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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
37
Features
34
Overall
35

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Previous Model is Nikon AW110
  • Later Model is Nikon AW130
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Released July 2012
Photography Glossary

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

Lets look closer at the Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5, one being a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The sensor resolution of the AW120 (16MP) and the SZ5 (14MP) is very comparable and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The AW120 was launched 19 months later than the SZ5 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a in depth comparison, below is a simple summary of how the AW120 matches up against the SZ5 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Panasonic SZ5

 AW120 SZ5 
ReleasedFebruary 2014July 2012More recent by 19 months
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Nikon AW120

 SZ5 AW120 

Common features in the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic SZ5

 AW120 SZ5 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

If you are going to lug around your camera, you will need to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon AW120 comes with external dimensions 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 SZ5 has sizing of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you have during that time. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the AW120 vs the SZ5.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the AW120 and SZ5 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very tough to imagine the difference in sensor measurements simply by seeing specifications. The graphic below may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the AW120 and SZ5.

Plainly, both of those cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should expect to see the Nikon AW120 to produce extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will enable you to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more recent AW120 provides an edge in sensor tech.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon AW120
Portrait photography with Panasonic SZ5
35
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detection focus
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
can't use external flash
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
33
megapixel count good (14MP)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (136g)
fixed screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Sports photography camera
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (350 per charge)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
39
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
slow fps (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW120 Travel photography factors
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography factors
69
better than average battery pack (350 shots)
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
70
lighter than competition (136g)
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
long zoom (250mm)
missing Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon AW120
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
48
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
weather sealing
better than average battery pack (350 shots)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual exposure not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
42
relatively wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count good (14MP)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon AW120 Vlogging features
Panasonic SZ5 Vlogging features
33
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
does not have a selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external mic socket
32
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition (136g)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly display
video resolution low (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone jack
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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW120 and Panasonic SZ5
 Nikon Coolpix AW120Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix AW120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Compact
Released 2014-02-07 2012-07-18
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW images
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
Number of focus points - 23
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.9 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display tech OLED monitor TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 8s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/1600s
Continuous shutter speed 7.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.20 m 5.60 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 213 grams (0.47 lbs) 136 grams (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 350 photographs 250 photographs
Form of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Pricing at release $350 $195