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Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21

Portability
95
Imaging
39
Features
30
Overall
35
Canon PowerShot A3300 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon A3300 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 149g - 95 x 57 x 24mm
  • Announced January 2011
Nikon L21
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 169g - 92 x 67 x 28mm
  • Announced February 2010
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Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 Overview

Below, we will be looking at the Canon A3300 IS versus Nikon L21, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There is a substantial difference among the image resolutions of the A3300 IS (16MP) and L21 (8MP) but they use the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The A3300 IS was launched 12 months after the L21 and they are of a similar age. Both cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a in depth comparison, below is a short summation of how the A3300 IS grades vs the L21 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon A3300 IS over the Nikon L21

 A3300 IS L21 
AnnouncedJanuary 2011February 2010More modern by 12 months
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon A3300 IS

 L21 A3300 IS 

Common features in the Canon A3300 IS and Nikon L21

 A3300 IS L21 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Lack of selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

For those who are looking to carry around your camera often, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Canon A3300 IS offers physical measurements of 95mm x 57mm x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") and a weight of 149 grams (0.33 lbs) while the Nikon L21 has specifications of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Canon A3300 IS versus Nikon L21 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is the front view sizing comparison of the A3300 IS versus the L21.

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the A3300 IS and L21 is 95 and 93 respectively.

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Generally, its difficult to envision the gap in sensor sizes simply by checking out specifications. The picture here might give you a greater sense of the sensor measurements in the A3300 IS and L21.

To sum up, both of the cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Canon A3300 IS to show greater detail utilizing its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also enable you to crop shots much more aggressively. The fresher A3300 IS will have an edge in sensor technology.

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A3300 IS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Portrait photography camera
34
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features face detect focus
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
external flash not possible
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
low MP (8MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Canon A3300 IS as a Street photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Street photography camera
57
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon A3300 IS
Sports photography with Nikon L21
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
features tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A3300 IS Travel photography factors
Nikon L21 Travel photography factors
65
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (28mm)
missing Timelapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
slow max aperture (f2.8)
50
flash built-in
no Timelapse function
low MP (8 megapixels)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A3300 IS Landscape photography highlights
Nikon L21 Landscape photography highlights
43
reasonably wide (28mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
lack of manual focus
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
no manual exposure
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inch)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
low MP (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A3300 IS Vlogging information
Nikon L21 Vlogging information
31
reasonably wide (28mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focus
slow max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing microphone port
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
no external microphone socket
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Canon A3300 IS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A3300 IS and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot A3300 ISNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot A3300 IS Nikon Coolpix L21
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2011-01-05 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 4 with iSAPS technology 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 area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 80 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-140mm (5.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/2.8-5.9 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate 1.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 4.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Smart Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (24 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 149g (0.33 lb) 169g (0.37 lb)
Dimensions 95 x 57 x 24mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.9") 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 230 pictures -
Battery type Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-8L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at release $200 $180