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Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11

Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Olympus SZ-11 front
Portability
89
Imaging
36
Features
37
Overall
36

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 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
  • Revealed February 2009
Olympus SZ-11
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-500mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Revealed July 2011
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Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 Overview

Let's examine more in depth at the Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Olympus. There exists a crucial gap among the resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and SZ-11 (14MP) but they enjoy the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The L20 was announced 3 years before the SZ-11 and that is a fairly serious gap as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of these cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting straight into a detailed comparison, below is a simple view of how the L20 scores vs the SZ-11 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Olympus SZ-11

 L20 SZ-11 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-11 over the Nikon L20

 SZ-11 L20 
RevealedJuly 2011February 2009Fresher by 30 months
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Olympus SZ-11

 L20 SZ-11 
Manually focus No manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimension3"3"Identical display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither has Touch friendly display

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is going to carry your camera often, you'll have to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon L20 has exterior 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 Olympus SZ-11 has specifications of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") having a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Check out the Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ depending on the lens you choose at the time. The following is the front view over all size comparison of the L20 and the SZ-11.

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L20 and SZ-11 is 94 and 89 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it can be tough to envision the contrast in sensor sizing just by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here should offer you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the L20 and SZ-11.

Clearly, both cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements but not the same megapixels. You should anticipate the Olympus SZ-11 to result in greater detail with its extra 4MP. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics somewhat more aggressively. The older L20 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-11 as a Portrait photography camera
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
33
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 Street photography advice
Olympus SZ-11 Street photography advice
54
lighter than average in class (135 grams)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
fixed screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 Sports photography advice
Olympus SZ-11 Sports photography advice
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
43
excellent zoom range (25-500mm 20.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
provides tracking focus
no shutter priority
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 Travel photography info
Olympus SZ-11 Travel photography info
55
lighter than average in class (135 grams)
flash built-in
does not have Time Lapse function
low megapixels (10MP)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
lighter than competitors in class (226g)
resolution is good (14MP)
built-in flash
relatively wide (25mm)
very long zoom (500mm)
missing Time Lapse recording
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 Landscape photography factors
Olympus SZ-11 Landscape photography factors
26
screen size is decent (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
low megapixels (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support
does not have Time Lapse function
39
relatively wide (25mm)
screen is a good size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
resolution is good (14 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
lack of manual mode
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
terrible battery pack (200 shots)
missing Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 Vlogging highlights
Olympus SZ-11 Vlogging highlights
24
lighter than average in class (135g)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have mic support
31
relatively wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
provides face detect focus
lighter than competitors in class (226 grams)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
missing mic support
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Nikon L20 vs Olympus SZ-11 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Olympus SZ-11
 Nikon Coolpix L20Olympus SZ-11
General Information
Brand Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Coolpix L20 Olympus SZ-11
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-02-03 2011-07-27
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CCD
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 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-500mm (20.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate - 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 9.30 m (@ ISO 1600)
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135g (0.30 lb) 226g (0.50 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 200 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $120 $253