Nikon AW130 vs Panasonic ZS3

Here is a in-depth review of the Nikon AW130 and Panasonic ZS3, former being a Waterproof while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. There is a noticeable difference among the image resolutions of the AW130 (16MP) and ZS3 (10MP) but they use the exact same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The AW130 was introduced 5 years later than the ZS3 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple overview of how the AW130 scores vs the ZS3 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix AW130 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3. The whole galleries are available at Nikon AW130 Gallery & Panasonic ZS3 Gallery.

For anybody who is looking to carry your camera frequently, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon AW130 comes with outside measurements of 110mm x 66mm x 27mm (4.3" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 221 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS3 has proportions of 103mm x 60mm x 33mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 229 grams (0.50 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon AW130 and Panasonic ZS3 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Always remember, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are employing at that time. Following is the front view scale comparison of the AW130 and the ZS3.

Considering size and weight, the portability rating of the AW130 and ZS3 is 91 and 91 respectively.

In many cases, it can be difficult to visualise the difference in sensor sizing just by going through specifications. The photograph underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the AW130 and ZS3.

Plainly, the 2 cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Nikon AW130 to provide more detail using its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will allow you to crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher AW130 is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor innovation.