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Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30

Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Nikon Coolpix S30 front
Portability
90
Imaging
32
Features
18
Overall
26

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 Key Specs

Nikon L21
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 169g - 92 x 67 x 28mm
  • Revealed February 2010
Nikon S30
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/3" Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1/8000s Max Shutter
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 29-87mm (F3.3-5.9) lens
  • 214g - 102 x 65 x 40mm
  • Released February 2012
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Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 Overview

Below, we are reviewing the Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras and both are manufactured by Nikon. The image resolution of the L21 (8MP) and the S30 (10MP) is fairly well matched but the L21 (1/2.3") and S30 (1/3") come with totally different sensor sizing.

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The L21 was announced 24 months prior to the S30 making the cameras a generation apart from one another. Both the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before we go through a comprehensive comparison, below is a brief introduction of how the L21 matches up vs the S30 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Nikon S30

 L21 S30 

Reasons to pick Nikon S30 over the Nikon L21

 S30 L21 
ReleasedFebruary 2012February 2010More recent by 24 months
Display dimension2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Nikon S30

 L21 S30 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kExact same display resolution
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch friendly display Lack of Touch friendly display

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 Physical Comparison

In case you're going to lug around your camera often, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon L21 features external measurements of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") along with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Nikon S30 has sizing of 102mm x 65mm x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6") having a weight of 214 grams (0.47 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will differ based on the lens you select during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the L21 against the S30.

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L21 and S30 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 Sensor Comparison

More often than not, it can be hard to envision the gap between sensor measurements merely by looking at specs. The photograph below will provide you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the L21 and S30.

As you can plainly see, each of these cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The L21 having a larger sensor will make getting shallower DOF easier and the Nikon S30 will resolve extra detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The older L21 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon S30 as a Portrait photography camera
18
focusing manually not possible
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (8MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
24
provides face detect focus
manual focus not available
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/3")
does not have RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Street photography camera
Nikon S30 as a Street photography camera
46
screen does not articulate
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
51
weather proof
fixed screen
no image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/3")
does not have RAW support
more heavy than average in class (214g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography info
Nikon S30 Sports photography info
15
no shutter priority mode
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
28
great max shutter speed (1/8,000 seconds)
weather proof
max frames per second very slow (1.5 frames/s)
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/3")
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 Travel photography features
Nikon S30 Travel photography features
50
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse function
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
52
weather proof
has built in flash
doesn't have Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (214 grams)
sensor resolution low (10MP)
display isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 Landscape photography features
Nikon S30 Landscape photography features
21
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
manual mode not possible
lack of image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Timelapse function
25
weather proof
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
screen is small (2.7 inches)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (10MP)
sensor is very small (1/3")
does not have RAW support
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging highlights
Nikon S30 Vlogging highlights
21
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
display is not selfie friendly
lack of image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 pixels)
does not have microphone jack
23
provides face detect focus
wide angle not great (29mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.3)
display isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video resolution low (1280 x 720 pxls)
doesn't have microphone socket
more heavy than average in class (214g)
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Nikon L21 vs Nikon S30 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Nikon S30
 Nikon Coolpix L21Nikon Coolpix S30
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon Coolpix L21 Nikon Coolpix S30
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Revealed 2010-02-03 2012-02-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 4.8 x 3.6mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 17.3mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW pictures
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 29-87mm (3.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.3-5.9
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 7.5
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inch 2.7 inch
Display resolution 230 thousand dots 230 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display tech - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/8000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate - 1.5 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync
External flash
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video data format Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 169g (0.37 lb) 214g (0.47 lb)
Dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 102 x 65 x 40mm (4.0" x 2.6" x 1.6")
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 - 240 photographs
Form of battery - AA
Battery model 2 x AA 2 x AA
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $180 $119