Clicky

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21

Portability
92
Imaging
34
Features
20
Overall
28
Canon PowerShot A2100 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon A2100 IS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 36-216mm (F3.2-5.9) lens
  • 185g - 102 x 64 x 32mm
  • Revealed February 2009
Nikon L21
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 169g - 92 x 67 x 28mm
  • Launched February 2010
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 Overview

Lets look much closer at the Canon A2100 IS versus Nikon L21, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Canon and Nikon. There exists a huge gap among the sensor resolutions of the A2100 IS (12MP) and L21 (8MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

The A2100 IS was introduced 11 months earlier than the L21 so they are of a similar generation. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a in depth comparison, below is a short summary of how the A2100 IS scores against the L21 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

        

Reasons to pick Canon A2100 IS over the Nikon L21

 A2100 IS L21 
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon A2100 IS

 L21 A2100 IS 
LaunchedFebruary 2010February 2009More modern by 11 months

Common features in the Canon A2100 IS and Nikon L21

 A2100 IS L21 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kIdentical display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera, you need to take into account its weight and size. The Canon A2100 IS provides outer measurements of 102mm x 64mm x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 185 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Nikon L21 has specifications of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check the Canon A2100 IS versus Nikon L21 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Below is the front view measurements comparison of the A2100 IS and the L21.

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A2100 IS and L21 is 92 and 93 respectively.

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its tough to picture the contrast in sensor sizes merely by looking through specs. The picture underneath may provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the A2100 IS and L21.

All in all, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but different MP. You should anticipate the Canon A2100 IS to provide you with greater detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop photos somewhat more aggressively. The more aged A2100 IS will be behind in sensor innovation.

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Canon A2100 IS
Portrait photography with Nikon L21
26
comes with face detect focus
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
18
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
resolution not great (8MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A2100 IS
Street photography with Nikon L21
55
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Sports Comparison

Canon A2100 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Sports photography camera
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
slow fps (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
15
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Travel Comparison

Canon A2100 IS Travel photography advice
Nikon L21 Travel photography advice
50
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
Photography Glossary

Landscape Comparison

Canon A2100 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Landscape photography camera
31
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
manual exposure not available
MP count low (12MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse function
21
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon A2100 IS
Vlogging with Nikon L21
27
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focus
wide angle not the best (36mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.2)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
does not have mic port
21
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone socket
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Canon A2100 IS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A2100 IS and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot A2100 ISNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot A2100 IS Nikon Coolpix L21
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-02-18 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 8 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 64
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch to focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 36-216mm (6.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-5.9 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Display resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 185 gr (0.41 lbs) 169 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 102 x 64 x 32mm (4.0" x 2.5" x 1.3") 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth rating not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested not tested
DXO Low light rating not tested not tested
Other
Battery ID 2 x AA 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2, 10, Custom, Face) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/MMC/MMCplus/HD MMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $220 $180