Updated (August, 2011): Compare the Nikon Coolpix AW100 vs Pentax Optio WG-1

Nikon Coolpix AW100

86

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
Image stabilization
Image stabilization
Lens
Sensor type
CMOS Sensor
Better in low light
Panorama
In-camera panoramas
Stitches together multiple photos into a panorama
Pentax Optio W90

63

Runner-up

Pentax Optio W90

Reasons to buy the Pentax Optio W90

Light sensitivity
High ISO
6,400 ISO
Macro focus
Great macro
1 cm

differences

Advantages of the Nikon AW100

Image stabilization Image stabilization Lens vs None
Help
Helps eliminate blur caused by small camera movements
Movie format Higher resolution movies 1080p @ 30fps vs 720p @ 30fps
Help
Shoots higher resolution Full HD (1080p) video
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
GPS Has a GPS Yes vs No
Help
Automatically geotags your photos when traveling
Continuous shooting Shoots faster 3 fps vs 1.3 fps
Help
Around 2.5x faster continuous shooting
Thickness Thinner 0.9" vs 1"
Help
Around 10% thinner
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Learn more about
the Nikon AW100

Advantages of the Pentax W90

Aperture Wider aperture f/3.5 vs f/3.9
Help
At its widest zoom, the W90's lens captures marginally more light (0.3 f-stops)
Light sensitivity Better maximum light sensitivity 6,400 ISO vs 3,200 ISO
Help
The W90's maximum light sensitivity is 1 f-stop better
True resolution Slightly higher true resolution 9.8 MP vs 9.7 MP
Help
Almost the same
Sensor size Slightly larger sensor 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm vs 1/2.3" 6.2x4.6mm
Help
Almost the same
Weight Lighter 164 g vs 178 g
Help
Around 10% lighter
Pentax Optio W90 Learn more about
the Pentax W90
vs

recommendations

Relative to the best recent waterproof cameras, and ignoring price

Nikon Coolpix AW100 Nikon Coolpix AW100
86 vs 63
Explain scores
Pentax Optio W90 Pentax Optio W90
Green arrow Snapsort recommends the Nikon Coolpix AW100.

advice

Need help deciding?

Ask the community!

I am considering either the Nikon AW100 or the Pentax W90,
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)

Popular tags:

Are you a camera expert? Share your knowledge!

0
votes
by Sew-Crafty 12 hours ago
Canon D20 vs Nikon AW100

I can be a clumsy person sometimes, which means I have butter fingers so I want a camera that ca...

0
votes
by Kerri-Miles-Dowd 4 days ago
Nikon AW100 vs Panasonic DMC-TS3

I am an intermediate photographer and usually shoot with a Nikon dSLR. It seems like review site...

0
votes
by gnattybumppo last week
Nikon AW100 vs Pentax WG-2 GPS

I am an intermediate photographer and like to take closeups of flowers and insects and is often ...

0
votes
by MatthewLigotti this month
Nikon AW100 vs Olympus TG-820

I need a camera for vacations that can be used for the beach and low lighting at the night clubs...

One person recommends the Nikon AW100:

" nikon coolpix makes it so much better at law light!!! also nikon p300, it is not water resistant..."

0
votes
by Edna-Taylor last week
Nikon AW100 vs Olympus TG-820

I have an Optio but it takes very poor low light and underwater pictures/video.  I am looking fo...

similarities

Compared to recent compacts

Common Strengths Common Weaknesses
Macro focus Good macro capabilities Help
1 cm
Waterproof Waterproof Help
Great at the beach
Fastest shutter speed Slow max shutter speed Help
1/1500 of a second
Longest exposure Short max exposure time Help
4 seconds
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
Aperture Very narrow widest aperture size Help
AW100:f/3.9
W90:f/3.5
Zoom Poor zoom Help
5x

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

Olympus TG-820 iHS

Olympus TG-820

Waterproof

$299

Screen resolution Has a much higher resolution screen
HDR Has in-camera HDR
Aperture Has a slightly narrower aperture
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

Continuous shooting Shoots faster continuously
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
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
Macro focus Much worse macro focusing
Canon PowerShot D10

Canon PowerShot D10

Waterproof

$248 - $319

Aperture Has a significantly wider aperture
Fastest shutter speed Has a faster max shutter speed
Thickness Is thicker
Weight Is slightly heavier
Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS

Pentax Optio WG-1 GPS

Waterproof

Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost light sensitivity
Thickness Is thicker
Light sensitivity Slightly lower maximum light sensitivity
Olympus Stylus Tough 8010

Olympus Stylus Tough 8010

Waterproof

$155 - $165

Size Is slightly smaller
Lowest price Is slightly less expensive
Weight Is significantly heavier
Shutter lag Has significantly more shutter lag

Nikon Coolpix AW100 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS3

Waterproof

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
Longest exposure Much longer exposures
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS4

Panasonic Lumix TS4

Waterproof

$274 - $400

Aperture Significantly wider aperture
3D Takes 3D photos
Screen size Significantly smaller screen
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
Canon PowerShot D20

Canon PowerShot D20

Waterproof

$329

Supports 24p Supports 24p
Battery life Longer battery life
Size Significantly larger
Panorama Lacks in-camera panoramic stitching
Sony Cybershot DSC-TX10

Sony Cybershot TX10

Waterproof

$329

Screen resolution Significantly higher resolution screen
Size Significantly smaller
High-speed framerate Doesn't record high-speed movies
GPS No built-in GPS

Pentax Optio W90 Competitors

Advantages

Disadvantages

Pentax Optio WG-1

Pentax Optio WG-1

Waterproof

$246 - $264

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Light sensitivity (boost) Has boost ISO
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Size Larger
Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

Panasonic Lumix DMC-TS2

Waterproof

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Aperture Wider aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Macro focus Significantly worse macro capability
Pentax Optio W80

Pentax Optio W80

Waterproof

Size Smaller
Weight Slightly lighter
Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution
Olympus Stylus Tough 6020

Olympus Stylus Tough 6020

Waterproof

$179

Image stabilization Image stabilization
Size Smaller
Aperture Narrower aperture
Light sensitivity Worse maximum light sensitivity
Pentax Optio W60

Pentax Optio W60

Waterproof

Size Smaller
Screen size Smaller screen
True resolution Slightly lower true resolution

appearance

Nikon Coolpix AW100 Pentax Optio W90
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Pentax Optio W90
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Pentax Optio W90

discussion

Showing 0 comments