Nikon Coolpix AW100 - Nikon's first rugged ultra-compact
Nikon Coolpix AW100 - Nikon's first rugged ultra-compact
Designed to capture action on land and underwater, the COOLPIX AW100 is ready for adventure whenever you want it.
This waterproof, shockproof, frost-resistant camera is perfect for active shooting - in winter, spring, summer or autumn. The built-in GPS system, electronic compass and world map will allow you to add geotags to images, navigate the area and follow the route along the way. The high-sensitivity 16-megapixel CMOS sensor, combined with a special low-light mode, ensures excellent results in bright sunlight, at night or deep underwater.
The COOLPIX AW100 is ready for exciting outdoor adventures.
Rugged design: waterproof, shockproof and frostproof . Waterproof to a depth of 10 m, shockproof to a drop of up to 1.5 m and frost-resistant to -10 °C.
16-megapixel back-illuminated CMOS sensor: Increases the amount of light per pixel, improves sensitivity, reduces shooting noise and delivers superior performance in any light.
The NIKKOR wide-angle 5x zoom lens delivers stunning detail and high resolution (35mm format equivalent: 28-140mm).
Large 7.5 cm LCD monitor with 460K dot resolution: vivid colors and sharp contrast. Nikon's pure color monitor technology minimizes glare, even underwater or in bright sunlight.
Built-in GPS and Electronic Compass: Record the exact location (latitude and longitude) where the photo was taken as "geotags" into the image data (EXIF). When you're not using the camera to take pictures, you can use it to track your route or use the built-in compass and check your location on the LCD monitor.
World Map Monitor* : A handy reference tool that lets you see where photos were taken or view routes saved in GPS log entries.
Anti-blur technology automatically reduces blur in images in four different ways. Hybrid VR (lens shift and electronic vibration reduction) reduces the effects of camera shake. High light sensitivity (up to ISO 3200) reduces the likelihood of image blur when shooting fast-moving subjects or in low-light conditions. Best Shot Selector (BSS) automatically finds the sharpest shot out of 10 consecutive shots.
Special modes for shooting in different lighting conditions: excellent results in any light, even without the use of a tripod. Backlit scene mode with automatic dynamic range ensures excellent tonal detail in any situation. Night Portrait mode allows you to take beautiful night shots and indoor portraits with great detail. Night Landscape mode lets you capture sharp images at low ISO settings.
High-Speed Continuous Shooting – Captures events at 7.1 frames per second.
Record videos in Full HD (1080p) with stereo sound: Optical zoom and autofocus functions are available when shooting. The camera allows you to shoot slow motion or fast motion video at recording speeds from 15 to 240 frames per second (VGA). The camera has a built-in HDMI connector that supports HDMI-CEC, allowing you to connect it to an HDTV.
Easy 360°/180° Panorama Mode: Allows you to create dynamic panoramas with vertical or horizontal panning. Simply press the shutter button and move the camera in front of you to capture stunning photos of expansive landscapes or colorful underwater worlds.
Active Control makes camera operation easy, even when shooting underwater or wearing gloves. Activated using a special button on the side of the camera.
Sleek Design : Compact, 22.8mm thin design for ultimate portability.
Underwater mode : Automatically adjusts the camera's white balance settings to capture underwater scenes as you see them.
The EXPEED C2 image processing system provides advanced movie recording capabilities, high sensitivity and maximum image quality.
Nikon Coolpix AW100 rugged camera review
The Nikon Coolpix AW100 is a compact camera that's highly rugged. The device will withstand immersion to a depth of 10 meters under water, and falls on a hard surface, and low temperatures. We took the camera and gave it a long run through Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.
The AW100 is Nikon's first compact camera for extreme use after a long break. Moreover, this is the most “megapixel” and functional model in its niche, built not on a CCD, but on a CMOS sensor with back illumination. Sounds good, but how is it really?
Specifications:
• 1/2.3″ BSI CMOS matrix, 16 MP;
• 5x NIKKOR zoom lens (25-125 mm equivalent for 35 mm format cameras), f/3.9-4.8;
• digital zoom: up to 4x (equivalent to 35 mm cameras - up to 400 mm);
• range of focusing distances (from the lens): from 50 cm to infinity, in macro mode - from 1 cm to infinity;
• 3″ TFT LCD, 460,000 dots;
• ISO: auto, 125—3200;
• GPS;
• support for SD, SDHC, SDXC memory cards;
• motion detection, detection of up to 12 faces in the frame, blink warning, smile shutter release, skin tone retouching;
• data transfer interface: USB, HDMI;
• battery: Li-ion battery EN-EL12, 1050 mAh;
• dimensions: 110.1 x 22.8 x 64.9 mm;
• weight: 178 g (with memory card and battery).
