The Nikon Coolpix AW130 is a sprightly, responsive camera that is very quick to take pictures.
However, it does not feel as robust as some of the other devices that we tested.
The camera housing is fully plastic, without any bumpers to protect it from drops.
After our stress test, the bottom right corner of the camera sustained a few scuffs, and some of the paint on the front of the camera had been scraped off.
On top of the cosmetic damage, the camera's battery compartment locking mechanism was also slightly damaged.
This mechanism is a small wheel, about the size of a 10-cent coin, with a button in the centre of it on the right side of the camera. This button needs to be pressed in order to turn the wheel, which locks and unlocks the compartment.
However, after using the camera on the beach, sand began to get trapped under the wheel, making it more difficult to turn. There was also an audible scraping noise when it was moved.
Although the camera's body may not be the hardiest, it was one of the fastest devices that we tested.
It booted up almost immediately after the power button was pressed, and was ready to shoot in a split second.
The shutter also triggered very rapidly, and navigating the menus and gallery was all a buttery- smooth experience.
It also has three handy buttons on the left side of the camera: Maps, Wi-Fi and a shortcut to some of the commonly used functions.
The map function, in particular, is great if you are travelling, as it pulls up with a world map showing the locations where the pictures were taken.
In our tests, the Nikon produced sharp images, and coped well even in the shadow or indoors.
The camera's colours lean slightly towards the cool, but are overall true to life.
•Verdict: A snappy camera with solid picture quality, but not the toughest out there.
TECH SPECS
PRICE: $469
IMAGE SENSOR: 16-megapixel 1/2.3-inch sensor
WATERPROOF: 30m
SHOCKPROOF: 2.1m
DISPLAY: 3-inch LCD
WEIGHT: 221g, including battery and MicroSD card
RATING
DESIGN: 3/5
FEATURES: 4/5
PERFORMANCE: 4/5
OVERALL: 4/5
