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Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V

Portability
75
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V front
Portability
62
Imaging
45
Features
60
Overall
51

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V Key Specs

Nikon L120
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-525mm (F3.1-5.8) lens
  • 431g - 110 x 77 x 78mm
  • Announced February 2011
  • Previous Model is Nikon L110
Sony HX400V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1200mm (F2.8-6.3) lens
  • 660g - 130 x 93 x 103mm
  • Revealed February 2014
  • Replaced the Sony HX300
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Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V Overview

Its time to examine more closely at the Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. There is a large difference between the sensor resolutions of the L120 (14MP) and HX400V (20MP) but they possess the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The L120 was introduced 4 years prior to the HX400V which is quite a serious difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of these cameras come with different body type with the Nikon L120 being a Compact camera and the Sony HX400V being a SLR-like (bridge) camera.

Before going in to a full comparison, below is a concise view of how the L120 matches up vs the HX400V for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Sony HX400V

 L120 HX400V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX400V over the Nikon L120

 HX400V L120 
RevealedFebruary 2014February 2011More modern by 36 months
Manually focus Dial exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen

Common features in the Nikon L120 and Sony HX400V

 L120 HX400V 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution921k921kThe same screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera frequently, you will want to factor in its weight and proportions. The Nikon L120 has exterior measurements of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") with a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs) and the Sony HX400V has measurements of 130mm x 93mm x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1") and a weight of 660 grams (1.46 lbs).

Check the Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. Below is the front view sizing comparison of the L120 versus the HX400V.

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the L120 and HX400V is 75 and 62 respectively.

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V top view buttons comparison

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizes simply by reading specifications. The image underneath should give you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the L120 and HX400V.

To sum up, both of these cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit different megapixels. You can count on the Sony HX400V to offer you greater detail using its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also make it easier to crop photographs much more aggressively. The more aged L120 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V sensor size comparison

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L120 Portrait photography highlights
Sony HX400V Portrait photography highlights
33
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
51
focusing manually
MP count decent (20MP)
provides face detection focus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon L120 Street photography info
Sony HX400V Street photography info
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
50
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
heavier than average (660g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L120 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX400V as a Sports photography camera
43
incredible zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
55
excellent zoom range (24-1200mm 50.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
provides tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L120 Travel photography info
Sony HX400V Travel photography info
60
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
long reach (525mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
53
MP count decent (20 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (24mm)
long zoom (1200mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
heavier than average (660 grams)
screen isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L120 Landscape photography info
Sony HX400V Landscape photography info
40
fairly wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good megapixels (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
49
focusing manually
reasonably wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (20MP)
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L120 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX400V Vlogging highlights
27
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focusing
slow max aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
29
reasonably wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
great video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
comes with external mic jack
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen isn't selfie friendly
heavier than average (660 grams)
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Nikon L120 vs Sony HX400V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L120 and Sony HX400V
 Nikon Coolpix L120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix L120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX400V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2011-02-09 2014-02-12
Body design Compact SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 5184 x 3888
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focus
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points 9 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 25-525mm (21.0x) 24-1200mm (50.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.8 f/2.8-6.3
Macro focus distance 1cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 1.0 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range 6.00 m 8.50 m (ISO Auto)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Flash Off / Autoflash / Fill-flash / Slow Sync. / Advanced Flash / Rear Sync. / Wireless (with optional compliant flash)
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p), 1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 431 gr (0.95 lb) 660 gr (1.46 lb)
Dimensions 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") 130 x 93 x 103mm (5.1" x 3.7" x 4.1")
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 330 photos 300 photos
Battery format AA Battery Pack
Battery model 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, portrait)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $300 $448