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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S front
Portability
62
Imaging
50
Features
82
Overall
62

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S Key Specs

Nikon AW120
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-120mm (F2.8-4.9) lens
  • 213g - 110 x 66 x 26mm
  • Released February 2014
  • Older Model is Nikon AW110
  • Successor is Nikon AW130
Panasonic GH5S
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 160 - 51200 (Bump to 204800)
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Maximum Shutter
  • 4096 x 2160 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 660g - 139 x 98 x 87mm
  • Launched January 2018
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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic GH5S, former is a Waterproof while the other is a Pro Mirrorless by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a large gap among the image resolutions of the AW120 (16MP) and GH5S (10MP) and the AW120 (1/2.3") and GH5S (Four Thirds) use different sensor measurements.

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The AW120 was released 4 years before the GH5S which is a fairly serious difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon AW120 being a Compact camera and the Panasonic GH5S being a SLR-style mirrorless camera.

Before getting in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise introduction of how the AW120 matches up vs the GH5S for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Panasonic GH5S

 AW120 GH5S 

Reasons to pick Panasonic GH5S over the Nikon AW120

 GH5S AW120 
LaunchedJanuary 2018February 2014Newer by 47 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing3.2"3"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution1620k921kCrisper display (+699k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic GH5S

 AW120 GH5S 

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S Physical Comparison

If you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you will want to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon AW120 offers outside measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") having a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Panasonic GH5S has dimensions of 139mm x 98mm x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Compare the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic GH5S in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at that moment. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the AW120 versus the GH5S.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the AW120 and GH5S is 92 and 62 respectively.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is tough to picture the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The picture below might give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the AW120 and GH5S.

All in all, both cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The AW120 due to its smaller sensor is going to make getting shallower DOF more challenging and the Nikon AW120 will render extra detail as a result of its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The more aged AW120 will be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S sensor size comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon AW120 Portrait photography information
Panasonic GH5S Portrait photography information
35
good MP (16 megapixels)
includes face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
62
you can focus manually
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with face detect focus
exports RAW formats
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon AW120
Street photography with Panasonic GH5S
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
68
screen articulates
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
exports RAW formats
provides focus via touch
weather proofing
great high ISO (51,200)
no image stabilization
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic GH5S as a Sports photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
includes tracking focus
environment proofing
good battery pack (350 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
56
maximum shutter speed is high (1/8,000s)
quiet mode (1/16,000s)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
comes with tracking focus
weather proofing
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW120 Travel photography advice
Panasonic GH5S Travel photography advice
69
good battery pack (350 per charge)
environment proofing
good MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
61
weather proofing
has bluetooth
provides focus via touch
selfie friendly screen
missing Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic GH5S as a Landscape photography camera
48
fairly wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good MP (16MP)
environment proofing
good battery pack (350 CIPA)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
no manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
missing Time Lapse function
63
you can focus manually
switch lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inches)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
no anti aliasing filter
great high ISO (51,200)
exports RAW formats
weather proofing
2 card slots
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon AW120 Vlogging factors
Panasonic GH5S Vlogging factors
33
fairly wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly display
missing mic socket
68
selfie friendly screen
has touchscreen
comes with face detect focus
high video quality (4096 x 2160 resolution)
does have microphone support
no image stabilization
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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic GH5S Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW120 and Panasonic GH5S
 Nikon Coolpix AW120Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix AW120 Panasonic Lumix DC-GH5S
Category Waterproof Pro Mirrorless
Released 2014-02-07 2018-01-08
Physical type Compact SLR-style mirrorless
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine 10
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3680 x 2760
Highest native ISO 6400 51200
Highest boosted ISO - 204800
Lowest native ISO 125 160
RAW format
Lowest boosted ISO - 80
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points - 225
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Total lenses - 107
Crop factor 5.8 2.1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display sizing 3 inches 3.2 inches
Resolution of display 921 thousand dots 1,620 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display tech OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 3,680 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.76x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Highest quiet shutter speed - 1/16000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 7.0 frames/s 12.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m no built-in flash
Flash settings - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Forced On/Red-eye Reduction, Slow Sync., Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 4096 x 2160 @ 60p / 150 Mbps, MOV, H.264, Linear PCM
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 4096x2160
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264, H.265
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 3.1
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 213g (0.47 lb) 660g (1.46 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") 139 x 98 x 87mm (5.5" x 3.9" x 3.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 life 350 photographs 440 photographs
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL12 DMW-BLF19
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 secs, 10 secs w/3 images)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD / SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC cards (UHS-II V60 cards supported)
Card slots Single Dual
Price at launch $350 $2,498