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Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S9100 front
Portability
91
Imaging
35
Features
41
Overall
37

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 Key Specs

Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Launched February 2009
Nikon S9100
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 160 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 105 x 62 x 35mm
  • Launched July 2011
  • Later Model is Nikon S9300
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Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 Overview

Let's take a deeper look at the Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom and both are offered by Nikon. The resolution of the L20 (10MP) and the S9100 (12MP) is very close and they use the same exact sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The L20 was unveiled 3 years before the S9100 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera tech is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving straight into a comprehensive comparison, below is a simple summation of how the L20 matches up vs the S9100 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Nikon S9100

 L20 S9100 

Reasons to pick Nikon S9100 over the Nikon L20

 S9100 L20 
LaunchedJuly 2011February 2009More recent by 29 months
Focus manually Very precise focus
Display resolution921k230kCrisper display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Nikon S9100

 L20 S9100 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display sizing
Selfie screen Neither features selfie screen
Touch display Neither features Touch display

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera frequently, you are going to need to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon L20 enjoys outside dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Nikon S9100 has sizing of 105mm x 62mm x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" x 1.4") and a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have chosen during that time. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the L20 against the S9100.

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability rating of the L20 and S9100 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, its difficult to visualize the difference in sensor measurements just by viewing technical specs. The graphic here should provide you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L20 and S9100.

As you can tell, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You can expect to see the Nikon S9100 to result in greater detail having an extra 2MP. Greater resolution will allow you to crop photos far more aggressively. The older L20 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography features
Nikon S9100 Portrait photography features
19
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
32
focusing manually
features face detect autofocus
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 Street photography features
Nikon S9100 Street photography features
54
lighter than competitors (135 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
60
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Sports photography camera
Nikon S9100 as a Sports photography camera
16
no shutter priority
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
36
excellent zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features tracking focus
no shutter priority mode
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
terrible battery (270 per charge)
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 Travel photography information
Nikon S9100 Travel photography information
55
lighter than competitors (135 grams)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
61
lighter than competitors (214g)
flash built-in
quite wide (25mm)
great reach (450mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (270 shots)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L20
Landscape photography with Nikon S9100
27
good sized screen (3 inch)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Time Lapse recording
39
focusing manually
quite wide (25mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
manual exposure not possible
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
terrible battery (270 shots)
does not have Time Lapse mode
Photography Glossary

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 Vlogging details
Nikon S9100 Vlogging details
24
lighter than competitors (135g)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pixels)
lack of external mic jack
34
quite wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
features face detect autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competitors (214 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have mic port
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Nikon L20 vs Nikon S9100 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Nikon S9100
 Nikon Coolpix L20Nikon Coolpix S9100
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Nikon
Model type Nikon Coolpix L20 Nikon Coolpix S9100
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2009-02-03 2011-07-19
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Expeed C2
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Highest native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 160
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Total focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 4.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135 grams (0.30 lbs) 214 grams (0.47 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 105 x 62 x 35mm (4.1" x 2.4" 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 - 270 shots
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA EN-EL12
Self timer Yes Yes (10 or 2 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $120 $329