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Canon G11 vs Nikon L21

Portability
83
Imaging
34
Features
48
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot G11 front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon G11
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 2.8" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28-140mm (F2.8-4.5) lens
  • 375g - 112 x 76 x 48mm
  • Revealed December 2009
  • Newer Model is Canon G12
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
  • Revealed February 2010
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Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Canon G11 and Nikon L21, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by manufacturers Canon and Nikon. There exists a significant gap among the resolutions of the G11 (10MP) and L21 (8MP) and the G11 (1/1.7") and L21 (1/2.3") use different sensor sizes.

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The G11 was brought out within a month of the L21 and they are of a similar generation. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a simple overview of how the G11 matches up against the L21 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon G11 over the Nikon L21

 G11 L21 
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display sizing2.8"2.5"Larger display (+0.3")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon G11

 L21 G11 

Common features in the Canon G11 and Nikon L21

 G11 L21 
RevealedDecember 2009February 2010Same generation
Touch display Neither has Touch display

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

In case you're planning to travel with your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and size. The Canon G11 has outer measurements of 112mm x 76mm x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") and a weight of 375 grams (0.83 lbs) whilst 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 G11 and Nikon L21 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you are using at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the G11 against the L21.

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the G11 and L21 is 83 and 93 respectively.

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to imagine the gap in sensor dimensions simply by looking through specifications. The pic here might give you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the G11 and L21.

To sum up, both the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor dimensions. The G11 featuring a larger sensor is going to make shooting shallower DOF simpler and the Canon G11 will result in more detail having its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop photos far more aggressively.

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon G11 Portrait photography info
Nikon L21 Portrait photography info
47
you can focus manually
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000s)
has face detection autofocus
delivers RAW formats
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
low MP (8 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon G11 Street photography information
Nikon L21 Street photography information
64
screen articulates fully
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
more heavy than competition (375g)
46
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon G11 Sports photography factors
Nikon L21 Sports photography factors
27
image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (1.0 frames per second)
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect autofocus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon G11 Travel photography advice
Nikon L21 Travel photography advice
57
flash built-in
selfie friendly display
fairly wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than competition (375 grams)
low MP (10MP)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
low MP (8 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon G11 as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Landscape photography camera
46
you can focus manually
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (2.8")
image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse function
22
lack of manual focus
can't swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.5")
manual mode not available
does not have image stabilization
low MP (8MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Canon G11
Vlogging with Nikon L21
60
fairly wide (28mm)
selfie friendly display
image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection autofocus
slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
video res low (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competition (375g)
21
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external mic jack
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Canon G11 vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon G11 and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot G11Nikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot G11 Nikon Coolpix L21
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2009-12-16 2010-02-03
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 8 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-140mm (5.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/2.8-4.5 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focusing range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 4.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fully Articulated Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.8 inches 2.5 inches
Resolution of screen 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Optical (tunnel) None
Features
Min shutter speed 15s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 7.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Second Curtain Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Max flash sync 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 375g (0.83 pounds) 169g (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 112 x 76 x 48mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 1.9") 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating 47 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 20.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 11.1 not tested
DXO Low light rating 169 not tested
Other
Battery ID NB-7L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD, SDHC, MMC, MMCplus, HC MMCplus card SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots Single Single
Price at release $600 $180