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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8 front
Portability
94
Imaging
40
Features
31
Overall
36

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Key Specs

Nikon AW120
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • 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
  • Replaced the Nikon AW110
  • Later Model is Nikon AW130
Panasonic SZ8
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-288mm (F3.1-6.3) lens
  • 159g - 100 x 60 x 27mm
  • Introduced January 2014
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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon AW120 versus Panasonic SZ8, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the AW120 (16MP) and the SZ8 (16MP) is pretty similar and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The AW120 was unveiled 2 months after the SZ8 so they are of a similar age. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a complete comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the AW120 grades vs the SZ8 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Panasonic SZ8

 AW120 SZ8 
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ8 over the Nikon AW120

 SZ8 AW120 

Common features in the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic SZ8

 AW120 SZ8 
IntroducedFebruary 2014January 2014Similar age
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to travel with your camera frequently, you should factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon AW120 offers physical measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Panasonic SZ8 has measurements of 100mm x 60mm x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 159 grams (0.35 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon AW120 versus Panasonic SZ8 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. Below is the front view physical size comparison of the AW120 versus the SZ8.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the AW120 and SZ8 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions purely by going over technical specs. The picture here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the AW120 and SZ8.

As you can tell, the two cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the identical megapixels so you can expect similar quality of images although you should take the age of the products into consideration.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 sensor size comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon AW120 Portrait photography factors
Panasonic SZ8 Portrait photography factors
35
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
35
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
has face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW120 Street photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Street photography information
62
built in image stabilization (Optical)
weather sealing
screen is fixed
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
63
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others in class (159g)
screen is fixed
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW120 Sports photography features
Panasonic SZ8 Sports photography features
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes tracking autofocus
weather sealing
good battery (350 shots)
no shutter priority
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery life (200 shots)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW120 Travel photography information
Panasonic SZ8 Travel photography information
69
good battery (350 shots)
weather sealing
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
rather wide (24mm)
missing Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
67
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
MP count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
rather wide (24mm)
great zoom (288mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery life (200 shots)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic SZ8 as a Landscape photography camera
48
rather wide (24mm)
screen size is decent (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
weather sealing
good battery (350 CIPA)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
missing Timelapse recording
42
rather wide (24mm)
decent sized screen (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
terrible battery life (200 CIPA)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon AW120
Vlogging with Panasonic SZ8
33
rather wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external microphone port
32
rather wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect focusing
lighter than others in class (159 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low res video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing mic port
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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic SZ8 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW120 and Panasonic SZ8
 Nikon Coolpix AW120Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix AW120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ8
Class Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2014-02-07 2014-01-06
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Venus Engine
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 surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Max enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-120mm (5.0x) 24-288mm (12.0x)
Maximum aperture f/2.8-4.9 f/3.1-6.3
Macro focus range 1cm -
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen technology OLED monitor TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 8 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.0fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.20 m 5.20 m
Flash modes - Auto, Auto/Red-eye Reduction, Forced On, Slow Sync./Red-eye Reduction, Forced Off
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p), 320 x 240 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic jack
Headphone jack
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
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 213g (0.47 lbs) 159g (0.35 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") 100 x 60 x 27mm (3.9" x 2.4" x 1.1")
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 shots 200 shots
Style of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery model EN-EL12 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Cost at release $350 $275