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Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99

Portability
75
Imaging
37
Features
38
Overall
37
Nikon Coolpix L120 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 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
  • Succeeded the Nikon L110
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released September 2018
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Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Nikon L120 and Sony HX99, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a big gap between the sensor resolutions of the L120 (14MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the L120 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) posses totally different sensor size.

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The L120 was introduced 8 years before the HX99 which is quite a big gap as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a in depth comparison, here is a quick overview of how the L120 grades vs the HX99 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L120 over the Sony HX99

 L120 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Nikon L120

 HX99 L120 
ReleasedSeptember 2018February 2011More modern by 92 months
Manual focus Very precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Selfie screen Take selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon L120 and Sony HX99

 L120 HX99 
Screen size3"3.00"Same screen size
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is intending to carry around your camera often, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon L120 features external measurements of 110mm x 77mm x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") having a weight of 431 grams (0.95 lbs) whilst the Sony HX99 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Nikon L120 and Sony HX99 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you have attached at the time. The following is a front view scale comparison of the L120 versus the HX99.

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L120 and HX99 is 75 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be difficult to see the difference between sensor sizes merely by looking at specs. The pic underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the L120 and HX99.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras feature different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The L120 with its bigger sensor will make getting shallower DOF less difficult and the Sony HX99 will give more detail using its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop photographs way more aggressively. The more aged L120 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L120 Portrait photography information
Sony HX99 Portrait photography information
33
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has face detect autofocus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
can't use external flash
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
53
manual focus
resolution is good (18MP)
has face detection focus
exports RAW formats
can't use external flash
tiny sensor (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Nikon L120 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Street photography camera
48
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
screen does not articulate
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
77
tilting screen
image stabilization
exports RAW formats
lighter than others (242 grams)
tiny sensor (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L120 Sports photography highlights
Sony HX99 Sports photography highlights
43
long zoom range (25-525mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14MP)
has tracking focus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
58
long zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization
resolution is good (18MP)
has tracking autofocus
good battery power (360 CIPA)
tiny sensor (1/2.3-inch)
lacks phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L120 Travel photography details
Sony HX99 Travel photography details
60
MP count good (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
long reach (525mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
76
good battery power (360 shots)
lighter than others (242 grams)
resolution is good (18MP)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
quite wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
lack of Time Lapse function
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L120 as a Landscape photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Landscape photography camera
40
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
58
manual focus
quite wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3.00")
image stabilization
resolution is good (18 megapixels)
exports RAW formats
good battery power (360 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor (1/2.3-inch)
lack of Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L120 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX99 Vlogging highlights
27
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect autofocus
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
video res low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have mic socket
76
quite wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
screen is touchscreen
image stabilization
has face detection focus
video res high (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others (242g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of external mic socket
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Nikon L120 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L120 and Sony HX99
 Nikon Coolpix L120Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2011-02-09 2018-09-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 14MP 18MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 4320 x 3240 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 12800
Min native ISO 80 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Total focus points 9 -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 25-525mm (21.0x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-5.8 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3" 3.00"
Display resolution 921 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Display technology TFT LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4s 30s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shooting rate 1.0 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.00 m 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Highest video resolution 1280x720 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 431 gr (0.95 lbs) 242 gr (0.53 lbs)
Physical dimensions 110 x 77 x 78mm (4.3" x 3.0" x 3.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 360 photographs
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (10 or 2 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots One One
Retail pricing $300 $469