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Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500

Portability
94
Imaging
33
Features
17
Overall
26
Nikon Coolpix L20 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
43
Features
56
Overall
48

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 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 WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Launched April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony WX350
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Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 Overview

In this article, we are reviewing the Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a noticeable gap among the resolutions of the L20 (10MP) and WX500 (18MP) but they possess the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The L20 was announced 7 years earlier than the WX500 and that is a fairly sizable difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Each of these cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before getting in to a in-depth comparison, below is a short introduction of how the L20 matches up versus the WX500 for portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L20 over the Sony WX500

 L20 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Nikon L20

 WX500 L20 
LaunchedApril 2015February 2009More recent by 75 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L20 and Sony WX500

 L20 WX500 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display dimensions
Selfie screen Neither contains selfie screen
Touch display Neither contains Touch display

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera often, you should take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon L20 has got outside 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) whilst the Sony WX500 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") along with a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. Below is the front view measurement comparison of the L20 versus the WX500.

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L20 and WX500 is 94 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be tough to envision the gap in sensor measurements just by seeing technical specs. The visual underneath may offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizes in the L20 and WX500.

As you can tell, each of these cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same megapixels. You can expect to see the Sony WX500 to show more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution will allow you to crop images far more aggressively. The older L20 will be behind when it comes to sensor innovation.

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L20 Portrait photography factors
Sony WX500 Portrait photography factors
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not possible
cannot use external flash
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
39
MP count good (18MP)
supports face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Street photography camera
Sony WX500 as a Street photography camera
54
lighter than average in class (135 grams)
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
69
screen tilts
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Nikon L20 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
supports tracking autofocus
great battery pack (360 shots)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L20 Travel photography details
Sony WX500 Travel photography details
55
lighter than average in class (135 grams)
has built in flash
lack of Time Lapse function
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
71
great battery pack (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
has built in flash
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse function
does not contain selfie friendly display
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L20 Landscape photography info
Sony WX500 Landscape photography info
27
screen size is decent (3 inches)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
megapixel count low (10 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
49
fairly wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
great battery pack (360 per charge)
manual focus not available
cannot switch lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
doesn't have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L20 as a Vlogging camera
Sony WX500 as a Vlogging camera
24
lighter than average in class (135 grams)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not offer selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of external mic support
35
fairly wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (236 grams)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.5)
does not contain selfie friendly display
doesn't have external mic jack
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Nikon L20 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L20 and Sony WX500
 Nikon Coolpix L20Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix L20 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2009-02-03 2015-04-14
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip - Bionz X
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 10MP 18MP
Anti aliasing 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 data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8 secs 30 secs
Max shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range - 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
WB 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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 135g (0.30 lbs) 236g (0.52 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 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 life - 360 images
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC card, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Cost at release $120 $348