As you can see, the camera has a GPS receiver, a durable body and a 5x zoom lens, which is usually not typical for rugged models - this means the device can be used not only under water.
Appearance
The camera is very similar to another rugged camera - the Lumix FT-3, but is far from the radical design of the Canon D10. In general, if it weren’t for the marks on the model’s body, it would be impossible to recognize it as a highly secure device at first glance.
The camera is sold in several color options - black, orange and camouflage. We received a black model for review.
The camera body is made of plastic, the front panel is made of metal.
The front of the AW100 houses the flash, white AF-assist LED, flash and lens opening. The LED may work during video recording, but not during photo shooting. It is located in the upper left corner of the camera, not covered by anything other than protective glass. In this case, this is not a problem, since sand remains on the plastic protective curtains and salt is deposited. If the lens gets dirty, the device just needs to be rinsed under water.
It is noteworthy that the camera has stereo microphone holes for recording sound both underwater and on land.
On the top of the body there is a GPS receiver, an on/off key and a shutter button. It has a textured surface for comfortable pressing. Both keys have noticeable play, so in order to learn how to turn on the camera and take a picture with one press, you will have to get used to the AW100, or just press it with your fingernail.
The back of the camera is completely typical for compact cameras. Most of it is occupied by the display.
The screen resolution is 460,000 pixels. The protective acrylic plastic has a weak anti-reflective coating, so operation under water is very difficult, and, unfortunately, in most cases the display is very reflective, photographs have to be taken at random.
The controls are located on the right side. There is a zoom rocker, a video start button, as well as standard function keys and a five-way joystick.
The camera is designed more for comfortable land use than underwater use. This is rather good. In addition, the AW100 turned out to be very compact and lightweight when compared with other submarine cameras.
The battery and memory card compartment is located on the right side of the case. It is protected by a disk with a locking button; accidental opening of the compartment is excluded. There, inside, there is a connector for connecting to USB and HDMI.
On the left side of the case there is a button for calling up the map or active control mode. In the latter case, the camera is controlled by tilting and tapping the body, which can be convenient in certain conditions.
The AW100 has a built-in world map with good detail. For example, in Moscow you can even find the streets signed, but in some countries nothing at all is signed except the name.
On the map you can enable the display of POIs (Points of Interest) and record your route. However, if you do not have quick access to charging, it is better to turn off GPS altogether, because the battery life is consumed one and a half times faster.
Camera in action
When used outdoors, the camera does not cause any complaints. A convenient focal range, no moving parts, and fast start-up time allow the AW100 to be in no way inferior to its competitors.
But underwater, the slightly inconvenient position of the lens affects it; when shooting, fingers and a strap can get into the frame. The most convenient camera for underwater photography was the Canon D10, but it also had the most controversial design.
The camera turns on quickly enough; there is no need to open the plastic curtains and unfold the lens from the body. It takes about 1-1.5 seconds from pressing the ON button to taking a photo.
Ease of use and intuitive menu organization are perhaps the main advantages of the AW100 compact camera menu. Basic shooting parameters (ISO, white balance, etc.) are set without confirmation with the OK button.
The maximum diving depth of 10 meters is an important advantage of the model, especially if you are going to try diving. Of the same compact rugged cameras, we can only remember the Sony TX-10, which has not the most convenient touch controls under water and allows you to dive only to a depth of 3 meters.
After the camera has been in water, the liquid remains only near the shutter button, a little near the battery and memory card compartment. If the device is not thoroughly washed from sea water, opening the compartment may be problematic due to salt crystallizing under the blocker disc.
The high-speed back-illuminated CMOS sensor allows you to shoot both videos and photos at high frequency. In low resolution, the camera is capable of shooting at up to 240 fps; videos are also recorded in Full HD.
I was pleased with the work of optical stabilization. In the wide-angle position of the lens and when shooting handheld, the camera allows you to comfortably shoot at shutter speeds of up to 1 second; when shooting in the dark, it “sees” much more than the human eye. We saw something similar a few years ago in SLR cameras.
ISO values can be set either manually or in the low range: 125-400. The usual auto range uses ISO 125-3200.
Overall, the camera demonstrates good automatic white balance and exposure performance and only slightly errs in colors under fluorescent lighting, which is generally typical for most cameras.
Navigation through the menu is carried out with minimal delay.
The functionality of the AW100 includes such familiar features as automatic recognition of subject programs, faces, shooting people by smiling and blink detection. Nikon's face detection mode isn't the best, and sometimes the camera picks up faces where there aren't any.
In addition to mechanical image stabilization, to combat blur, the device uses high ISO, motion detection, and also shoots in series of several frames, after which it independently selects the sharpest one. This is a purely statistical approach, which nevertheless gives good results.
