Nikon Coolpix
AW100
 vs
Panasonic Lumix
DMC-TS3

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

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

82
"The Lumix TS3 can now shoot video at FULL 1080p at 30fps providing one of the sharpest video recordings available, especially for a small point and shoot."
digitalcamerastop.com | talking about the DMC-TS3's video-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

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
GPS
 Built-in GPS
Great for travel
Longest exposure
 Long exposures
60 seconds
Nikon Coolpix AW100

81

Reasons to buy the Nikon Coolpix AW100

Movie format
 Full HD
1080p @ 30fps
Screen size
 Large screen
3.0"
High-speed framerate
 High speed movies
240 fps
Sensor type
 CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Macro focus
 Great macro
1 cm
Thickness
 Thin
0.9"

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
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
Lowest price Cheaper $216.65 vs $299.00
Help
 The best price we've seen is $82 cheaper (around 30% less)
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
81 vs 82
Explain scores
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3 Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
Green arrow Too close to call! Snapsort considers these cameras too competitive to make a clear recommendation.

performance Which camera has better performance? Cast your vote!

NikonCoolpix AW100
 Nikon Coolpix AW100 vs Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3
PanasonicLumix DMC-TS3
Uses Travel score Travel
On holiday or vacation
84
21
Vote Vote
Sports score Sports
Fast action, sometimes indoors
60
17
Vote Vote
Features Low light image quality Low light image quality
Lack of noise, sharp details
56
15
Vote Vote
Color accuracy Color accuracy
White balance in varied lighting
48
16
Vote Vote
Autofocus peformance Still image focusing
Speed and accuracy
51
17
Vote Vote
Autofocus performance Video focusing
Speed and accuracy
54
15
Vote Vote
Manual controls Manual settings
How quickly and easily you can change settings
46
14
Vote Vote
Performance Image stabilization
Ability to reduce blur from hand shake
55
16
Vote Vote
Green arrow Join in the discussion below!

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
Weight Heavy Help
AW100:178 g
DMC-TS3:197 g
Touch screen No touchscreens Help
More buttons

Compared to recent waterproof cameras

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses

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

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

competitors

Shared Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages
Sony Cybershot DSC-TX10

Sony Cybershot TX10

Waterproof

$265 - $269
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
Compare the Cybershot TX10 vs the Coolpix AW100
Compare the Cybershot TX10 vs the Lumix DMC-TS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4

Panasonic Lumix TS4

Waterproof
HDR Has in-camera HDR
3D Captures 3D images
Fastest shutter speed Has a slower max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Lumix TS4 vs the Coolpix AW100
Compare the Lumix TS4 vs the Lumix DMC-TS3
Olympus Tough TG-810

Olympus Tough TG-810

Waterproof

$368
Screen resolution Has a significantly higher resolution screen
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Lowest price Is slightly more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the Tough TG-810 vs the Coolpix AW100
Compare the Tough TG-810 vs the Lumix DMC-TS3
Canon PowerShot D10

Canon PowerShot D10

Waterproof

$249 - $319
Aperture Has a slightly wider aperture
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Light sensitivity (boost) Lacks boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot D10 vs the Coolpix AW100
Compare the PowerShot D10 vs the Lumix DMC-TS3
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS10

Waterproof

$158 - $266
Size Is slightly smaller
GPS Doesn't have a built-in GPS
Macro focus Slightly worse macro focusing
Compare the Lumix DMC-TS10 vs the Coolpix AW100
Compare the Lumix DMC-TS10 vs the Lumix DMC-TS3
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS

Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS

Waterproof
Thickness Is thicker
Image stabilization Has worse image stabilization
Compare the Optio WG-1 GPS vs the Coolpix AW100
Compare the Optio WG-1 GPS vs the Lumix DMC-TS3
Canon PowerShot D20

Canon PowerShot D20

Waterproof

$561
Supports 24p Records movies in 24p
Lowest price Is much more expensive
Thickness Is thicker
Compare the PowerShot D20 vs the Coolpix AW100
Compare the PowerShot D20 vs the Lumix DMC-TS3

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

$295
Size Smaller
Thickness Thinner
Movie format Lower resolution movies
GPS No built-in GPS
Compare the Lumix DMC-TS2 vs the Lumix DMC-TS3

appearance

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

Find similar cameras

Here are some links to help you find other cameras with similar features to both of these:

discussion Which do you think is better?

Speech is free, but discussion at Snapsort is moderated! Please discuss your opinion of these cameras here, and discuss feedback for Snapsort at our support community.

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!