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Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Pentax MX-1 front
Portability
84
Imaging
37
Features
60
Overall
46

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 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
Pentax MX-1
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 100 - 12800
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-112mm (F1.8-2.5) lens
  • 391g - 122 x 61 x 51mm
  • Released July 2013
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Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 Overview

Lets take a more detailed look at the Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by companies Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the L20 (10MP) and the MX-1 (12MP) is relatively well matched but the L20 (1/2.3") and MX-1 (1/1.7") use totally different sensor dimensions.

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The L20 was introduced 5 years prior to the MX-1 which is quite a significant gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving through a complete comparison, below is a brief summation of how the L20 matches up vs the MX-1 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Pentax MX-1

 L20 MX-1 

Reasons to pick Pentax MX-1 over the Nikon L20

 MX-1 L20 
ReleasedJuly 2013February 2009More modern by 53 months
Manual focus Very exact focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution920k230kCrisper screen (+690k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Pentax MX-1

 L20 MX-1 
Screen dimension3"3"Identical screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch screen Absent Touch screen

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 Physical Comparison

When you are intending to carry around your camera often, you are going to need to factor its weight and measurements. The Nikon L20 provides outer dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") along with a weight of 135 grams (0.30 lbs) and the Pentax MX-1 has proportions of 122mm x 61mm x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0") accompanied by a weight of 391 grams (0.86 lbs).

Compare the Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are using at that moment. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the L20 versus the MX-1.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the L20 and MX-1 is 94 and 84 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizes simply by looking at specifications. The image underneath will help provide you a stronger sense of the sensor dimensions in the L20 and MX-1.

To sum up, the 2 cameras have got different megapixel count and different sensor sizes. The L20 having a tinier sensor will make shooting shallow DOF more challenging and the Pentax MX-1 will resolve more detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop shots much more aggressively. The more aged L20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Portrait photography advice
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
no external flash support
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
42
manual focus
comes with face detect focusing
supports RAW formats
can't use external flash
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 Street photography info
Pentax MX-1 Street photography info
54
lighter than competition in class (135g)
screen is fixed
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
65
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
heavier than average (391g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 Sports photography information
Pentax MX-1 Sports photography information
16
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
43
high shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 fps)
MP count low (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax MX-1 as a Travel photography camera
55
lighter than competition in class (135 grams)
has built in flash
missing Timelapse mode
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
61
better than average battery pack (290 shots)
built-in flash
really wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
missing Time Lapse mode
heavier than average (391 grams)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 Landscape photography advice
Pentax MX-1 Landscape photography advice
27
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual exposure
no image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Timelapse mode
55
manual focus
really wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
screen size is good (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports RAW formats
better than average battery pack (290 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/1.7")
missing Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon L20
Vlogging with Pentax MX-1
24
lighter than competition in class (135g)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video res low (640 x 480 resolution)
missing microphone jack
33
really wide (28mm)
great max aperture (f1.8)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
missing mic support
heavier than average (391g)
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Nikon L20 vs Pentax MX-1 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Pentax MX-1
 Nikon Coolpix L20Pentax MX-1
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Pentax
Model type Nikon Coolpix L20 Pentax MX-1
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2009-02-03 2013-07-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 3648 x 2736 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Autofocus single
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detection focus
Contract detection focus
Phase detection focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 28-112mm (4.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/1.8-2.5
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Tilting
Screen sizing 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230k dots 920k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Screen technology - TFT LCD with AR coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/8000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Speed sync, Trailing Curtain sync
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (30 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
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 135g (0.30 lb) 391g (0.86 lb)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 122 x 61 x 51mm (4.8" x 2.4" x 2.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 49
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 20.4
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 11.3
DXO Low light rating not tested 208
Other
Battery life - 290 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA D-Li-106
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Launch cost $120 $400