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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
Portability
75
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Launched March 2013
  • Replaced the Canon SX270 HS
Nikon L120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 431g - 110 x 77 x 78mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Nikon L110
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 Overview

Below is a thorough review of the Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by brands Canon and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the SX280 HS (12MP) and the L120 (14MP) is relatively similar and they feature the exact same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was launched 2 years later than the L120 and that is quite a sizable gap as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a complete comparison, below is a simple introduction of how the SX280 HS grades vs the L120 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Nikon L120

 SX280 HS L120 
IntroducedMarch 2013February 2011More recent by 26 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing

Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Canon SX280 HS

 L120 SX280 HS 
Screen resolution921k461kCrisper screen (+460k dot)

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Nikon L120

 SX280 HS L120 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Neither has Touch screen

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 Physical Comparison

When you are looking to lug around your camera frequently, you will have to consider its weight and size. The Canon SX280 HS has outside dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") accompanied by a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Nikon L120 has specifications of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") having a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs).

Check the Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ dependant on the lens you are working with at the time. Underneath is the front view over all size comparison of the SX280 HS compared to the L120.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability grade of the SX280 HS and L120 is 91 and 75 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 Sensor Comparison

Often, its difficult to visualise the gap between sensor measurements purely by reviewing technical specs. The visual below will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the SX280 HS and L120.

As you can tell, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same megapixels. You should count on the Nikon L120 to offer you extra detail utilizing its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs much more aggressively. The younger SX280 HS is going to have an advantage in sensor tech.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography advice
Nikon L120 Portrait photography advice
34
manual focus
provides face detection autofocus
can't use external flash
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
33
megapixel count good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focusing
lack of manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Street photography information
Nikon L120 Street photography information
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (233g)
no articulating screen
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
48
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Sports photography info
Nikon L120 Sports photography info
36
long zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second very slow (4.0 fps)
low MP (12MP)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
not so great battery (210 per charge)
does not have phase detect autofocus
43
great zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
provides tracking focus
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Travel photography camera
Nikon L120 as a Travel photography camera
61
lighter than average (233g)
flash built-in
pretty wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
not so great battery (210 per charge)
low MP (12MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
60
megapixel count good (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
does not offer selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography details
Nikon L120 Landscape photography details
41
manual focus
pretty wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
low MP (12 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
not so great battery (210 CIPA)
lack of Time Lapse function
40
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count good (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging info
Nikon L120 Vlogging info
34
pretty wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection autofocus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average (233 grams)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic socket
27
decently wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focusing
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly display
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L120 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Nikon L120
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSNikon Coolpix L120
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model type Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Nikon Coolpix L120
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2013-03-21 2011-02-09
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Digic 6 Expeed C2
Sensor type BSI-CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 4000 x 3000 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 9
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-500mm (20.0x) 25-525mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.1-5.8
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 461k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display technology - TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 15 seconds 4 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 4.0 frames per second 1.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 3.50 m 6.00 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 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 MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS BuiltIn None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 233g (0.51 pounds) 431g (0.95 pounds)
Dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 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 210 pictures 330 pictures
Style of battery Battery Pack AA
Battery ID NB-6L 4 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail cost $325 $300