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Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12

Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Olympus SZ-12 front
Portability
89
Imaging
37
Features
36
Overall
36

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 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
  • Introduced February 2010
Olympus SZ-12
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-600mm (F3.0-6.9) lens
  • 226g - 106 x 69 x 40mm
  • Released January 2012
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Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 Overview

On this page, we will be looking at the Nikon L21 versus Olympus SZ-12, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Olympus. There exists a noticeable gap between the sensor resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and SZ-12 (14MP) but both cameras have the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The L21 was launched 23 months earlier than the SZ-12 which makes them a generation away from one another. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving straight to a detailed comparison, here is a short summation of how the L21 scores against the SZ-12 in relation to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Olympus SZ-12

 L21 SZ-12 

Reasons to pick Olympus SZ-12 over the Nikon L21

 SZ-12 L21 
ReleasedJanuary 2012February 2010Newer by 23 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kClearer screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Olympus SZ-12

 L21 SZ-12 
Manually focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither provides Touch friendly screen

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 Physical Comparison

For those who are going to travel with your camera, you'll have to think about its weight and measurements. The Nikon L21 provides physical dimensions of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) whilst the Olympus SZ-12 has proportions of 106mm x 69mm x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6") and a weight of 226 grams (0.50 lbs).

Look at the Nikon L21 versus Olympus SZ-12 in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will vary depending on the lens you have chosen at that time. Below is a front view physical size comparison of the L21 against the SZ-12.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 size comparison

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L21 and SZ-12 is 93 and 89 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, its difficult to visualise the difference between sensor dimensions merely by reading through specs. The picture here may give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the L21 and SZ-12.

As you can plainly see, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same megapixels. You can count on the Olympus SZ-12 to resolve extra detail utilizing its extra 6 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop shots a bit more aggressively. The more aged L21 is going to be behind when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Portrait photography camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Portrait photography camera
18
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
33
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with face detect focus
no manual focus
no manual exposure
no external flash support
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography info
Olympus SZ-12 Street photography info
46
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
60
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than competition (226 grams)
no articulating screen
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography highlights
Olympus SZ-12 Sports photography highlights
15
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
40
excellent zoom range (25-600mm 24.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
continuous shooting slow (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
low battery power (220 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 Travel photography details
Olympus SZ-12 Travel photography details
50
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
65
lighter than competition (226g)
good resolution (14MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
very long zoom (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
low battery power (220 shots)
display isn't selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 Landscape photography features
Olympus SZ-12 Landscape photography features
21
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
lack of Time Lapse mode
40
decently wide (25mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
good resolution (14MP)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
low battery power (220 shots)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Vlogging camera
Olympus SZ-12 as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of mic support
31
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
comes with face detect focus
lighter than competition (226 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
display isn't selfie friendly
low video resolution (1280 x 720 resolution)
does not have mic support
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Nikon L21 vs Olympus SZ-12 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Olympus SZ-12
 Nikon Coolpix L21Olympus SZ-12
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Olympus
Model Nikon Coolpix L21 Olympus SZ-12
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2010-02-03 2012-01-10
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 -
Highest resolution 3648 x 2736 4288 x 3216
Highest native ISO 1600 1600
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross focus points - -
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-600mm (24.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.0-6.9
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Display technology - TFT Color LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 8 secs 4 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1700 secs
Continuous shooting rate - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
External flash
AEB
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) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Highest video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic support
Headphone support
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) 226g (0.50 lb)
Physical dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 106 x 69 x 40mm (4.2" x 2.7" x 1.6")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 220 photographs
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA LI-50B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec, pet auto shutter)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $180 $350