Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZR1

Its time to look more in depth at the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic ZR1, former is a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap among the image resolutions of the AW120 (16MP) and ZR1 (12MP) but both cameras boast the identical sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The AW120 was brought out 4 years after the ZR1 which is a fairly significant difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the AW120 grades versus the ZR1 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix AW120 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZR1. The entire galleries are available at Nikon AW120 Gallery & Panasonic ZR1 Gallery.

If you are planning to carry around your camera, you have to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon AW120 comes with physical measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") and a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs) while the Panasonic ZR1 has sizing of 98mm x 55mm x 26mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 1.0") along with a weight of 158 grams (0.35 lbs).

Check out the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic ZR1 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Below is a front view scale comparison of the AW120 versus the ZR1.

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the AW120 and ZR1 is 92 and 94 respectively.

More often than not, it can be difficult to imagine the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching a spec sheet. The image underneath will provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the AW120 and ZR1.

Clearly, the 2 cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can count on the Nikon AW120 to render more detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots a good deal more aggressively. The more modern AW120 provides a benefit in sensor tech.