D-Lighting can only be applied after shooting. Also after shooting, the favorite filters “Miniature Effect”, “Fish-Eye”, “Skin Smoothing”, and some soft filters are available.
The camera records video with stereo sound in Full HD 1920×1080 at 30 fps, in HD 1280×720 at 30 fps and up to 120 fps at a resolution of 640×480. In all shooting modes, except high-speed, you can use zoom.
Nikon Coolpix AW100 - Nikon's first rugged ultra-compact
Sergey Verveyko
| November 29, 2011 |
As we have noted more than once, Nikon is not one of the first to rush to introduce something new in cameras and often takes a wait-and-see approach in order to evaluate all the competitive advantages and disadvantages of a particular technology. It was the same with touch screens, and it was the same with system cameras. The same thing happened with secure cameras. Almost everyone has already tried their hand here - Pentax, Canon, Samsung and the main players in the segment: Olympus and Panasonic, which are now setting the tone in the field of cameras for extreme conditions. Nikon kept dragging its feet with the release of a protected camera. Of course, for a strong start, you need to present a product that will be able to do everything that competitors’ models can do, but a little more. And judging by the stated characteristics, Nikon succeeded.
Like the most protected cameras from Olympus and Panasonic, the camera under test can be dropped from a height of 1.5 meters, immersed in water to a depth of 10 meters, in addition, the camera can withstand frosts of up to 10 degrees, and is also equipped with a GPS receiver. Nikon is clearly pitting its AW100 against the Olympus TG810 and Panasonic DMC-FT3. But, as noted above, for a successful start to sales you need to be superior to your competitor in something, and this “something” is the matrix. Both main competitors use a CCD sensor, while the camera we tested is equipped with a CMOS sensor, with all that that implies. Of course, here we can recall the Sony Cyber-shot TX5, which is also equipped with a CMOS sensor, but it is not a direct competitor to the camera under test - immersion in water is possible to a depth of only 3 meters, in addition, it cannot be dropped from a great height.
⇡#Technical characteristics declared by the manufacturer
| Nikon Coolpix AW100 | |
|---|---|
| Image sensor | 1/2.3″ with RGB CMOS matrix, total number of megapixels 16.8 |
| Effective number of points, MP | 16 |
| Image saving format | Still image: JPEG (EXIF 2.3, DCF) Video: H.264/MPEG-4 AVC |
| Frame size in pixels | Photo frame: 4608×3456, 4000×3000, 3264×2448, 2592×1944, 2048×1536, 1024×768, 640×480, 4608×2592 Video frame: Full HD (1080p 30 FPS), HD (720p 30 F PS), iFrame 540: 960×540 30 FPS, VGA 640×480 30 FPS, HS Video 15/60/120 FPS without sound |
| DPOF | DPOF support |
| Sensitivity | ISO 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200 (4608×3456), auto (ISO 125-800), range-lock auto (ISO 125-400, ISO 125-800) |
| Lens design | 11 elements in 9 groups (2 ED glass elements) |
| Focal length, mm | 5.0-25.0 (35mm format equivalent: 28-140mm) |
| Diaphragm | ƒ/3.9-4.8 |
| Digital zoom | Max. 4x (35mm format equivalent: approx. 560mm) |
| Focus range | 50 cm to infinity (at wide angle) 1 m to infinity (at telephoto) Macro mode: approx. from 1 cm to infinity (in wide-angle position) |
| Exposure, s | 1/1500-1.4 in Fireworks mode |
| Exposure metering | 256-segment matrix, center-weighted (digital zoom less than 2x), spot (digital zoom greater than 2x) |
| Exposure compensation | +/-2 EV in 1/3 EV increments |
| Scene modes | 20 scene modes |
| White balance | Auto, Manual, Sunny, Incandescent, Fluorescent, Cloudy, Flash |
| Built-in flash | Eat |
| Flash Modes | Auto, Red-Eye Reduction, Fill, Slow Sync, Off |
| Flash range (sensitivity Auto), m | SHU: 0.3-3.5 Tele: 0.5-2.2 |
| Self-timer | With 2/10 s delay |
| Storage device | SD/SDHC/SDXC |
| Built-in memory, MB | 83 |
| LCD display | LCD TFT monitor (HVGA) with a diagonal of 7.5 cm, resolution approx. 460 thousand dots, with anti-glare coating and brightness adjustment |
| Interface | miniHDMI, USB 2.0 |
| Nutrition | Li-ion battery EN-EL12 3.9 W*h |
| Dimensions (WxHxD), mm | 110,1×64,9×22,8 |
| Weight (excluding accessories), g | 178 |
⇡#Supply set
- Belt AN-CP23;
- Audio/video cable EG-CP16;
- Battery EN-EL12;
- Charger MH-65;
- USB cable UC-E6;
- Filter adapter UR-E23;
- Disk with ViewNX2 software;
- Disc with multilingual electronic user manual;
- User guide.
