The Nikon Coolpix AW100 is Nikon’s first rugged, waterproof digital camera. It can handle drops of about 5 feet, it’s waterproof to 33 feet and it’s also freezeproof – perfect for the kind of rough, outdoor funtography that I love! It’s got a 16-megapixel backlit CMOS sensor, full HD video, a 5x zoom lens, 3-inch LCD display and built-in GPS. It even has a nice fast burst mode – 7.1 frames per second for 3 frames. All-in-all, it’s a very compelling little outdoor fun camera that’s ready for pretty much anything. And since I love playing outdoors in the dirt and snow, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on one for review.
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Nikon Coolpix AW100 Camera Intro Video:
Price: $349.95
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Pros
- Best image quality I’ve seen in a waterproof camera
- 7 frames per second burst rate
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Better battery / SD card compartment locking system than most rugged cameras
- Built-in GPS
Nikon Coolpix AW100 Cons
- Three frame limit in burst mode
- Lens has noticeable distortion, soft edges and a tendency to flare
- Images are a bit soft and lack contrast
- Tendency to shoot at large apertures
- Flash is a bit harsh
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The IQ loss compared to other P&S cameras is likely due to the piece of glass in front of the lens used to ensure water-proofness. It has to be somewhat rugged glass, so it’s not going to be quality along the lines of ED glass, etc.