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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21

Portability
91
Imaging
36
Features
43
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX280 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon SX280 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.5-6.8) lens
  • 233g - 106 x 63 x 33mm
  • Released March 2013
  • Previous Model is Canon SX270 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
  • Introduced February 2010
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 Overview

Lets look a little more in depth at the Canon SX280 HS and Nikon L21, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. There exists a big gap among the sensor resolutions of the SX280 HS (12MP) and L21 (8MP) but both cameras boast the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The SX280 HS was revealed 3 years after the L21 which is a fairly big gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before we go into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick summary of how the SX280 HS grades vs the L21 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX280 HS over the Nikon L21

 SX280 HS L21 
IntroducedMarch 2013February 2010More modern by 39 months
Focus manually More exact focus
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kClearer display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon SX280 HS

 L21 SX280 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX280 HS and Nikon L21

 SX280 HS L21 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

When you are going to carry around your camera often, you need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Canon SX280 HS comes with external dimensions of 106mm x 63mm x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") along with a weight of 233 grams (0.51 lbs) whilst the Nikon L21 has dimensions of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

Analyze the Canon SX280 HS and Nikon L21 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you use at that time. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the SX280 HS and the L21.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the SX280 HS and L21 is 91 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it is difficult to visualise the gap in sensor sizes simply by seeing technical specs. The pic below will offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the SX280 HS and L21.

As you have seen, each of the cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same megapixels. You should expect to see the Canon SX280 HS to produce greater detail because of its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also help you crop pics more aggressively. The newer SX280 HS is going to have an advantage with regard to sensor technology.

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Portrait photography features
Nikon L21 Portrait photography features
34
you can focus manually
comes with face detection focus
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Canon SX280 HS as a Street photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Street photography camera
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
46
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Canon SX280 HS
Sports photography with Nikon L21
36
great zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with tracking autofocus
low fps (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (210 per charge)
has no phase detect auto focus
16
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Travel photography features
Nikon L21 Travel photography features
61
lighter than competition (233 grams)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
great zoom (500mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery life (210 CIPA)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
50
built-in flash
missing Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (8MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Landscape photography details
Nikon L21 Landscape photography details
41
you can focus manually
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
low battery life (210 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse function
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.5")
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX280 HS Vlogging features
Nikon L21 Vlogging features
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than competition (233 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic port
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone jack
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Canon SX280 HS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX280 HS and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot SX280 HSNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Manufacturer Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX280 HS Nikon Coolpix L21
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2013-03-21 2010-02-03
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Digic 6 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 aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 6400 1600
Minimum native ISO 100 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-500mm (20.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.5-6.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 461 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/3200 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 4.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 3.50 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60, 30 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)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 233g (0.51 lb) 169g (0.37 lb)
Physical dimensions 106 x 63 x 33mm (4.2" x 2.5" x 1.3") 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested not tested
DXO Color Depth score not tested not tested
DXO Dynamic range score not tested not tested
DXO Low light score not tested not tested
Other
Battery life 210 pictures -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $325 $180