360 CIPA)
lighter than competitors (236g)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
display isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW100 Landscape photography highlights
Sony WX500 Landscape photography highlights
41
really wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
decently wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
good battery (360 shots)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon AW100 Vlogging advice
Sony WX500 Vlogging advice
29
really wide (28mm)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.9)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
does not have external mic jack
35
decently wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competitors (236g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display isn't selfie friendly
does not have mic jack
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Nikon AW100 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW100 and Sony WX500
 Nikon Coolpix AW100Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix AW100 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Category Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-08-24 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 3200 12800
Lowest native ISO 125 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.9-4.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range - 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 460k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080, 1280 x 720 (60 fps),640 x 480 (120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 178 grams (0.39 lb) 236 grams (0.52 lb)
Physical dimensions 110 x 65 x 23mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 0.9") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life - 360 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 NP-BX1
Self timer - Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $299 $348