Nikon AW120 vs Pentax P80

Lets look much closer at the Nikon AW120 versus Pentax P80, one is a Waterproof and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There exists a sizeable gap among the image resolutions of the AW120 (16MP) and P80 (12MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The AW120 was manufactured 4 years after the P80 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the AW120 grades versus the P80 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Following is a sample of the gallery pics for Nikon Coolpix AW120 and Pentax Optio P80. The entire galleries are provided at Nikon AW120 Gallery and Pentax P80 Gallery.

When you are looking to travel with your camera frequently, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon AW120 provides physical dimensions 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 Pentax P80 has dimensions of 102mm x 59mm x 25mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.0") accompanied by a weight of 125 grams (0.28 lbs).

Compare the Nikon AW120 versus Pentax P80 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you are utilizing at that time. Below is a front view over all size comparison of the AW120 vs the P80.

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the AW120 and P80 is 92 and 95 respectively.

Sometimes, it's hard to imagine the contrast in sensor dimensions simply by checking out specs. The picture below might give you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the AW120 and P80.

All in all, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Nikon AW120 to show extra detail due to its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop images more aggressively. The more recent AW120 should have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.