⇡#Appearance and ease of use
It is clearly evident that during the design they tried to make the camera as different as possible from its main competitors, but such are the characteristics of the segment: there are still similarities. To be completely unique, you have to create an extraordinary design like the Canon PowerShot D10, which may not be to everyone's taste. It is impossible not to notice that the Nikon Coolpix AW100 is significantly thinner and lighter than its main competitors, the Panasonic FT3 and Olympus TG-810, while the degree of protection for the cameras is approximately the same. The front panel of the camera is rough, so despite the black color, fingerprints on the surface are completely invisible.
By the way, in addition to black, orange is available (the Nikon camera is not unique here), as well as a protective design - a kind of “military style”, which competitors cannot boast of. The latest color scheme is very specific, but it will definitely find its buyer. It’s useless to find fault with the build quality - after all, this is a protected camera that can withstand an hour in water at a depth of 10 meters.
On the front panel there is a lens, a pair of microphones, a flash window and an autofocus illuminator lamp, which also serves as an indicator for the automatic shutter release timer. Surprisingly, unlike its main competitors, the powerful LED backlight in the camera under test cannot be used as an illuminator when shooting photos, although backlighting is possible when shooting video. It is worth noting that in terms of lens protection, Nikon went the way of Panasonic - the lens is hidden behind durable glass, and not behind a metal curtain, like Olympus. Of course, this solution requires periodic cleaning of the protective glass, but after use in water, drops on the lens dry faster, and accidentally falling sand will not damage either the lens itself or the shutter mechanism.
At the back, to the right of the screen, there is a zoom control rocker button, a video key, a double button for switching to viewing mode and selecting a shooting mode, a four-position multifunction key with an enter button in the center, as well as another double key for entering the main menu and deleting.
On top there is a GPS receiver antenna, a power key, and a shutter button.
At the bottom there is only a tripod mounting connector.
On the left there is a system speaker and a programmable key that can either call up a map or activate control by tilting the camera (analogous to the “Olympus” control of light blows to the body).
On the right there is an eyelet for a fastening cord and a door with a lock that hides the battery and memory card compartment, as well as connectors for USB/AV and HDMI cables.
Nikon Coolpix AW100. One year later
Why did you buy it?
I do hiking, cycling, water tourism, rock climbing, and winter sports. Sports were added on average by 1 per year. At first, the old Canon PowerShot A520 was enough. But after 4 years of use, it began to rapidly die: the body was bent and battered, there was a cracking sound when the lens came out, the shutter often jammed, you had to straighten it by hand, the screen was badly worn and scratched. But then the need arose to also link the photographs to the area. And as it turned out, a compass is also a useful thing, since at the time of purchase there was no GPS yet. And in photographs it is useful for tourists to know which side the photograph was taken from. As a result, I had to choose and buy an “armored” camera. I will not describe why the choice fell on him. I'll just tell you about him.
Brief characteristics
Resolution: 16 Mpx;
Display: 3.0";
Memory: SD/SDHC/SDXC;
Matrix: 1/2.3″;
Battery type: Li-ion(1400 mA);
Video recording: Full HD (1920×1080);
Stabilizer: optical;
Optical zoom: 4x
Appearance
Quite stylish and beautiful.
There hasn't been a single trip without people asking me what I'm holding in my hands. And after a short explanation, questions arose again about whether it was really protected and whether it normally tolerated water, dirt, etc. In general, it’s nice) I carry it without a case: so that I can always quickly turn it on and catch the moment.
As a result, after about 2 months of pure time spent “in nature” there are several scratches on the plastic. But since I have it in camouflage color, they are almost invisible. I wash it under the tap, sometimes with soap, every time I come back from a hike or outing. Otherwise like new.
Battery
As you already noticed 1400 mA.
The specifications say 250 photos. Looking ahead, I’ll say that in principle it’s true. But I mainly use it in the following modes: 1. During the day (the flash does not work) + compass.
Enough for 300+ photos. 2. During the day (the flash does not work) + compass + GPS markers on the photo (coordinates).
Enough for 150-200 photos. 3.During the day with GPS track recording.
Used it a couple of times. You can take about 150 photos, but only within 6-8 hours, since the GPS works even when the camera is turned off. 4. Mainly during the day + compass + GPS tags on the photo (coordinates) + about 10 photos in the evening or at night (in the parking lot). 200-300 photos.
