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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1 front
Portability
91
Imaging
33
Features
25
Overall
29

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 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
  • Announced February 2014
  • Earlier Model is Nikon AW110
  • Replacement is Nikon AW130
Panasonic ZS1
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.5" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-300mm (F3.3-4.9) lens
  • 229g - 103 x 60 x 33mm
  • Introduced May 2009
  • Alternative Name is Lumix DMC-TZ6
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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Overview

Following is a in depth analysis of the Nikon AW120 versus Panasonic ZS1, one is a Waterproof and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a crucial gap between the resolutions of the AW120 (16MP) and ZS1 (10MP) and the AW120 (1/2.3") and ZS1 (1/2.5") enjoy totally different sensor sizing.

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The AW120 was launched 4 years after the ZS1 which is quite a serious gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the AW120 scores vs the ZS1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Panasonic ZS1

 AW120 ZS1 
IntroducedFebruary 2014May 2009More modern by 58 months
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kSharper screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS1 over the Nikon AW120

 ZS1 AW120 

Common features in the Nikon AW120 and Panasonic ZS1

 AW120 ZS1 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to consider its weight and dimensions. The Nikon AW120 features outer dimensions 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 ZS1 has dimensions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") along with a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon AW120 versus Panasonic ZS1 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the AW120 against the ZS1.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the AW120 and ZS1 is 92 and 91 respectively.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its tough to see the contrast between sensor sizes just by looking at specs. The image below will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the AW120 and ZS1.

All in all, both of the cameras offer different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The AW120 featuring a bigger sensor will make shooting bokeh less difficult and the Nikon AW120 will give extra detail utilizing its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively. The newer AW120 will have a benefit when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 sensor size comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon AW120 Portrait photography highlights
Panasonic ZS1 Portrait photography highlights
35
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
25
supports face detection autofocus
focusing manually not possible
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Street photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Street photography camera
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
screen is fixed
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (229g)
screen is fixed
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW120 Sports photography information
Panasonic ZS1 Sports photography information
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
environment proofing
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
24
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second very slow (3.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low resolution (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW120 Travel photography info
Panasonic ZS1 Travel photography info
69
better than average battery power (350 CIPA)
environment proofing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
relatively wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
63
lighter than competition in class (229 grams)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (300mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low resolution (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic ZS1 as a Landscape photography camera
48
relatively wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16MP)
environment proofing
better than average battery power (350 shots)
focusing manually not possible
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
lack of Timelapse function
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
low resolution (10 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.5")
lack of RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon AW120 Vlogging advice
Panasonic ZS1 Vlogging advice
33
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
lack of external microphone jack
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
lighter than competition in class (229g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not offer selfie friendly display
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have external mic socket
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Nikon AW120 vs Panasonic ZS1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW120 and Panasonic ZS1
 Nikon Coolpix AW120Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
General Information
Company Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix AW120 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS1
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-TZ6
Type Waterproof Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2014-02-07 2009-05-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.5"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 5.744 x 4.308mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 24.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 16:9, 4:3 and 3:2
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 125 100
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) 25-300mm (12.0x)
Max aperture f/2.8-4.9 f/3.3-4.9
Macro focusing range 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 6.3
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.7"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0 frames/s 3.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 5.30 m (Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 213 grams (0.47 pounds) 229 grams (0.50 pounds)
Dimensions 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") 103 x 60 x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery ID EN-EL12 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $350 $0