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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21

Portability
80
Imaging
39
Features
40
Overall
39
Canon PowerShot SX500 IS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon SX500 IS
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 341g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Released August 2012
  • Updated by Canon SX510 HS
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
  • Revealed February 2010
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 Overview

Here is a extended review of the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon L21, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by companies Canon and Nikon. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the SX500 IS (16MP) and L21 (8MP) but they enjoy the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The SX500 IS was released 2 years later than the L21 and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a more detailed comparison, below is a concise summation of how the SX500 IS grades vs the L21 in the way of portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX500 IS over the Nikon L21

 SX500 IS L21 
RevealedAugust 2012February 2010Fresher by 31 months
Focus manually Very exact focusing
Screen sizing3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution461k230kSharper screen (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon SX500 IS

 L21 SX500 IS 

Common features in the Canon SX500 IS and Nikon L21

 SX500 IS L21 
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither offers Touch friendly screen

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry your camera, you should factor in its weight and measurements. The Canon SX500 IS offers external measurements of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") along with a weight of 341 grams (0.75 lbs) while 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).

Analyze the Canon SX500 IS versus Nikon L21 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is the front view scale comparison of the SX500 IS compared to the L21.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the SX500 IS and L21 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it is tough to see the gap between sensor sizing just by going over specs. The visual underneath will give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizing in the SX500 IS and L21.

All in all, both cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same resolution. You can expect the Canon SX500 IS to offer you more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs far more aggressively. The more modern SX500 IS will have an advantage when it comes to sensor technology.

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Portrait photography details
Nikon L21 Portrait photography details
46
focusing manually
great flash sync speed (1/1,600s)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focusing
external flash not possible
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
18
no manual focus
no manual control
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (8MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Canon SX500 IS
Street photography with Nikon L21
51
built in image stabilization (Optical)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
46
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Sports photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Sports photography camera
44
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
provides tracking autofocus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 fps)
small sensor (1/2.3")
low battery (195 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
15
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Travel photography highlights
Nikon L21 Travel photography highlights
59
MP count good (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse mode
low battery (195 CIPA)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.4)
50
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
megapixel count low (8MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX500 IS as a Landscape photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Landscape photography camera
46
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.4)
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
low battery (195 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
21
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5 inch)
no manual control
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX500 IS Vlogging information
Nikon L21 Vlogging information
28
quite wide (24mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.4)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 resolution)
lack of external mic support
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Canon SX500 IS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX500 IS and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot SX500 ISNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Company Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX500 IS Nikon Coolpix L21
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Released 2012-08-21 2010-02-03
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 8 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximal aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Resolution of display 461k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15 seconds 8 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 5.00 m -
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync 1/1600 seconds -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720 (25 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video data format H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 341 gr (0.75 pounds) 169 gr (0.37 pounds)
Dimensions 104 x 70 x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") 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 195 shots -
Battery format Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6L 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Storage slots One One
Retail price $299 $180