Clicky

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10

Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Olympus SZ-10 front
Portability
90
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 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
  • Revealed February 2010
Olympus SZ-10
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 28-504mm (F3.1-4.4) lens
  • 215g - 106 x 67 x 38mm
  • Introduced February 2011
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 Overview

Following is a complete analysis of the Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10, one is a Small Sensor Compact and the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Olympus. There exists a sizeable gap between the image resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and SZ-10 (14MP) but both cameras provide the identical sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

The L21 was brought out 12 months before the SZ-10 and they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a comprehensive comparison, here is a brief summation of how the L21 grades against the SZ-10 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

        

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Olympus SZ-10

 L21 SZ-10 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-10 over the Nikon L21

 SZ-10 L21 
IntroducedFebruary 2011February 2010More modern by 12 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Olympus SZ-10

 L21 SZ-10 
Focus manually No manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch screen Lacking Touch screen

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 Physical Comparison

If you are aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you'll have to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L21 provides physical 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 Olympus SZ-10 has dimensions of 106mm x 67mm x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5") having a weight of 215 grams (0.47 lbs).

Check the Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you use at that time. Below is a front view measurement comparison of the L21 versus the SZ-10.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L21 and SZ-10 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 Sensor Comparison

Typically, its difficult to visualize the gap between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The image here should provide you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the L21 and SZ-10.

As you have seen, each of these cameras come with the identical sensor size albeit different MP. You should count on the Olympus SZ-10 to give more detail having its extra 6MP. Higher resolution will make it easier to crop photographs a good deal more aggressively. The more aged L21 is going to be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 Portrait photography information
Olympus SZ-10 Portrait photography information
18
lack of manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
33
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
supports face detection focus
lack of manual focus
lack of manual mode
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography features
Olympus SZ-10 Street photography features
46
fixed screen
lack of image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
60
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition in class (215 grams)
no articulating screen
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography features
Olympus SZ-10 Sports photography features
15
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
40
long zoom range (28-504mm 18.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
supports tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
low battery life (220 shots)
lack of phase detect auto focus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 Travel photography advice
Olympus SZ-10 Travel photography advice
50
built-in flash
does not have Timelapse recording
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
65
lighter than competition in class (215g)
decent sensor resolution (14 megapixels)
has built in flash
pretty wide (28mm)
very long reach (504mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
low battery life (220 shots)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.1)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L21
Landscape photography with Olympus SZ-10
21
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5 inch)
no manual exposure
lack of image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
40
pretty wide (28mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent sensor resolution (14MP)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
lack of manual mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW files
low battery life (220 per charge)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-10 as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't posses selfie friendly display
lack of image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have external microphone support
31
pretty wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
lighter than competition in class (215g)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
screen is not selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
doesn't have external microphone port
Photography Glossary

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-10 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Olympus SZ-10
 Nikon Coolpix L21Olympus SZ-10
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix L21 Olympus SZ-10
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-02-03 2011-02-08
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 TruePic III+
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixels 14 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Max native ISO 1600 1600
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
AF live view
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 28-504mm (18.0x)
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.1-4.4
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5" 3"
Screen resolution 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8 seconds 4 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed - 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Set WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 7.10 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30, 15fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 169 gr (0.37 lb) 215 gr (0.47 lb)
Physical dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 106 x 67 x 38mm (4.2" x 2.6" x 1.5")
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 - 220 photos
Type of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec)
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $180 $300