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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21

Portability
80
Imaging
36
Features
41
Overall
38
Canon PowerShot SX510 HS front
 
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 Key Specs

Canon SX510 HS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.4-5.8) lens
  • 349g - 104 x 70 x 80mm
  • Revealed August 2013
  • Superseded the Canon SX500 IS
  • New Model is Canon SX520 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
  • Released February 2010
Photography Glossary

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 Overview

Below, we are looking at the Canon SX510 HS versus Nikon L21, one being a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Canon and Nikon. There exists a significant gap among the image resolutions of the SX510 HS (12MP) and L21 (8MP) but they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The SX510 HS was brought out 3 years later than the L21 and that is a fairly sizable gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick introduction of how the SX510 HS grades versus the L21 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Canon SX510 HS over the Nikon L21

 SX510 HS L21 
ReleasedAugust 2013February 2010Fresher by 44 months
Focus manually Very precise focusing
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution461k230kSharper display (+231k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Canon SX510 HS

 L21 SX510 HS 

Common features in the Canon SX510 HS and Nikon L21

 SX510 HS L21 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 Physical Comparison

If you are planning to carry your camera, you will want to factor its weight and proportions. The Canon SX510 HS has got physical dimensions of 104mm x 70mm x 80mm (4.1" x 2.8" x 3.1") accompanied by a weight of 349 grams (0.77 lbs) while the Nikon L21 has measurements of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs).

Compare the Canon SX510 HS versus Nikon L21 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you are working with at the time. The following is the front view proportions comparison of the SX510 HS versus the L21.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the SX510 HS and L21 is 80 and 93 respectively.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 top view buttons comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the contrast in sensor sizing purely by checking out specifications. The photograph here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the SX510 HS and L21.

Plainly, both cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements but not the same MP. You should anticipate the Canon SX510 HS to provide greater detail having its extra 4 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also allow you to crop pics much more aggressively. The more recent SX510 HS is going to have an edge in sensor innovation.

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 sensor size comparison

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and ViewFinder

Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Portrait photography camera
34
has manual focus
includes face detection autofocus
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
19
no manual focus
no manual mode
can't use external flash
megapixel count low (8 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Street photography camera
Nikon L21 as a Street photography camera
50
has image stabilization (Optical)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Sports photography features
Nikon L21 Sports photography features
36
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes tracking autofocus
slow continuous shooting (4.0 frames per second)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
bad battery life (250 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
16
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Travel photography info
Nikon L21 Travel photography info
54
built-in flash
decently wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
bad battery life (250 shots)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
50
flash built-in
lack of Timelapse function
megapixel count low (8MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Canon SX510 HS Landscape photography features
Nikon L21 Landscape photography features
40
has manual focus
decently wide (24mm)
screen is a good size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
bad battery life (250 shots)
lack of Time Lapse function
22
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no manual mode
no image stabilization
megapixel count low (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Canon SX510 HS as a Vlogging camera
Nikon L21 as a Vlogging camera
31
decently wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
includes face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.4)
display isn't selfie friendly
lack of external mic jack
21
wide angle not good (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of microphone support
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Canon SX510 HS vs Nikon L21 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Canon SX510 HS and Nikon L21
 Canon PowerShot SX510 HSNikon Coolpix L21
General Information
Make Canon Nikon
Model Canon PowerShot SX510 HS Nikon Coolpix L21
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2013-08-22 2010-02-03
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Digic 4 Expeed C2
Sensor type CMOS 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 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 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 3200 1600
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 1 -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 24-720mm (30.0x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Largest aperture f/3.4-5.8 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus range 0cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3" 2.5"
Display resolution 461 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 15s 8s
Maximum shutter speed 1/1600s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 4.0 frames/s -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation Yes -
Change WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 5.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, on, slow synchro, off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (24 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 349 gr (0.77 lbs) 169 gr (0.37 lbs)
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 250 photos -
Battery style Battery Pack -
Battery model NB-6LH 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec, Custom) Yes
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots One One
Retail cost $249 $180