When using 1,2,4 “modes” it is easily enough for a hike (7-10 days). Now I’m planning trips for 14+ days, I’m thinking about buying a second battery.
Ease of use
Well what can I say.
I give it 4+. It fits comfortably in the hand, even when wet it hardly slips. The buttons are quite convenient, but there is still room there; they could have done a little more. There are a couple of “minuses”, but for me they are insignificant:
- It’s convenient to take photographs with gloves (winter).
But changing the mode or viewing the photo taken is quite difficult. — There is no backlighting of the buttons.
There is 4x optical. I try not to use it, but sometimes I have to. The photo quality is quite normal, but at high quality (3-4) noise is still visible.
And it seems 4 or 5 times digital. I turned it off immediately after purchase because the image quality was poor.
Macro photography
You could say I was pleased.
Good quality. The focal length is quite small: about 1 cm. In the evening, when taking macro photography, it is difficult to use the flash.
Photos are often overexposed. But it all depends on the surface, distance and crookedness of the hands.
Photo quality
I use maximum quality.
1 photo weighs on average about 6 megabytes. An 8 GB flash drive can hold about 900 photos. If you evaluate on a 5-point scale, then 3+, 4, depending on the conditions.
Although not mirror quality, you can capture any moments, always at hand, no need to stop to take a photo. It's convenient to take pictures of yourself. Photos are shown on a map (in Google, Nokia, VK, etc.) In case of insufficient lighting - like all point-and-shoot cameras. Let's just say - no ice.
Video quality
It may seem funny, but it's great.
In most cases. In my opinion, better than the photos. I'll rate it 4+. What pleased me were the various modes of both resolution and number of frames (up to 240).
The truth is usually a rather useless function. There is a separate button for shooting video.
It's not familiar at first. Then sometimes it is accidentally pressed, since it is located between “zoom in” and “view frames”. The maximum duration of 1 video is 30 minutes.
Screen
3 inches on IPS matrix.
Colors are not distorted at different angles. Color rendition is good. In bright sunlight it looks quite normal, but the colors fade quite a bit. For me this is not important. Protected by plastic about 2 mm thick. The plastic has hardly been scratched or worn out in a year.
About the disadvantages
For all the time I found only one:
3 blue spots appeared on the screen, each about 1-2 mm in diameter. Visible only if you point the lens at a black surface. I don’t know where they came from. Too lazy to go to the service center. This is not reflected in the photographs.
Security
Everything is as written.
Everything is accurate. It works in cold weather (tested it at -15-20 when I rode in the Carpathians). It’s also great at sea in hot weather. I dived with it into the sea to a depth of 3-4 meters - everything was fine. Just remember to rinse with fresh water afterwards. It is not afraid of impacts and falls (it fell onto the floor and stones from about 1 meter). Once I fell on him with a backpack - also alive. Dust, dirt - you don’t even have to pay attention. Unless you occasionally wipe the lens with a T-shirt.
Lens
Glass outside.
I usually wipe it with whatever I have - a T-shirt, pants, a buff, a towel.
Both wet and dry. Like new. The only thing is that the coating has suffered a little from the water - now sometimes not all the droplets drain off on their own.
Underwater photography
There is even a special mode.
But I don’t know how it differs from “auto”. I tried to take photos with both, both above and below the water. No difference. The quality of the photo depends on the quality of the water. It's good at sea. It's terrible on the river.
The video is in 1080p, but it was uploaded smaller.
Shooting modes
There are about 25 of them.
There are two automatic ones: just auto.
I take 95% of my photos with it. good quality. And an intelligent car - this one simply analyzes the image, lighting, etc.
and itself switches from the available modes. Then the selected mode comes into play. Quite an interesting idea, but it guesses painfully wrong. Do not use. Sometimes I indulge in the night, food, sea, beach, sunset, etc.
If there is nothing to do... the difference between the modes is minimal. There is no manual setting. And as practice has shown, it is not needed here.
Quite satisfactory.
Although the maps do not load, there is a quite detailed map of the world. Location speed is slow. 5-10 minutes with a cold start, and 2-3 with a hot start. By comparison, in my Garmin a cold start lasts a maximum of 3-4 minutes.
conclusions
A little expensive... its price is 200-250 dollars. Serves faithfully. If you can’t imagine your life without active recreation and adventure, and want to capture these moments and share them with friends, then the Nikon Coolpix AW100 is what you need for the money.
Nikon Coolpix AW100 - Nikon's first rugged ultra-compact
Before the autumn vacation, the need arose to purchase an underwater camera. Of course, I already have a video mask for shooting underwater, but I wanted something more universal and easier to control. Agree that it is much more pleasant to catch a successful shot and shoot a video, seeing the composition on the LCD screen, than “shooting” almost at random from the lens of a video mask. And then, very successfully, a new product from my favorite manufacturer appeared on the market - the Nikon Coolpix AW100 all-weather camera. This is the first camera of its kind from Nikon, so I hope you find this short review helpful.
