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Canon A800 vs Nikon L21

Portability
93
Imaging
33
Features
19
Overall
27
Canon PowerShot A800 front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon A800
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 37-122mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 186g - 94 x 61 x 31mm
  • Launched 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
  • Revealed February 2010
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Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 Overview

In this write-up, we will be comparing the Canon A800 vs Nikon L21, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by competitors Canon and Nikon. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the A800 (10MP) and L21 (8MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The A800 was brought out 12 months later than the L21 which means that they are both of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a in-depth comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the A800 matches up versus the L21 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon A800 over the Nikon L21

 A800 L21 
RevealedJanuary 2011February 2010Fresher by 12 months

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon A800

 L21 A800 
Screen resolution230k115kClearer screen (+115k dot)

Common features in the Canon A800 and Nikon L21

 A800 L21 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen sizing2.5"2.5"Equivalent screen measurements
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

For those who are aiming to carry your camera often, you're going to have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon A800 provides outside measurements of 94mm x 61mm x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") and a weight of 186 grams (0.41 lbs) while the Nikon L21 has specifications of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

Look at the Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will change depending on the lens you are using during that time. Underneath is the front view measurements comparison of the A800 and the L21.

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the A800 and L21 is 93 and 93 respectively.

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing simply by going over a spec sheet. The graphic below might provide you a stronger sense of the sensor measurements in the A800 and L21.

Clearly, each of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Canon A800 to offer greater detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs far more aggressively. The more recent A800 will have an edge when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon A800 Portrait photography details
Nikon L21 Portrait photography details
25
offers face detection autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
18
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon A800
Street photography with Nikon L21
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Canon A800 as a Sports photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Sports photography camera
29
offers tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (300 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
15
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon A800 Travel photography information
Nikon L21 Travel photography information
55
better than average battery pack (300 CIPA)
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
50
has built in flash
no Time Lapse function
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon A800 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Landscape photography camera
26
better than average battery pack (300 shots)
no manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse mode
21
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
manual exposure not possible
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon A800 Vlogging highlights
Nikon L21 Vlogging highlights
24
offers face detection autofocus
wide angle not fantastic (37mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
no external mic support
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Canon A800 vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon A800 and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot A800Nikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot A800 Nikon Coolpix L21
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Launched 2011-01-05 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by DIGIC 3 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 8MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 80 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 37-122mm (3.3x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 115 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Screen technology TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 secs 8 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 3.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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)
Max video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic support
Headphone support
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 186g (0.41 pounds) 169g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 94 x 61 x 31mm (3.7" x 2.4" x 1.2") 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 300 images -
Battery style AA -
Battery model 2 x AA 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10sec, custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC/MMC/MMCplus/HCMMCplus SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $90 $180