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Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
63
Overall
51

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V 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
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
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Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Following is a detailed overview of the Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap between the resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and HX90V (18MP) but they use the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The L20 was brought out 7 years earlier than the HX90V which is quite a sizable difference as far as technology is concerned. The two cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go straight into a in-depth comparison, below is a quick synopsis of how the L20 grades against the HX90V for portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Sony HX90V

 L20 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Nikon L20

 HX90V L20 
AnnouncedApril 2015February 2009More modern by 75 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Sony HX90V

 L20 HX90V 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Touch friendly screen Neither features Touch friendly screen

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

When you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon L20 enjoys 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) and the Sony HX90V has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary based on the lens you choose at that moment. Following is the front view measurement comparison of the L20 compared to the HX90V.

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L20 and HX90V is 94 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes merely by looking at a spec sheet. The picture below will offer you a more clear sense of the sensor dimensions in the L20 and HX90V.

As you can see, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit different resolution. You can expect the Sony HX90V to give greater detail having its extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will help you crop pictures a little more aggressively. The more aged L20 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor technology.

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography factors
Sony HX90V Portrait photography factors
19
focusing manually not possible
no manual mode
cannot use external flash
low MP (10 megapixels)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
45
you can focus manually
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
supports face detect autofocus
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 Street photography information
Sony HX90V Street photography information
54
lighter than competitors in class (135g)
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Sports photography camera
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
57
great zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18MP)
supports tracking focus
better than average battery pack (360 shots)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 Travel photography details
Sony HX90V Travel photography details
55
lighter than competitors in class (135g)
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse function
low MP (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
76
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (245g)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
selfie friendly display
really wide (24mm)
long reach (720mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 Landscape photography highlights
Sony HX90V Landscape photography highlights
27
pretty good screen size (3")
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
no manual mode
does not have image stabilization
low MP (10MP)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
53
you can focus manually
really wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (18 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (360 CIPA)
can't change lenses (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 Vlogging information
Sony HX90V Vlogging information
24
lighter than competitors in class (135g)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic jack
75
really wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detect autofocus
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (245 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not have microphone support
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Nikon L20 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Sony HX90V
 Nikon Coolpix L20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2009-02-03 2015-04-14
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixel 18 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 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Minimum native ISO 64 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Max aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Tilting
Screen size 3 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone 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 BuiltIn
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135 gr (0.30 lbs) 245 gr (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 97 x 61 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 - 360 pictures
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots Single Single
Cost at release $120 $440