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Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21

Portability
86
Imaging
39
Features
45
Overall
41
Canon PowerShot SX160 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon SX160 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-448mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 291g - 111 x 73 x 44mm
  • Announced June 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX150 IS
  • Renewed by Canon SX170 IS
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
  • Released February 2010
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Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 Overview

The following is a complete overview of the Canon SX160 IS and Nikon L21, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by competitors Canon and Nikon. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX160 IS (16MP) and L21 (8MP) but they possess the exact same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX160 IS was manufactured 3 years after the L21 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a quick view of how the SX160 IS grades versus the L21 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX160 IS over the Nikon L21

 SX160 IS L21 
ReleasedJune 2013February 2010Newer by 42 months
Focus manually Dial precise focusing
Screen dimension3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon SX160 IS

 L21 SX160 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX160 IS and Nikon L21

 SX160 IS L21 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to travel with your camera regularly, you will have to factor in its weight and size. The Canon SX160 IS has external measurements of 111mm x 73mm x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") having a weight of 291 grams (0.64 lbs) while the Nikon L21 has specifications of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

Check out the Canon SX160 IS and Nikon L21 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you use during that time. Underneath is the front view size comparison of the SX160 IS and the L21.

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the SX160 IS and L21 is 86 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Often, it's hard to visualize the contrast between sensor dimensions only by reviewing technical specs. The pic below will help offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the SX160 IS and L21.

As you have seen, each of the cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit different resolution. You can expect the Canon SX160 IS to deliver more detail due to its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also make it easier to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The more recent SX160 IS should have a benefit when it comes to sensor innovation.

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Portrait photography highlights
Nikon L21 Portrait photography highlights
46
has manual focus
flash sync is higher than normal (1/2,000s)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
18
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
external flash not possible
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Street photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Street photography camera
59
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (291g)
no articulating screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX160 IS Sports photography details
Nikon L21 Sports photography details
50
amazing zoom range (28-448mm 16.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
better than average battery power (380 shots)
slow fps (1.0 frames per second)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
15
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Travel photography camera
68
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
lighter than competition (291 grams)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long zoom (448mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
50
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Canon SX160 IS
Landscape photography with Nikon L21
51
has manual focus
pretty wide (28mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
better than average battery power (380 per charge)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
no Timelapse recording
21
focusing manually not possible
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX160 IS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon L21 as a Vlogging camera
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
lighter than competition (291g)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone support
21
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of mic socket
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Canon SX160 IS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX160 IS and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot SX160 ISNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX160 IS Nikon Coolpix L21
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-06-21 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 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 16 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 28-448mm (16.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Highest aperture f/3.5-5.9 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of display 230k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Highest shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Highest flash synchronize 1/2000s -
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video format H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Eye-Fi Connected None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 291 gr (0.64 lbs) 169 gr (0.37 lbs)
Dimensions 111 x 73 x 44mm (4.4" x 2.9" x 1.7") 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 life 380 photographs -
Type of battery AA -
Battery ID 2 x AA 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Price at launch $199 $180