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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5 front
Portability
95
Imaging
38
Features
34
Overall
36

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 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
  • Introduced February 2009
Panasonic SZ5
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 1600 (Push to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-250mm (F3.1-5.9) lens
  • 136g - 104 x 58 x 21mm
  • Revealed July 2012
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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 Overview

The following is a in-depth assessment of the Nikon L20 versus Panasonic SZ5, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Nikon and Panasonic. There is a sizeable difference between the image resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and SZ5 (14MP) but they come with the exact same sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The L20 was announced 4 years earlier than the SZ5 which is quite a large gap as far as tech is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a short summation of how the L20 matches up vs the SZ5 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Panasonic SZ5

 L20 SZ5 

Reasons to pick Panasonic SZ5 over the Nikon L20

 SZ5 L20 
RevealedJuly 2012February 2009Newer by 42 months

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Panasonic SZ5

 L20 SZ5 
Focus manually Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen measurement
Screen resolution230k230kSame screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to travel with your camera, you will have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon L20 features outer dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) whilst the Panasonic SZ5 has proportions of 104mm x 58mm x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8") having a weight of 136 grams (0.30 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon L20 versus Panasonic SZ5 in the new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you have chosen at the time. The following is the front view size comparison of the L20 and the SZ5.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the L20 and SZ5 is 94 and 95 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, its hard to envision the difference between sensor dimensions only by going over technical specs. The pic underneath will provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizes in the L20 and SZ5.

As you have seen, the two cameras have got the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same resolution. You should count on the Panasonic SZ5 to offer you more detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures much more aggressively. The more aged L20 is going to be behind in sensor tech.

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photography Glossary

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Portrait photography camera
19
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
34
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has face detect autofocus
no manual focus
lack of manual exposure
cannot use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L20
Street photography with Panasonic SZ5
54
lighter than competition in class (135g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (136 grams)
screen is fixed
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L20
Sports photography with Panasonic SZ5
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has tracking focus
low frames per second (2.0 fps)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 Travel photography features
Panasonic SZ5 Travel photography features
55
lighter than competition in class (135g)
flash built-in
missing Timelapse recording
low MP (10MP)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
70
lighter than competition in class (136g)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (25mm)
long reach (250mm)
no Time Lapse function
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L20
Landscape photography with Panasonic SZ5
27
nice screen size (3 inch)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse recording
42
reasonably wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor (1/2.3")
no RAW files
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Vlogging camera
Panasonic SZ5 as a Vlogging camera
24
lighter than competition in class (135 grams)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone port
32
reasonably wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detect autofocus
lighter than competition in class (136g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
no mic support
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Nikon L20 vs Panasonic SZ5 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Panasonic SZ5
 Nikon Coolpix L20Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
General Information
Make Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix L20 Panasonic Lumix DMC-SZ5
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-02-03 2012-07-18
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4320 x 3240
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Highest enhanced ISO - 6400
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 23
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-250mm (10.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.1-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.9
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology - TFT Screen LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 secs 8 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 2.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.60 m
Flash options Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p ( 30,25 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 25 fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Mic support
Headphone support
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135 gr (0.30 lbs) 136 gr (0.30 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 104 x 58 x 21mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 0.8")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 250 photographs
Style of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 secs)
Time lapse recording
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Card slots Single Single
Launch price $120 $195