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Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Revealed February 2009
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
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Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Its time to look more closely at the Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Pentax. There exists a substantial gap between the resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and RZ18 (16MP) but both cameras offer the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The L20 was brought out 3 years earlier than the RZ18 which is quite a big difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a short summation of how the L20 scores vs the RZ18 for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Pentax RZ18

 L20 RZ18 

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Nikon L20

 RZ18 L20 
RevealedSeptember 2011February 2009More modern by 31 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Display resolution460k230kSharper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Pentax RZ18

 L20 RZ18 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch friendly display Absent Touch friendly display

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is looking to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to think about its weight and size. The Nikon L20 has got physical measurements 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 Pentax RZ18 has specifications of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

See the Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you are utilising at the time. The following is a front view overall size comparison of the L20 versus the RZ18.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Considering dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L20 and RZ18 is 94 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's tough to imagine the difference between sensor sizes only by reading through a spec sheet. The picture underneath should give you a much better sense of the sensor sizing in the L20 and RZ18.

As you can see, both of those cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Pentax RZ18 to give greater detail having its extra 6MP. Greater resolution will make it easier to crop pics more aggressively. The more aged L20 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography factors
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography factors
19
lack of manual focus
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
36
has manual focus
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
manual mode not possible
no external flash support
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 Street photography information
Pentax RZ18 Street photography information
54
lighter than others in class (135g)
no articulating screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
lighter than average in class (178g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 Sports photography info
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography info
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect autofocus
47
long zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proofing
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Travel photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Travel photography camera
55
lighter than others in class (135 grams)
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
low MP (10MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
71
lighter than average in class (178 grams)
weather proofing
MP count decent (16MP)
flash built-in
rather wide (25mm)
very long zoom (450mm)
lack of Timelapse recording
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Landscape photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Landscape photography camera
27
screen is a decent size (3 inch)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
low MP (10 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
49
has manual focus
rather wide (25mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
weather proofing
cannot change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW support
lack of Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 Vlogging details
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging details
24
lighter than others in class (135g)
wide angle not good (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have external microphone support
30
rather wide (25mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average in class (178g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
low quality video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of external microphone jack
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Nikon L20 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Pentax RZ18
 Nikon Coolpix L20Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix L20 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-02-03 2011-09-12
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
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 surface 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 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 4cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3 inch 3 inch
Screen resolution 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Screen tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 2.80 m
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135 grams (0.30 lbs) 178 grams (0.39 lbs)
Physical dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 model 2 x AA D-LI92
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $120 $210