Clicky

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5

Portability
94
Imaging
32
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5 front
Portability
96
Imaging
38
Features
31
Overall
35

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 Key Specs

Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Announced February 2009
Panasonic FH5
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-112mm (F3.1-6.5) lens
  • 121g - 94 x 54 x 19mm
  • Launched January 2011
  • Alternate Name is Lumix DMC-FS18
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 Overview

In this article, we are evaluating the Nikon L20 and Panasonic FH5, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. There is a huge difference among the sensor resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and FH5 (16MP) but they feature the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The L20 was manufactured 23 months earlier than the FH5 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before going straight into a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the L20 scores versus the FH5 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

        

Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Panasonic FH5

 L20 FH5 
Display sizing3"2.7"Larger display (+0.3")

Reasons to pick Panasonic FH5 over the Nikon L20

 FH5 L20 
LaunchedJanuary 2011February 2009Fresher by 23 months

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Panasonic FH5

 L20 FH5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you will need to consider its weight and proportions. The Nikon L20 has got external dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") accompanied by a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) while the Panasonic FH5 has measurements of 94mm x 54mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7") having a weight of 121 grams (0.27 lbs).

Look at the Nikon L20 and Panasonic FH5 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at the time. Following is the front view physical size comparison of the L20 versus the FH5.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the L20 and FH5 is 94 and 96 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 Sensor Comparison

In many cases, it can be hard to visualize the gap in sensor sizing merely by looking through specifications. The graphic underneath may offer you a much better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L20 and FH5.

Plainly, each of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing but different resolution. You should anticipate the Panasonic FH5 to render extra detail due to its extra 6 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The older L20 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon L20
Portrait photography with Panasonic FH5
19
lack of manual focus
manual mode not available
no external flash support
MP count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
34
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
provides face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
external flash not possible
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon L20 Street photography information
Panasonic FH5 Street photography information
54
lighter than average in class (135 grams)
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
67
image stabilization (Optical)
boasts touch focus
lighter than others (121 grams)
fixed screen
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L20
Sports photography with Panasonic FH5
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
provides tracking autofocus
max frames per second low (4.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 Travel photography highlights
Panasonic FH5 Travel photography highlights
55
lighter than average in class (135 grams)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
MP count low (10MP)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
71
lighter than others (121 grams)
boasts touch focus
decent megapixels (16 megapixels)
has built in flash
rather wide (28mm)
lack of Timelapse function
does not offer selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 Landscape photography factors
Panasonic FH5 Landscape photography factors
26
screen size is good (3")
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not available
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse function
38
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
decent megapixels (16MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.7 inch)
lack of manual mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW files
lack of Timelapse function
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon L20
Vlogging with Panasonic FH5
24
lighter than average in class (135g)
wide angle not great (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
doesn't have microphone socket
33
rather wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detection focus
lighter than others (121g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone support
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic FH5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Panasonic FH5
 Nikon Coolpix L20Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
General Information
Brand Nikon Panasonic
Model Nikon Coolpix L20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH5
Also called as - Lumix DMC-FS18
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Announced 2009-02-03 2011-01-05
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Venus Engine IV
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Maximum native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Number of focus points - 11
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.1-6.5
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 2.7"
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 60 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 4.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 3.30 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135g (0.30 pounds) 121g (0.27 pounds)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 94 x 54 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.7")
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 - 260 photos
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Pricing at release $120 $169