“All-weather” means protecting the camera from water when immersed to a depth of up to 10 meters, as well as protection from shocks, temperature changes, falls and other hardships and hardships that can happen while traveling. So the Nikon Coolpix AW100 can easily be classified as an extreme photo-video camera. Now about everything in more detail.
When you take this camera in your hands, you immediately get the feeling that this is not a camera, but some kind of device for military-strategic purposes. The case is made of thick plastic, rounded corners, powerful buttons, all this involuntarily inspires confidence in the device. Moreover, one of the Nikon Coolpix AW100 modifications is made in camouflage colors, which only adds the appropriate ambiance. There is also a “rescue” orange color, which allows you to quickly find the camera if it falls somewhere, and a classic black one. All parts are tightly secured, nothing loose or falls off. The absence of protruding elements and retractable parts, the light weight and thin body allow you to easily put the camera in your pocket and easily take it out.
On the back of the camera there is a 7.5 cm LCD screen and all controls. No wheels, just buttons, in my opinion, this is much more reliable. The video recording button is placed separately. I think that this is very convenient and correct; there is no need to be distracted from active recreation and tinker with the choice of modes. At any moment, press the button and video recording begins; press it again – the recording ends and the camera automatically returns to its previous photography mode. There are also buttons for selecting a photography program and viewing photos, a rocker button for zoom control, a four-way multifunction key with an enter button and buttons for flash control, exposure adjustment, setting a timer, macro mode, a settings menu rocker for the current shooting mode and deleting frames. All buttons are tight enough to avoid being pressed accidentally, but at the same time comfortable enough to operate the camera even with gloves or in the cold.
On the left side of the camera there is a button to switch the camera to GPS navigator mode. As stated by the manufacturer, a world map is already loaded into the camera, but in reality it is only a map with details of the city and several of the largest streets. Because of this, other declared and seemingly useful functions, such as recording a route while driving and terrain orientation, seem very doubtful. Here we can also mention the function of adding geotags to the EXIF information of the photographs taken, but if you consider the speed at which the GPS module eats up the already flimsy battery, then this function becomes unclaimed in real conditions. Also keep in mind that once turned on via the menu, the GPS receiver continues to work even when the camera's power is turned off.
On the right side of the camera there is a battery compartment covered with a lid with a screw latch and a sealed silicone gasket. Side projections reliably protect the latch from accidental rotation. To carry the camera, there are metal eyelets on both sides into which you can insert a lanyard or neck strap. I inserted a ring into the eyelet and attached the camera to a cord with a metal carabiner, so it’s more convenient to hang it around your neck when swimming.
The camera lens is protected by durable glass and does not have metal shutters. This is very good, since dirt and sand do not get into the lens, water on the glass dries quickly and is easy to clean. There is, of course, the other side of the coin - the lens is no less easy to accidentally stain.
Under the cover there is a connector for an SD card, EN-EL12 battery, HDMI and mini-USB. I tested the SD cards I have with a capacity of 16, 32 and 64 gigabytes, the camera works fine with all of them. The battery capacity is stated for 250 frames, but in reality it barely reached 200 even with the GPS module turned off. If you are planning a long autonomous outing, then you cannot do without one or several additional batteries. Chinese battery options are great; there is no need to overpay dealers for a branded box.
Before buying the Nikon Coolpix AW100, I read a lot of reviews on various Internet sites. There have been frequent complaints that when swimming, water gets into the battery compartment, after which the camera loses its warranty. After swimming in salt water, be sure to rinse the camera in running fresh water to prevent salt crystals from forming on the lid and joints after drying. And there is no need to use any foreign lubricants for the silicone gasket; it already ensures a tight seal.
The design features and purpose of the camera also determine its functionality. The camera comes with about two dozen preset shooting modes, as well as several fully automatic modes. The scope for creativity is not just limited, but completely excluded. You can't choose either aperture or shutter speed. All you can change is white balance, exposure compensation and flash mode. Everything else is taken care of by the camera, with all the ensuing consequences. When compared with SLR cameras, this is a forced analogue of the “P” program mode. Oddly enough, the preset shooting modes most severely limit the user; even flash control is often unavailable here. “Simple auto mode” generally eliminates the possibility of interfering with the shooting process; you only need to press the shutter button.
