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Leica C vs Nikon L20

Portability
92
Imaging
36
Features
59
Overall
45
Leica C front
 
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26

Leica C vs Nikon L20 Key Specs

Leica C
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400 (Push to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-200mm (F2.0-5.9) lens
  • 195g - 103 x 63 x 28mm
  • Announced September 2013
  • Also referred to as Typ112
Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Introduced February 2009
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Leica C vs Nikon L20 Overview

Below, we are matching up the Leica C and Nikon L20, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by brands Leica and Nikon. The sensor resolution of the C (12MP) and the L20 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the C (1/1.7") and L20 (1/2.3") possess different sensor sizes.

Photography Glossary

The C was manufactured 4 years later than the L20 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before going in to a more detailed comparison, below is a simple summation of how the C scores versus the L20 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Leica C over the Nikon L20

 C L20 
IntroducedSeptember 2013February 2009More recent by 56 months
Focus manually More precise focusing
Display resolution920k230kCrisper display (+690k dot)

Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Leica C

 L20 C 

Common features in the Leica C and Nikon L20

 C L20 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither offers Touch friendly display

Leica C vs Nikon L20 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera regularly, you will want to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Leica C offers outer measurements of 103mm x 63mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") and a weight of 195 grams (0.43 lbs) while the Nikon L20 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs).

Look at the Leica C and Nikon L20 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the C against the L20.

Leica C vs Nikon L20 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the C and L20 is 92 and 94 respectively.

Leica C vs Nikon L20 top view buttons comparison

Leica C vs Nikon L20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to picture the contrast in sensor measurements merely by going through a spec sheet. The graphic below might offer you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the C and L20.

Clearly, the two cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The C due to its larger sensor is going to make shooting shallow depth of field easier and the Leica C will show more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images much more aggressively. The newer C should have an edge when it comes to sensor technology.

Leica C vs Nikon L20 sensor size comparison

Leica C vs Nikon L20 Screen and ViewFinder

Leica C vs Nikon L20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Leica C Portrait photography highlights
Nikon L20 Portrait photography highlights
41
focusing manually
offers face detection focusing
delivers RAW formats
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
19
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Leica C Street photography factors
Nikon L20 Street photography factors
65
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
54
lighter than competition (135 grams)
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Leica C Sports photography information
Nikon L20 Sports photography information
38
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers tracking autofocus
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
has no phase detect AF
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Leica C Travel photography info
Nikon L20 Travel photography info
64
has built in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
lack of Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution low (12 megapixels)
does not contain selfie friendly display
55
lighter than competition (135 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Leica C
Landscape photography with Nikon L20
53
focusing manually
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
delivers RAW formats
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sensor resolution low (12MP)
tiny sensor size (1/1.7")
lack of Time Lapse recording
26
nice screen size (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Leica C as a Vlogging camera
Nikon L20 as a Vlogging camera
39
fairly wide (28mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection focusing
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external mic jack
does not contain selfie friendly display
24
lighter than competition (135 grams)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have external microphone jack
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Leica C vs Nikon L20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Leica C and Nikon L20
 Leica CNikon Coolpix L20
General Information
Brand Leica Nikon
Model Leica C Nikon Coolpix L20
Alternate name Typ112 -
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2013-09-08 2009-02-03
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/1.7" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 7.44 x 5.58mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 41.5mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 4000 x 3000 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 6400 1600
Highest enhanced ISO 12800 -
Min native ISO 80 64
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 28-200mm (7.1x) 38-136mm (3.6x)
Maximum aperture f/2.0-5.9 f/3.1-6.7
Macro focus range 3cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 4.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 920k dot 230k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen tech TFT Color LCD -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder resolution 200k dot -
Viewfinder coverage 1 percent -
Viewfinder magnification 0.46x -
Features
Minimum shutter speed 60 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 10.0fps -
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation Yes -
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 7.00 m -
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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 (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 1280 x 720p (60, 50, 30, 25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps) 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 640x480
Video format MPEG-4, AVCHD 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 None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 195 gr (0.43 pounds) 135 gr (0.30 pounds)
Dimensions 103 x 63 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.5" x 1.1") 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 -
Style of battery Battery Pack -
Battery model - 2 x AA
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal SD/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $1,299 $120