Clicky

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Olympus E-420 front
Portability
77
Imaging
45
Features
36
Overall
41

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 Key Specs

Nikon L21
(Full Review)
  • 8MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 38-136mm (F3.1-6.7) lens
  • 169g - 92 x 67 x 28mm
  • Released February 2010
Olympus E-420
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 2.7" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 1600
  • No Video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 426g - 130 x 91 x 53mm
  • Announced June 2008
  • Older Model is Olympus E-410
Europe Approves Revolutionary AI Legislation

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 Overview

Here is a detailed comparison of the Nikon L21 and Olympus E-420, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by manufacturers Nikon and Olympus. The image resolution of the L21 (8MP) and the E-420 (10MP) is fairly comparable but the L21 (1/2.3") and E-420 (Four Thirds) feature different sensor sizes.

Ulanzi's Tripod Ensures Ultra Smooth Filming

The L21 was manufactured 20 months later than the E-420 making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon L21 being a Compact camera and the Olympus E-420 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going straight into a thorough comparison, below is a brief overview of how the L21 matches up versus the E-420 in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Leica struggles with L-Mount camera sales, tougher than Q or M
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Olympus E-420

 L21 E-420 
AnnouncedFebruary 2010June 2008Fresher by 20 months

Reasons to pick Olympus E-420 over the Nikon L21

 E-420 L21 
Manually focus More precise focusing
Display sizing2.7"2.5"Larger display (+0.2")

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Olympus E-420

 L21 E-420 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display resolution230k230kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen
Touch display Neither comes with Touch display

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 Physical Comparison

If you are going to carry your camera, you will want to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon L21 comes with outer measurements of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Olympus E-420 has sizing of 130mm x 91mm x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1") and a weight of 426 grams (0.94 lbs).

See the Nikon L21 and Olympus E-420 in the latest Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view proportions comparison of the L21 versus the E-420.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability grade of the L21 and E-420 is 93 and 77 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 Sensor Comparison

Often, it can be difficult to picture the gap in sensor sizing purely by going through technical specs. The photograph here will help offer you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the L21 and E-420.

As you have seen, the 2 cameras offer different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The L21 featuring a smaller sensor is going to make achieving bokeh tougher and the Olympus E-420 will show more detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics a little more aggressively. The more modern L21 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Peek Behind the Lens of 'Photographer' and Their Go-To Cameras

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 Portrait photography features
Olympus E-420 Portrait photography features
19
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
sensor resolution low (8MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
57
has manual focus
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (10MP)
Google AI Gemini Could Enhance iPhone Experience, Talks Suggest

Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography information
Olympus E-420 Street photography information
46
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
64
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
lighter than competitors (426 grams)
screen does not articulate
no image stabilization
TikTok Developing Photo App to Challenge Instagram's Dominance

Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography highlights
Olympus E-420 Sports photography highlights
16
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
39
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
supports phase detect autofocus
painfully slow continuous shooting (4.0 fps)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10 megapixels)
terrible battery (500 shots)
Nikon Coolpix camera search on Google skyrockets by 8,500%

Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus E-420 as a Travel photography camera
50
flash built-in
does not have Timelapse recording
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
does not feature selfie friendly display
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
53
lighter than competitors (426 grams)
has built in flash
no Timelapse recording
terrible battery (500 per charge)
MP count low (10 megapixels)
screen is not selfie friendly
Fujifilm accuses Eastman Kodak of patent violation in new lawsuit

Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 Landscape photography highlights
Olympus E-420 Landscape photography highlights
22
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.5 inches)
lack of manual mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW support
does not have Timelapse recording
47
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
sensor size is good (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
tiny screen (2.7 inch)
no image stabilization
MP count low (10MP)
terrible battery (500 shots)
no Timelapse recording
AI-Powered Photo Editing Tools Could Be Added to WhatsApp

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging information
Olympus E-420 Vlogging information
21
wide angle not the best (38mm)
sluggish max aperture (f3.1)
does not feature selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
9
lack of video recording
Apple patent reveals improved iPhone camera durability

Nikon L21 vs Olympus E-420 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Olympus E-420
 Nikon Coolpix L21Olympus E-420
General Information
Company Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix L21 Olympus E-420
Category Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-02-03 2008-06-23
Body design Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 TruePic III
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" Four Thirds
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 17.3 x 13mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 224.9mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 10MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 3
Lens
Lens support fixed lens Micro Four Thirds
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) -
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.7 -
Macro focusing range 5cm -
Number of lenses - 45
Crop factor 5.9 2.1
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 2.5 inches 2.7 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Optical (pentamirror)
Viewfinder coverage - 95%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.46x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 60 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed - 4.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 12.00 m (at ISO 100)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, Auto FP, Manual, Red-Eye
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Maximum flash sync - 1/180 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) -
Max video resolution 640x480 None
Video data format Motion JPEG -
Microphone input
Headphone input
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 seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 169g (0.37 pounds) 426g (0.94 pounds)
Dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 130 x 91 x 53mm (5.1" x 3.6" x 2.1")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating not tested 56
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 21.5
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 10.4
DXO Low light rating not tested 527
Other
Battery life - 500 pictures
Battery format - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal Compact Flash (Type I or II), xD Picture Card
Storage slots One One
Pricing at launch $180 $999