The most interesting is the so-called “Auto mode”. Here you can independently select white balance, ISO, autofocus zone and mode, as well as the shutter mode (the “Continuous” menu item). “Single-frame” mode - one press of the shutter button gives one frame. “Continuous B” and “Continuous L” are respectively high and low speed continuous shooting while the shutter button is held down. BSS (Best Shot Select) mode allows the camera to take a series of frames while the shutter button is held down, and then automatically selects and saves the best one. “Multi-shot 16” is some kind of tricky creative mode. In this mode, the camera very quickly takes 16 consecutive low-resolution frames and then combines them into one photo. It seems to me that this mode can be used to effectively shoot fast moving objects.
Outdoors with good lighting, the shots are quite good, but in the bright sun, overexposed areas often appear. This can be partially corrected in the menu by exposure compensation, but it does not always work. The inability to choose shutter speed in such situations is especially depressing.
I was very pleased with the underwater photography. The screen makes it easy to capture the desired frame, and with zooming you can shoot fish and other sea life from a safe distance without fear of scaring them. The flash is useless under water; it lasts for a maximum of half a meter, no more. In general, the underwater shots come out well, even on a large monitor and TV they look impressive, and for publication on the Internet or for decorating a home photo album about your vacation, they are absolutely beyond the roof. If we compare, the Nikon Coolpix AW100 is superior in photo quality to the Liquid Image Scuba Series 5.0MP HD 323 video mask, but it does not replace it, but successfully complements it. When moving, it’s more convenient to take pictures with a mask so that your hands remain free, and, hovering in one place, you can calmly pick up the camera. Taking photographs with one hand while moving is inconvenient.
Night photography and low-light photography is definitely the weak point of the Nikon Coolpix AW100. Maybe something sane would have turned out when shooting from a tripod, but since we are talking about an extreme camera, this means shooting handheld. And the sight of a soap dish on a tripod just makes me smile wryly. I was unable to get high-quality night photos in any mode, preset or automatic. After resizing and processing in all sorts of Photoshop, such frames can still be put in a cozy notebook, but you won’t want to print them out and hang them on the wall.
The maximum photo resolution is 4608x3456 pixels in JPEG format; shooting in RAW format is not provided. The file size is about 6.5-7 megabytes. You can download the original photos here.
The EXIF data of photos contains the camera model, firmware version and shooting date.
Shooting video in any situation is perhaps the main advantage of the camera. Video can be shot in resolutions from 320x240 at 240 frames per second and up to 1920x1080 at 30 frames per second. Video format MPEG-4 (.MOV), AVC codec. At maximum quality, 1 minute of recording produces approximately 110 megabytes of file. Unlike its closest competitors, Nikon Coolpix AW100 records video with full stereo sound. You can see screenshots from the video files below, and examples of video from the camera can be downloaded here.
Well, now about the main disadvantages of the Nikon Coolpix AW100. Firstly, the lens placement is very poorly thought out. It is not always convenient to hold the camera with one hand, especially when shooting conditions are difficult and you want to avoid “soap”. You have to constantly make sure that the fingers of your left hand do not get into the lens. You understand that when you are actively moving, you don’t want to be distracted by this at all. Secondly, the camera has a non-disabled function of scrolling through frames by tilting or shaking the body. Of course, I understand why it is needed - it’s not always convenient to look at photos, aiming at the buttons with your fingers in fur mittens. But what prevented manufacturers from making it possible to completely disable this function? Thirdly, the remaining battery charge indicator works very strangely. When it begins to show that the charge level has decreased by one of three divisions, this does not mean at all that 2/3 of the charge remains, as it would be logical to assume, but already much less than half. And if the last division remains, then the battery charge will last for a maximum of two dozen frames. Still, I would like a smoother and more proportional display.
When buying a Nikon Coolpix AW100 camera, you must clearly understand why you need it. If you want to get a GPS navigator and an amateur-grade camera in one fell swoop for little money, then I have to disappoint you. There are no miracles. Nikon Coolpix AW100 is inferior to even the frailest but specialized navigator, and in terms of shooting quality it barely reaches inexpensive modern point-and-shoot cameras. But on the other hand, you get an excellent camera for underwater photography and an “indestructible” photo-video camera that you can take on any extreme hike and shoot without thinking about anything, where no one in their right mind would uncover their fancy DSLR. In short, this is a very successful camera, but only as an auxiliary to a normal video camera and a normal photo camera. But in any case, the Nikon Coolpix AW100 camera definitely deserves the attention of all outdoor enthusiasts.
Nikon Coolpix AW110 vs Nikon Coolpix W100
Why is Nikon Coolpix AW110 better than Nikon Coolpix W100?
- 23.08% more megapixels (main camera)
16MP vs 13MP - 2x higher maximum light sensitivity
Why is Nikon Coolpix W100 better than Nikon Coolpix AW110?
- 2x better video recording quality (main camera)
What are the most popular comparisons?
