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Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21

Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
44
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX240 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon SX240 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 224g - 106 x 61 x 33mm
  • Released February 2012
  • Replaced the Canon SX230 HS
  • Refreshed by Canon SX260 HS
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
  • Launched February 2010
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Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a substantial gap between the image resolutions of the SX240 HS (12MP) and L21 (8MP) but they use the same exact sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX240 HS was unveiled 2 years later than the L21 and that is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a quick highlight of how the SX240 HS scores versus the L21 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX240 HS over the Nikon L21

 SX240 HS L21 
LaunchedFebruary 2012February 2010More recent by 25 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kCrisper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon SX240 HS

 L21 SX240 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX240 HS and Nikon L21

 SX240 HS L21 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to lug around your camera regularly, you should consider its weight and measurements. The Canon SX240 HS has external measurements of 106mm x 61mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") having a weight of 224 grams (0.49 lbs) whilst the Nikon L21 has proportions of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you select at that moment. Below is the front view size comparison of the SX240 HS versus the L21.

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the SX240 HS and L21 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is hard to see the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The photograph below should provide you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the SX240 HS and L21.

As you can tell, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same MP. You can expect to see the Canon SX240 HS to deliver more detail having an extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics far more aggressively. The fresher SX240 HS is going to have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX240 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Portrait photography camera
37
you can focus manually
offers face detect autofocus
low resolution sensor (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
18
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Street photography factors
Nikon L21 Street photography factors
60
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (224 grams)
no moving screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
46
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX240 HS
Sports photography with Nikon L21
36
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 frames/s)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
terrible battery power (230 CIPA)
lack of phase detect autofocus
15
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Travel photography info
Nikon L21 Travel photography info
61
lighter than others (224g)
has built in flash
rather wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
terrible battery power (230 per charge)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
50
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low megapixels (8MP)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Landscape photography information
Nikon L21 Landscape photography information
41
you can focus manually
rather wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
low resolution sensor (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
terrible battery power (230 shots)
does not have Timelapse mode
21
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.5")
manual exposure not available
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX240 HS Vlogging features
Nikon L21 Vlogging features
34
rather wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than others (224 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
does not have microphone socket
21
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
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Canon SX240 HS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX240 HS and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot SX240 HSNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Brand Name Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX240 HS Nikon Coolpix L21
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-02-07 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 5 Expeed C2
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 8 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 3200 1600
Lowest native ISO 100 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3" 2.5"
Resolution of screen 461k dots 230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech PureColor II TFT LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 2.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30, 120 fps), 320 x 240 (240 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 224 gr (0.49 pounds) 169 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 61 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.4" x 1.3") 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 230 shots -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $0 $180