Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2
75 Imaging
36 Features
38 Overall
36
96 Imaging
37 Features
29 Overall
33
Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Key Specs
(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
- Released February 2011
- Superseded the Nikon L110
(Full Review)
- 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
- 2.7" Fixed Screen
- ISO 100 - 6400
- Optical Image Stabilization
- 1280 x 720 video
- 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
- 112g - 98 x 57 x 21mm
- Released January 2012
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Let's look much closer at the Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2, former is a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Small Sensor Compact by manufacturers Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the L120 (14MP) and the S2 (14MP) is pretty close and they possess the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firmsThe L120 was brought out 11 months before the S2 and they are of a similar age. Both of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).
Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a short overview of how the L120 grades against the S2 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.
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Below is a preview of the gallery images for Nikon Coolpix L120 & Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2. The entire galleries are available at Nikon L120 Gallery & Panasonic S2 Gallery.
Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Panasonic S2
| L120 | S2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Screen sizing | 3" | 2.7" | Bigger screen (+0.3") | |
| Screen resolution | 921k | 230k | Clearer screen (+691k dot) |
Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Nikon L120
| S2 | L120 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Released | January 2012 | February 2011 | More modern by 11 months |
Common features in the Nikon L120 and Panasonic S2
| L120 | S2 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Manually focus | Lack of manual focus | |||
| Screen type | Fixed | Fixed | Fixed screen | |
| Selfie screen | Neither comes with selfie screen | |||
| Touch friendly screen | Neither comes with Touch friendly screen |
Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Physical Comparison
If you're aiming to carry around your camera regularly, you will want to think about its weight and size. The Nikon L120 comes with outer dimensions of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") and a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs) while the Panasonic S2 has specifications of 98mm x 57mm x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") accompanied by a weight of 112 grams (0.25 lbs).
Check out the Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 in our brand new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.
Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you are using during that time. The following is the front view overall size comparison of the L120 and the S2.

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the L120 and S2 is 75 and 96 respectively.
Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Sensor Comparison
Often, it's hard to envision the difference in sensor sizes purely by researching specs. The image underneath will offer you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the L120 and S2.
As you can plainly see, both cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same exact megapixels and you can expect comparable quality of files however you really should factor the launch date of the cameras into account. The more aged L120 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.
Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder
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Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications
| Nikon Coolpix L120 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 | |
|---|---|---|
| General Information | ||
| Make | Nikon | Panasonic |
| Model type | Nikon Coolpix L120 | Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 |
| Type | Small Sensor Superzoom | Small Sensor Compact |
| Released | 2011-02-09 | 2012-01-09 |
| Physical type | Compact | Compact |
| Sensor Information | ||
| Chip | 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 | 14 megapixels | 14 megapixels |
| Anti alias filter | ||
| Aspect ratio | 4:3 and 16:9 | 4:3 and 16:9 |
| Max resolution | 4320 x 3240 | 4320 x 3240 |
| Max native ISO | 6400 | 6400 |
| Minimum native ISO | 80 | 100 |
| RAW files | ||
| Autofocusing | ||
| Focus manually | ||
| Touch to focus | ||
| AF continuous | ||
| AF single | ||
| Tracking AF | ||
| Selective AF | ||
| AF center weighted | ||
| Multi area AF | ||
| AF live view | ||
| Face detect AF | ||
| Contract detect AF | ||
| Phase detect AF | ||
| Total focus points | 9 | 23 |
| Lens | ||
| Lens mount type | fixed lens | fixed lens |
| Lens zoom range | 25-525mm (21.0x) | 28-112mm (4.0x) |
| Maximal aperture | f/3.1-5.8 | f/3.1-6.5 |
| Macro focusing range | 1cm | 5cm |
| Crop factor | 5.8 | 5.9 |
| Screen | ||
| Display type | Fixed Type | Fixed Type |
| Display size | 3" | 2.7" |
| Resolution of display | 921 thousand dots | 230 thousand dots |
| Selfie friendly | ||
| Liveview | ||
| Touch display | ||
| Display tech | TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating | TFT Color LCD |
| Viewfinder Information | ||
| Viewfinder type | None | None |
| Features | ||
| Min shutter speed | 4s | 8s |
| Max shutter speed | 1/4000s | 1/1600s |
| Continuous shutter rate | 1.0 frames per second | 2.0 frames per second |
| Shutter priority | ||
| Aperture priority | ||
| Manually set exposure | ||
| Set WB | ||
| Image stabilization | ||
| Inbuilt flash | ||
| Flash distance | 6.00 m | 3.30 m |
| Flash modes | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye | Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction |
| External flash | ||
| AE bracketing | ||
| WB bracketing | ||
| Exposure | ||
| Multisegment metering | ||
| Average metering | ||
| Spot metering | ||
| Partial metering | ||
| AF area metering | ||
| Center weighted metering | ||
| Video features | ||
| Video resolutions | 1280 x 720p (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) | 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) |
| Max video resolution | 1280x720 | 1280x720 |
| Video format | Motion JPEG | Motion JPEG |
| Microphone support | ||
| Headphone support | ||
| Connectivity | ||
| Wireless | None | None |
| Bluetooth | ||
| NFC | ||
| HDMI | ||
| USB | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) | USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) |
| GPS | None | None |
| Physical | ||
| Environment sealing | ||
| Water proofing | ||
| Dust proofing | ||
| Shock proofing | ||
| Crush proofing | ||
| Freeze proofing | ||
| Weight | 431 grams (0.95 lb) | 112 grams (0.25 lb) |
| Dimensions | 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") | 98 x 57 x 21mm (3.9" x 2.2" x 0.8") |
| DXO scores | ||
| DXO Overall rating | not tested | not tested |
| DXO Color Depth rating | not tested | not tested |
| DXO Dynamic range rating | not tested | not tested |
| DXO Low light rating | not tested | not tested |
| Other | ||
| Battery life | 330 photographs | 280 photographs |
| Type of battery | AA | Battery Pack |
| Battery ID | 4 x AA | - |
| Self timer | Yes (10 or 2 sec) | Yes (2 or 10 sec) |
| Time lapse recording | ||
| Type of storage | SD/SDHC/SDXC | SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal |
| Card slots | 1 | 1 |
| Price at release | $300 | $109 |