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Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2

Portability
75
Imaging
36
Features
38
Overall
36
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-S2 front
Portability
96
Imaging
37
Features
29
Overall
33

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 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
  • Released February 2011
  • Superseded the Nikon L110
Panasonic S2
(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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Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Overview

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").

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The 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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Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Panasonic S2

 L120 S2 
Screen sizing3"2.7"Bigger screen (+0.3")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic S2 over the Nikon L120

 S2 L120 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2011More modern by 11 months

Common features in the Nikon L120 and Panasonic S2

 L120 S2 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed 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. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

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.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability rating of the L120 and S2 is 75 and 96 respectively.

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 top view buttons comparison

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 sensor size comparison

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L120 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic S2 as a Portrait photography camera
33
megapixel count decent (14MP)
provides face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
33
resolution is good (14MP)
features face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon L120 Street photography features
Panasonic S2 Street photography features
48
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
63
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average in class (112 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L120
Sports photography with Panasonic S2
43
amazing zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
provides tracking autofocus
low frames per second (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
39
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14MP)
good battery pack (280 per charge)
slow continuous shooting (2.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L120
Travel photography with Panasonic S2
60
megapixel count decent (14MP)
flash built-in
really wide (25mm)
very long reach (525mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
70
good battery pack (280 CIPA)
lighter than average in class (112g)
resolution is good (14MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (28mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
does not have a selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L120 Landscape photography features
Panasonic S2 Landscape photography features
40
really wide (25mm)
decent sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
lack of manual focus
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
does not have Time Lapse mode
41
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
good battery pack (280 shots)
focusing manually not possible
can't switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inches)
no manual mode
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L120 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic S2 as a Vlogging camera
27
really wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detection autofocus
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't contain selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external mic jack
32
relatively wide (28mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
lighter than average in class (112 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have external microphone support
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Nikon L120 vs Panasonic S2 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L120 and Panasonic S2
 Nikon Coolpix L120Panasonic 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