Updated (January, 2012): Compare the Nikon Coolpix AW100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4

Nikon Coolpix AW100

86

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix AW100

Screen size
Large screen
3.0"
High-speed framerate
High speed movies
240 fps
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm
GPS
Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

82

"Water proof, shock proof and outdoors proof."
digitalcamerastop.com | talking about the DMC-TS3's build-quality
"The higher light sensitivty made possible by the on-chip micro lenses has dramatically improved the picture quality."
digitalcamerastop.com | talking about the DMC-TS3's image-quality

Reasons to buy the Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

Aperture
Wide aperture
f/3.3
GPS
Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Longest exposure
Long exposures
60 seconds

differences

Advantages of the Nikon AW100

Screen size Significantly larger screen 3.0" vs 2.7"
Help
More than 10% larger screen
High-speed framerate Records high-speed movies 240 fps vs None
Help
Capture events too fast for the naked eye and play them back in super-slow motion
Sensor type Has a CMOS-family sensor CMOS vs CCD
Help
CMOS-family sensors often produce better quality images
Panorama Can create panoramas in-camera Yes vs No
Help
Stitches together multiple photos for a wide perspective
Screen resolution Higher resolution screen 460k dots vs 230k dots
Help
2x higher resolution screen
Macro focus Significantly better macro capability 1 cm vs 5 cm
Help
Focus on subjects 5x closer to the lens
Size Smaller 110x64x22 mm vs 104x63x27 mm
Help
More than 10% smaller
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 3,200 ISO vs 1,600 ISO
Help
The AW100's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
Thickness Thinner 0.9" vs 1.1"
Help
Around 20% thinner
Weight Lighter 178 g vs 197 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Fastest shutter speed Faster max shutter speed 1/1500s vs 1/1300s
Help
More than 10% faster max shutter speed
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Learn more about
the Nikon AW100

Advantages of the Panasonic DMC-TS3

Aperture Significantly wider aperture f/3.3 vs f/3.9
Help
At its widest zoom, the DMC-TS3's lens captures marginally more light (0.5 f-stops)
Longest exposure Much longer exposures 60s vs 4s
Help
15x longer exposures
Continuous shooting Shoots slightly faster 3.7 fps vs 3 fps
Help
More than 20% faster continuous shooting
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Learn more about
the Panasonic DMC-TS3
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent waterproof cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix AW100 Nikon Coolpix AW100
86 vs 82
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix AW100.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Nikon AW100 or the Panasonic DMC-TS3,
For example: Taking photos in low light or great family photos or ability to take great photos underwater

Select aspects that are most important to you: (max 3)

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similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Movie format Both shoot high resolution HD movies Help
1080p @ 30fps
GPS Built-in GPS Help
Great for travel
Image stabilization Good image stabilization Help
Lens
Waterproof Waterproof Help
Great at the beach
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
AW100:1/1500s
DMC-TS3:1/1300s
HDR Neither has in-camera HDR Help
You could do HDR manually
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons
Wide angle Poor wide angle Help
28 mm
Zoom Poor zoom Help
AW100:5x
DMC-TS3:4.6x

Compared to recent waterproof cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

Snapsort is not aware of any interesting strengths shared by these two products.

3D Neither camera can take 3D photos Help
No 3d support

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4

Panasonic Lumix TS4

Waterproof

$274 - $400

3D Captures 3D images
Battery life Has a slightly longer battery life
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Sony Cybershot DSC-TX10

Sony Cybershot TX10

Waterproof

$329

Wide angle Has a slightly wider wide angle lens
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
GPS Doesn't have a built-in GPS
Olympus TG-820 iHS

Olympus TG-820

Waterproof

$299

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
Size Is slightly smaller
GPS Doesn't have a built-in GPS
Image stabilization Has worse image stabilization
Canon PowerShot D20

Canon PowerShot D20

Waterproof

$329

Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is significantly heavier
Olympus Tough TG-810

Olympus Tough TG-810

Waterproof

$429 - $445

Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Is significantly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS

Pentax Optio WG-2 GPS

Waterproof

Light sensitivity Significantly higher maximum light sensitivity
Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Fujifilm FinePix XP50

Fujifilm FinePix XP50

Waterproof

$170 - $200

HDR Has in-camera HDR
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Thickness Is thicker
GPS Doesn't have a built-in GPS

Nikon Coolpix AW100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

No significant competitors found that are specific to the Nikon Coolpix AW100.

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

Waterproof

Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Lower resolution movies
GPS No built-in GPS

appearance

Nikon Coolpix AW100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

discussion

Showing 7 comments

Asmith (3:42 PM, February 17, 2012)
I have an aw100.  Really like it but the shake feature cannot be turned off (you can adjust the sensitivity) but it still didn't work for me. This is a huge disadvantage when passing the camera around to share photos or in a high vibration environment.  I'm thinking about taking it back and getting the Panasonic.  Any thoughts.  Some specs are different but are they ones that matter to picture quality except at the extremes?
I'm a pretty big Nikon fan having had several of their SLRs in the past this is pretty disappointing.  
 
Stig (11:55 AM, January 31, 2012)
I had 4 Panasonic compact cameras before I got the AW100.
I liked the quality of the photo for the Panasonic. All 4 had problems
with me, traveling all over the world, taking them swimming, too.
Panasonic are not so robust a camera, in fact all 4 stopped working, due to
shock, water, use. I find that Panasonic is not a high quality product,
not made by a company that knows about photo. Just thing, its not possible to
attach a cord around the neck, only a strap for the hand. So poor.

Now I am pleased with the AW100, which is more robust, can be carried around the
neck, is absolutely waterproof - so far. Especially the photos taken by night
are fantastic, and the camera is much smaller. Yet - the battery will only last for
one days shooting.

Stig, Denmark
 
Avatar for Snapsort Snapsort (3:13 PM, January 16, 2012)
Thanks for pointing that out Nhann, a mistake on our part.  We normally use "weather sealed" just for DSLRs, and "waterproof" for point and shoot cameras.  We'll get this fixed up!
 
Nhann (10:56 AM, January 16, 2012)
Comparison states that a common weakness of these 2 cameras is that neither is weather sealed and need to be sheltered from weather... They are both fully sealed units that can be taken underwater... I think the site researchers and editors need to lift their game after making such a blatant and basic error.
 
Heltonsjw (11:25 PM, December 11, 2011)
Which is best for underwater use, snorkeling, diving etc?
 
Gusgentzsch (4:49 AM, December 10, 2011)
What I learned/reviewed from the Internet I ordered the Nikon from Costco.
Had a Nikon 40 years ago, it was the best. I think this will be even better.
 
Guest (6:15 PM, December 08, 2011)
They both have GPS!