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Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70

Portability
92
Imaging
40
Features
45
Overall
42
Nikon Coolpix AW120 front
 
Pentax K-70 front
Portability
62
Imaging
67
Features
81
Overall
72

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 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
  • Launched February 2014
  • Earlier Model is Nikon AW110
  • Successor is Nikon AW130
Pentax K-70
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 100 - 102400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • No Anti-Alias Filter
  • 1/6000s Maximum Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Pentax KAF2 Mount
  • 688g - 126 x 93 x 74mm
  • Released June 2016
  • Newer Model is Pentax KF
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Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 Overview

Below is a comprehensive analysis of the Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-70, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Nikon and Pentax. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the AW120 (16MP) and K-70 (24MP) and the AW120 (1/2.3") and K-70 (APS-C) provide different sensor dimensions.

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The AW120 was unveiled 3 years before the K-70 and that is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature different body design with the Nikon AW120 being a Compact camera and the Pentax K-70 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a full comparison, here is a quick overview of how the AW120 matches up against the K-70 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon AW120 over the Pentax K-70

 AW120 K-70 

Reasons to pick Pentax K-70 over the Nikon AW120

 K-70 AW120 
ReleasedJune 2016February 2014More recent by 28 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Screen typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating screen
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-70

 AW120 K-70 
Screen size3"3"Same screen sizing
Screen resolution921k921kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to lug around your camera often, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon AW120 enjoys outer measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") and a weight of 213 grams (0.47 lbs) and the Pentax K-70 has dimensions of 126mm x 93mm x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9") along with a weight of 688 grams (1.52 lbs).

Compare the Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-70 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Following is a front view sizing comparison of the AW120 compared to the K-70.

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the AW120 and K-70 is 92 and 62 respectively.

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 top view buttons comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, its hard to visualize the difference between sensor measurements only by reading a spec sheet. The visual here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the AW120 and K-70.

As you can see, both of these cameras come with different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The AW120 with its tinier sensor is going to make achieving bokeh trickier and the Pentax K-70 will offer you more detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The older AW120 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 sensor size comparison

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon AW120 Portrait photography factors
Pentax K-70 Portrait photography factors
35
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
lack of manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
80
has manual focus
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon AW120 Street photography features
Pentax K-70 Street photography features
62
has image stabilization (Optical)
environment proofing
no moving screen
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
71
fully articulated screen
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
great high ISO (102,400)
heavier than competitors in class (688 grams)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon AW120 Sports photography features
Pentax K-70 Sports photography features
51
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
environment proofing
great battery (350 per charge)
no shutter priority
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
72
max shutter speed is good (1/6,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24MP)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
comes with phase detect AF
max fps low (6.0 fps)
low battery life (410 shots)
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Travel Comparison

Nikon AW120 Travel photography details
Pentax K-70 Travel photography details
69
great battery (350 CIPA)
environment proofing
megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
rather wide (24mm)
missing Time Lapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
64
weather proofing
decent megapixels (24MP)
flash built-in
display is selfie friendly
low battery life (410 per charge)
heavier than competitors in class (688 grams)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon AW120 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax K-70 as a Landscape photography camera
48
rather wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
environment proofing
great battery (350 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
missing Time Lapse mode
78
has manual focus
change lenses (Pentax KAF2 mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent megapixels (24 megapixels)
sensor size is good (APS-C)
doesnt have low pass filter
great high ISO (102,400)
delivers RAW formats
weather proofing
low battery life (410 per charge)
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon AW120
Vlogging with Pentax K-70
33
rather wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish maximum aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing external mic support
71
display is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
has face detect focusing
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
does have mic support
heavier than competitors in class (688g)
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Nikon AW120 vs Pentax K-70 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon AW120 and Pentax K-70
 Nikon Coolpix AW120Pentax K-70
General Information
Make Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix AW120 Pentax K-70
Class Waterproof Entry-Level DSLR
Launched 2014-02-07 2016-06-08
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Processor - PRIME MII
Sensor type CMOS CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 24MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 3:2
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 6400 102400
Min native ISO 125 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 11
Cross type focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens Pentax KAF2
Lens zoom range 24-120mm (5.0x) -
Max aperture f/2.8-4.9 -
Macro focusing distance 1cm -
Available lenses - 151
Crop factor 5.8 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 921k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen technology OLED monitor -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.63x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/6000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 7.0fps 6.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 5.20 m 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash modes - Auto, auto w/redeye reduction, flash on, flash + redeye reduction, slow sync, trailing curtain sync, manual
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (60p, 50p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn Optional
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 213g (0.47 lbs) 688g (1.52 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 66 x 26mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.0") 126 x 93 x 74mm (5.0" x 3.7" x 2.9")
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 photos 410 photos
Battery style Battery Pack Battery Pack
Battery ID EN-EL12 -
Self timer - Yes (2 or 12 secs, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD / SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC (UHS-I compatible)
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $350 $649