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Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
45
Features
67
Overall
53

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 Key Specs

Nikon L20
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 135g - 97 x 61 x 29mm
  • Released February 2009
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched September 2018
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Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 Overview

Following is a complete assessment of the Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Sony. There is a sizable difference between the sensor resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the L20 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) come with different sensor measurements.

Photography Glossary

The L20 was announced 10 years earlier than the HX99 which is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go in to a in-depth comparison, below is a brief summation of how the L20 grades vs the HX99 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Sony HX99

 L20 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Nikon L20

 HX99 L20 
LaunchedSeptember 2018February 2009More modern by 116 months
Manually focus Dial precise focus
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k230kCrisper screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Sony HX99

 L20 HX99 
Screen sizing3"3.00"Equivalent screen measurements

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to carry around your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and size. The Nikon L20 enjoys 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) while the Sony HX99 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will differ depending on the lens you have chosen during that time. The following is the front view dimension comparison of the L20 versus the HX99.

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Considering size and weight, the portability score of the L20 and HX99 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes purely by going over specs. The pic underneath may give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizes in the L20 and HX99.

All in all, each of the cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor sizes. The L20 using its bigger sensor is going to make achieving shallow DOF less difficult and the Sony HX99 will offer you more detail with its extra 8MP. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The more aged L20 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography info
Sony HX99 Portrait photography info
19
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not possible
cannot use external flash
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
53
you can focus manually
good megapixels (18MP)
has face detect focusing
saves RAW formats
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Street photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Street photography camera
54
lighter than competitors in class (135g)
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
77
screen tilts
image stabilization
saves RAW formats
lighter than others (242 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 Sports photography features
Sony HX99 Sports photography features
16
lack of shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
58
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization
good megapixels (18MP)
has tracking focus
great battery (360 per charge)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Travel photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Travel photography camera
55
lighter than competitors in class (135g)
built-in flash
doesn't have Timelapse recording
MP count low (10 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
76
great battery (360 CIPA)
lighter than others (242g)
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
display is selfie friendly
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 Landscape photography information
Sony HX99 Landscape photography information
27
pretty good screen size (3")
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual exposure not possible
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
58
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3.00 inches)
image stabilization
good megapixels (18 megapixels)
saves RAW formats
great battery (360 CIPA)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3-inch)
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX99 Vlogging highlights
24
lighter than competitors in class (135 grams)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone jack
76
relatively wide (24mm)
display is selfie friendly
built-in touchscreen
image stabilization
has face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than others (242g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
lack of microphone jack
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Nikon L20 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Sony HX99
 Nikon Coolpix L20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-02-03 2018-09-01
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens support 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
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display sizing 3 inch 3.00 inch
Resolution of display 230k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings Auto, Fill-in, Red-Eye reduction, Slow, Off Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure 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) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone input
Headphone input
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
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 135 grams (0.30 pounds) 242 grams (0.53 pounds)
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 All around 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 shots
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Retail price $120 $469