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Canon N vs Nikon L120

Portability
93
Imaging
36
Features
33
Overall
34
Canon PowerShot N front
 
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
Portability
75
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37

Canon N vs Nikon L120 Key Specs

Canon N
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.8" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-224mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 195g - 79 x 60 x 29mm
  • Released January 2013
Nikon L120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 431g - 110 x 77 x 78mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Nikon L110
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Canon N vs Nikon L120 Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Canon N and Nikon L120, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Canon and Nikon. The image resolution of the N (12MP) and the L120 (14MP) is very close and both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The N was manufactured 24 months later than the L120 making them a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going right into a detailed comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the N scores vs the L120 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon N over the Nikon L120

 N L120 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2011More recent by 24 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Canon N

 L120 N 
Display dimensions3"2.8"Larger display (+0.2")
Display resolution921k461kClearer display (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon N and Nikon L120

 N L120 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing

Canon N vs Nikon L120 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to lug around your camera, you are going to need to take into account its weight and volume. The Canon N features outer measurements of 79mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) and the Nikon L120 has sizing of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs).

Analyze the Canon N and Nikon L120 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you choose at that time. The following is a front view measurements comparison of the N and the L120.

Canon N vs Nikon L120 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the N and L120 is 93 and 75 respectively.

Canon N vs Nikon L120 top view buttons comparison

Canon N vs Nikon L120 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to imagine the gap in sensor measurements simply by viewing specs. The graphic below should provide you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the N and L120.

As you can plainly see, each of the cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Nikon L120 to render more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos a bit more aggressively. The more modern N provides a benefit in sensor innovation.

Canon N vs Nikon L120 sensor size comparison

Canon N vs Nikon L120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon N vs Nikon L120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon N Portrait photography highlights
Nikon L120 Portrait photography highlights
21
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
includes face detection focusing
no manual focus
manual exposure not available
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon N as a Street photography camera
Nikon L120 as a Street photography camera
65
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon N Sports photography details
Nikon L120 Sports photography details
25
built in image stabilization (Optical)
max frames per second low (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority
resolution not great (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (200 shots)
has no phase detect autofocus
43
incredible zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
includes tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon N Travel photography info
Nikon L120 Travel photography info
61
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
fairly wide (28mm)
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery power (200 shots)
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
60
MP count good (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
long reach (525mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon N Landscape photography factors
Nikon L120 Landscape photography factors
36
fairly wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (2.8 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
resolution not great (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery power (200 shots)
no Timelapse recording
40
quite wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon N Vlogging highlights
Nikon L120 Vlogging highlights
72
fairly wide (28mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no microphone socket
27
quite wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
includes face detection focusing
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have external microphone port
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Canon N vs Nikon L120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon N and Nikon L120
 Canon PowerShot NNikon Coolpix L120
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot N Nikon Coolpix L120
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2013-01-07 2011-02-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 Expeed C2
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12MP 14MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 2248 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-224mm (8.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.9 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.8 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech PureColor II G touch TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 secs 4 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 2.0 frames per sec 1.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.00 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 ( 240 fps) 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS Optional None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 195 gr (0.43 lbs) 431 gr (0.95 lbs)
Physical dimensions 79 x 60 x 29mm (3.1" x 2.4" x 1.1") 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 life 200 photos 330 photos
Battery form Battery Pack AA
Battery ID NB-9L 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media microSD/microSDHC/microSDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $299 $300