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Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
 
Pentax K-1 Mark II front
Portability
55
Imaging
78
Features
82
Overall
79

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II 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
  • Introduced February 2014
  • Succeeded the Nikon AW110
  • Later Model is Nikon AW130
Pentax K-1 II
(Full Review)
  • 36MP - Full frame Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 819200
  • Sensor based 5-axis Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF4 Mount
  • 1010g - 137 x 110 x 86mm
  • Introduced February 2018
  • Older Model is Pentax K-1
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Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II Overview

On this page, we will be analyzing the Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-1 II, one being a Waterproof and the latter is a Advanced DSLR by rivals Nikon and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the AW120 (16MP) and K-1 II (36MP) and the AW120 (1/2.3") and K-1 II (Full frame) have totally different sensor size.

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The AW120 was introduced 5 years before the K-1 II and that is quite a large gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of these cameras have different body design with the Nikon AW120 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-1 II being a Mid-size SLR camera.

Before delving right into a detailed comparison, here is a quick synopsis of how the AW120 grades vs the K-1 II with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Pentax K-1 II

 AW120 K-1 II 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-1 II over the Nikon AW120

 K-1 II AW120 
IntroducedFebruary 2018February 2014Fresher by 49 months
Focus manually More accurate focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Screen dimensions3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Screen resolution1037k921kClearer screen (+116k dot)

Common features in the Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-1 II

 AW120 K-1 II 
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch screen Neither contains Touch screen

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera regularly, you are going to need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon AW120 has got external dimensions of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") with a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs) whilst the Pentax K-1 II has specifications of 137mm x 110mm x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" x 3.4") along with a weight of 1010 grams (2.23 lbs).

Examine the Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-1 II in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are working with at that time. Here is a front view physical size comparison of the AW120 vs the K-1 II.

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the AW120 and K-1 II is 92 and 55 respectively.

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II Sensor Comparison

Typically, it's tough to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by reviewing specifications. The graphic here will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the AW120 and K-1 II.

To sum up, both of those cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The AW120 with its tinier sensor will make getting shallower depth of field tougher and the Pentax K-1 II will offer you greater detail using its extra 20MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The older AW120 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II sensor size comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon AW120
Portrait photography with Pentax K-1 II
35
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
86
manual focus
excellent megapixels (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports face detection focus
exports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW120 Street photography highlights
Pentax K-1 II Street photography highlights
62
image stabilization (Optical)
weather proof
no moving screen
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
70
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
big sensor size (Full frame)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
very good high ISO (819,200)
heavier than others (1,010g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW120 Sports photography advice
Pentax K-1 II Sports photography advice
51
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
includes tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery pack (350 per charge)
no shutter priority
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
77
great max shutter speed (1/8,000s)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
supports tracking autofocus
weather sealing
has phase detect auto focus
slow continuous shooting (4.4 fps)
terrible battery power (670 CIPA)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW120 Travel photography info
Pentax K-1 II Travel photography info
69
great battery pack (350 CIPA)
weather proof
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
has built in flash
reasonably wide (24mm)
no Time Lapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
53
weather sealing
excellent megapixels (36 megapixels)
terrible battery power (670 shots)
heavier than others (1,010g)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW120 Landscape photography features
Pentax K-1 II Landscape photography features
48
reasonably wide (24mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
weather proof
great battery pack (350 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
no Time Lapse recording
82
manual focus
switch lenses (Pentax KAF4 mount)
pretty good screen size (3.2 inch)
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
excellent megapixels (36MP)
big sensor size (Full frame)
doesnt have anti aliasing filter
very good high ISO (819,200)
exports RAW formats
weather sealing
has double storage slots
terrible battery power (670 shots)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon AW120
Vlogging with Pentax K-1 II
33
reasonably wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection focus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external mic socket
32
built in image stabilization (Sensor based 5-axis)
supports face detection focus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic port
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
heavier than others (1,010 grams)
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Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-1 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-1 II
 Nikon Coolpix AW120Pentax K-1 Mark II
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix AW120 Pentax K-1 Mark II
Class Waterproof Advanced DSLR
Introduced 2014-02-07 2018-02-22
Body design Compact Mid-size SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by - PRIME IV
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Full frame
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 35.9 x 24mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 861.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 36MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Maximum resolution 4608 x 3456 7360 x 4912
Maximum native ISO 6400 819200
Lowest native ISO 125 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 33
Cross type focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF4
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Highest aperture f/2.8-4.9 -
Macro focusing range 1cm -
Number of lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Display size 3 inches 3.2 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 1,037 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display technology OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.0 frames per second 4.4 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m no built-in flash
Flash modes - Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash sync - 1/200 secs
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Auto Flash Discharge, Auto Flash + Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On + Red-eye Reduction, Slow-speed Sync, Slow-speed Sync + Red-eye, P-TTL, Trailing Curtain Sync, Contrast-control-sync, High-speed sync, Wireless sync
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Built-in
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 213 gr (0.47 lbs) 1010 gr (2.23 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") 137 x 110 x 86mm (5.4" x 4.3" 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 images 670 images
Type of battery Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL12 D-LI90
Self timer - Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD / SDHC/SDXC Dual SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I)
Storage slots One 2
Price at launch $350 $1,737