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix AW130
Nikon Coolpix W100
Nikon Coolpix W150
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix AW120
Nikon Coolpix W100
Fujifilm FinePix XP130
Nikon Coolpix W100
Nikon Coolpix S33
Nikon Coolpix W100
Sony Cybershot W830
Nikon Coolpix W100
Nikon Coolpix W300
Nikon Coolpix W100
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FT30
Nikon Coolpix W100
Olympus Tough TG-5
Nikon Coolpix W100
Canon PowerShot D30
Nikon Coolpix W100
Nikon Coolpix S32
Nikon Coolpix W100
Fujifilm FinePix XP120
Design
The device is protected with additional insulation to prevent damage from dust, rain and splashing water.
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix W100
Having a rotating screen is useful for taking complex shots.
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix W100
The device is dustproof and waterproof. Water-resistant devices are protected from water penetration, such as from powerful water jets, but not from immersion in water.
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix W100
An electronic viewfinder (or EVF) is a small display that displays images. Their advantages over optical viewfinders include: EVFs show more of the image; they can be more compact; focusing is easier with digital zoom; and they may sometimes have additional information on the display (such as a histogram).
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix W100
The device has a screen with three whole subpixels per pixel, making images sharp and clear. The pixels in some displays (such as AMOLED) share one sub-pixel to save space. This results in less clear or blurry images.
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix W100
A system camera has many replaceable parts such as lenses, flashes and other accessories. They are more flexible to use than handheld cameras.
Leica ME (Typ 240)
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix W100
Optics
Tracking autofocus will allow you to correctly focus on the subject, press the shutter button, if the subject moves, the autofocus will follow it. Objects will always be in focus.
Nikon Coolpix AW110
Nikon Coolpix W100
The zoom range is the ratio between the longest and shortest focal length. A higher zoom range means the lens is more versatile.
Comparison of Nikon COOLPIX AW110 with AW100
At the end of January 2013, Nikon introduced an updated model of the all-weather compact camera COOLPIX AW110. The new product will be produced in four body colors: in addition to black and orange, and a bright sea green blue has been added to the protective coloring.
Compared to its predecessor, the AW110 received a more durable and reliably protected body. Now, according to the manufacturer, you can dive with the new product to a depth of up to 18 meters, versus 10 meters for the AW100. The camera's shock resistance has also improved: the AW110 can withstand a shock when dropped from 2 meters, versus 1.5 meters for its predecessor. The frost resistance indicator remained at the same level of -10°.
The Nikon AW110 is slightly thicker and taller than the AW100 (Approx. 110.1 x 65.3 x 24.5 mm and 110.1 x 64.9 x 22.8 mm, respectively), and adds just under 20 pounds in weight. gram.
The new product has built-in Wi-Fi technology. Now you can stream your photos and videos directly to your smart device for uploading to your favorite social networking sites. In addition, you can use your smart device as a remote control for your camera, which is very convenient when taking self-portraits.
The sensor remains the same, it is a 1/2.3-inch CMOS matrix with a resolution of 16 megapixels and back-illumination. The maximum ISO sensitivity remains at the same value of 3200, which is available in automatic mode. The NIKKOR 5x zoom lens remains the same as the AW100 (35mm format equivalent: 28-140mm). The lens design includes 11 elements in 9 groups (2 ED glass elements).
The 7.5 cm LCD monitor was replaced with an OLED screen and increased resolution: 614 thousand dots versus the previous 460 thousand. OLED technology delivers high brightness, impressive color reproduction, and excellent visibility and sharp contrast on this large screen in all lighting conditions, even underwater and in direct sunlight.
The processor in the camera remains the same: EXPEED C2. The continuous shooting speed has increased from 7.1 to 8 frames per second.
Nikon COOLPIX AW110 can shoot videos in Full HD (1080p) format with stereo sound; optical zoom and autofocus are available during video shooting. Slow motion or fast motion video recording is supported at recording speeds from 15 to 120 frames per second (AW100 has recording speeds from 15 to 240 frames per second (VGA).). The camera has a built-in HDMI connector that supports HDMI-CEC, allowing you to connect it to an HDTV.
AW110, like AW100, supports SD/SDHC/SDXC memory cards, but the amount of built-in memory in the new product has been reduced from 83 to 21 megabytes. The camera still uses an EN-EL12 battery, which is enough for about 250 shots.
Package Included:
Camera Strap (for land use), Rechargeable Li-ion Battery EN-EL12 (with protective cap), Charger MH-65 (with power cord), Filter Adapter UR-E25 (with dedicated cord), USB Cable UC- E6, A/V cable EG-CP16, brush, ViewNX 2 software CD, detailed user manual CD.
