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Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Olympus TG-630 iHS front
Portability
94
Imaging
36
Features
34
Overall
35

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS 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
  • Launched February 2010
Olympus TG-630 iHS
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 28-140mm (F3.9-5.9) lens
  • 167g - 98 x 66 x 22mm
  • Launched January 2013
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Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Overview

Here is a extensive comparison of the Nikon L21 and Olympus TG-630 iHS, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Waterproof by companies Nikon and Olympus. There exists a large gap between the image resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and TG-630 iHS (12MP) but both cameras offer the identical sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The L21 was announced 3 years prior to the TG-630 iHS and that is quite a serious difference as far as technology is concerned. Each of the cameras feature the same body design (Compact).

Before getting straight to a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick view of how the L21 scores vs the TG-630 iHS in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Olympus TG-630 iHS

 L21 TG-630 iHS 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-630 iHS over the Nikon L21

 TG-630 iHS L21 
LaunchedJanuary 2013February 2010Fresher by 35 months
Screen size3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution460k230kSharper screen (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Olympus TG-630 iHS

 L21 TG-630 iHS 
Manual focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Lacking Touch friendly screen

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Physical Comparison

If you're going to carry your camera, you should think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L21 features external measurements of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Olympus TG-630 iHS has dimensions of 98mm x 66mm x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9") along with a weight of 167 grams (0.37 lbs).

See the Nikon L21 and Olympus TG-630 iHS in our newest Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are working with at that time. The following is a front view dimensions comparison of the L21 versus the TG-630 iHS.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the L21 and TG-630 iHS is 93 and 94 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is difficult to picture the gap between sensor sizing just by checking a spec sheet. The photograph here might offer you a far better sense of the sensor measurements in the L21 and TG-630 iHS.

As you can see, both of these cameras feature the identical sensor size albeit different resolution. You can expect the Olympus TG-630 iHS to give greater detail with its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also help you crop pictures way more aggressively. The older L21 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 Portrait photography factors
Olympus TG-630 iHS Portrait photography factors
19
lack of manual focus
no manual control
external flash not possible
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
27
has face detect focusing
no manual focus
lack of manual mode
no external flash support
low MP (12MP)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography info
Olympus TG-630 iHS Street photography info
46
screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
62
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no moving screen
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography highlights
Olympus TG-630 iHS Sports photography highlights
16
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (8MP)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect autofocus
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has tracking focus
weather proofing
max frames per second very slow (5.0 frames per second)
lack of shutter priority mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Travel photography camera
Olympus TG-630 iHS as a Travel photography camera
50
built-in flash
lack of Timelapse function
resolution not great (8MP)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
59
weather proofing
built-in flash
quite wide (28mm)
no Time Lapse mode
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
low MP (12 megapixels)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L21
Landscape photography with Olympus TG-630 iHS
22
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
small screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
does not have image stabilization
resolution not great (8 megapixels)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW format
lack of Timelapse function
39
quite wide (28mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proofing
no manual focus
can't change lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
lack of manual mode
low MP (12 megapixels)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW support
not so great battery life (220 CIPA)
no Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon L21
Vlogging with Olympus TG-630 iHS
21
wide angle not good (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone socket
33
quite wide (28mm)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
has face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.9)
display is not selfie friendly
no mic support
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Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-630 iHS Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Olympus TG-630 iHS
 Nikon Coolpix L21Olympus TG-630 iHS
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix L21 Olympus TG-630 iHS
Type Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Launched 2010-02-03 2013-01-08
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD 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 8MP 12MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 3968 x 2976
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 28-140mm (5.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.9-5.9
Macro focusing range 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 460k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
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 rate - 5.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 180 (30fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video 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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 169 grams (0.37 lbs) 167 grams (0.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 98 x 66 x 22mm (3.9" x 2.6" x 0.9")
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 shots
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 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 Single Single
Cost at release $180 $200