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Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1

Portability
75
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
 
Olympus Stylus 1 front
Portability
79
Imaging
38
Features
65
Overall
48

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 Key Specs

Nikon L120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 431g - 110 x 77 x 78mm
  • Launched February 2011
  • Replaced the Nikon L110
Olympus 1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-300mm (F2.8) lens
  • 402g - 116 x 87 x 57mm
  • Revealed November 2013
  • Refreshed by Olympus 1s
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Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 Overview

Following is a complete overview of the Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Nikon and Olympus. The sensor resolution of the L120 (14MP) and the 1 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the L120 (1/2.3") and 1 (1/1.7") come with different sensor dimensions.

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The L120 was announced 3 years prior to the 1 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon L120 being a Compact camera and the Olympus 1 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going in to a detailed comparison, below is a brief highlight of how the L120 matches up against the 1 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Olympus 1

 L120 1 

Reasons to pick Olympus 1 over the Nikon L120

 1 L120 
RevealedNovember 2013February 2011More modern by 34 months
Focus manually Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1040k921kSharper screen (+119k dot)
Touch screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon L120 and Olympus 1

 L120 1 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 Physical Comparison

For those who are planning to carry around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and size. The Nikon L120 comes with physical dimensions of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") along with a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs) and the Olympus 1 has specifications of 116mm x 87mm x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2") along with a weight of 402 grams (0.89 lbs).

See the Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have attached at that time. Underneath is the front view dimensions comparison of the L120 vs the 1.

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the L120 and 1 is 75 and 79 respectively.

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very difficult to picture the contrast between sensor sizes simply by checking technical specs. The picture below may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the L120 and 1.

As you have seen, both of these cameras offer different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The L120 using its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field more difficult and the Nikon L120 will give extra detail with its extra 2MP. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop photographs a little more aggressively. The more aged L120 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 sensor size comparison

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L120 Portrait photography highlights
Olympus 1 Portrait photography highlights
33
good MP (14 megapixels)
features face detection focus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
49
manual focus
flash sync speed is above average (1/2,000 seconds)
supports face detect focus
saves RAW files
low resolution (12 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon L120 Street photography details
Olympus 1 Street photography details
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
71
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
boasts focus via touch
sensor is small (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L120
Sports photography with Olympus 1
43
excellent zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
44
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery (410 CIPA)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L120 Travel photography advice
Olympus 1 Travel photography advice
60
good MP (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (525mm)
no Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
slow max aperture (f3.1)
61
better than average battery (410 CIPA)
boasts focus via touch
built-in flash
fairly wide (28mm)
very long zoom (300mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low resolution (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L120
Landscape photography with Olympus 1
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good MP (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual control
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse recording
50
manual focus
fairly wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (410 shots)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
low resolution (12MP)
sensor is small (1/1.7")
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L120 Vlogging details
Olympus 1 Vlogging details
27
decently wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detection focus
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
video res low (1280 x 720 pixels)
no external microphone socket
32
fairly wide (28mm)
touch screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f2.8)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
lack of microphone socket
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Nikon L120 vs Olympus 1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L120 and Olympus 1
 Nikon Coolpix L120Olympus Stylus 1
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Coolpix L120 Olympus Stylus 1
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2011-02-09 2013-11-25
Physical type Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 TruePic VI
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixels 12 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 3968 x 2976
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points 9 25
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-525mm (21.0x) 28-300mm (10.7x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.8 f/2.8
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 4.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dots 1,040k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 1,440k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Slowest shutter speed 4 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per sec 7.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.00 m -
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, redeye reduction, fill-on, off, redeye reduction slow sync, full, manual
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/2000 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p); high speed: 640 x 480 (120p), 320 x 240 (240p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 431g (0.95 lbs) 402g (0.89 lbs)
Dimensions 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") 116 x 87 x 57mm (4.6" x 3.4" x 2.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 51
DXO Color Depth score not tested 20.7
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 11.6
DXO Low light score not tested 179
Other
Battery life 330 pictures 410 pictures
Battery type AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA BLS-5
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC card
Card slots One One
Cost at launch $300 $700