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Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Olympus Tough TG-3 front
Portability
90
Imaging
40
Features
46
Overall
42

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 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 TG-3
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 25-100mm (F2.0-4.9) lens
  • 247g - 112 x 66 x 31mm
  • Introduced March 2014
  • Replacement is Olympus TG-4
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Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 Overview

Below is a extended analysis of the Nikon L21 versus Olympus TG-3, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Waterproof by rivals Nikon and Olympus. There is a sizeable difference among the resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and TG-3 (16MP) but they come with the same exact sensor sizing (1/2.3").

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The L21 was released 5 years prior to the TG-3 and that is a fairly large gap as far as camera tech is concerned. Each of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before delving in to a full comparison, below is a short summary of how the L21 scores vs the TG-3 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Olympus TG-3

 L21 TG-3 

Reasons to pick Olympus TG-3 over the Nikon L21

 TG-3 L21 
IntroducedMarch 2014February 2010More recent by 50 months
Display sizing3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Olympus TG-3

 L21 TG-3 
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch display No Touch display

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 Physical Comparison

When you are planning to lug around your camera often, you need to factor in its weight and volume. The Nikon L21 provides physical measurements of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") having a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Olympus TG-3 has sizing of 112mm x 66mm x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2") along with a weight of 247 grams (0.54 lbs).

Analyze the Nikon L21 versus Olympus TG-3 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember that, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you are working with during that time. Below is the front view size comparison of the L21 and the TG-3.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability rating of the L21 and TG-3 is 93 and 90 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 Sensor Comparison

Often, it is very difficult to visualise the gap in sensor measurements purely by going through specifications. The graphic underneath may provide you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the L21 and TG-3.

To sum up, both of the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but not the same resolution. You should anticipate the Olympus TG-3 to provide more detail as a result of its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also enable you to crop images far more aggressively. The older L21 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon L21
Portrait photography with Olympus TG-3
19
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
no external flash support
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
37
decent MP (16MP)
supports face detection focus
manual focus not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L21
Street photography with Olympus TG-3
46
no moving screen
no image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
59
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
weather proof
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competitors (247g)
Photography Glossary

Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L21
Sports photography with Olympus TG-3
16
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
47
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
supports tracking autofocus
weather proof
great battery pack (330 per charge)
max fps low (5.0 fps)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L21
Travel photography with Olympus TG-3
50
has built in flash
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
74
great battery pack (330 per charge)
weather proof
decent MP (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Landscape photography camera
Olympus TG-3 as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
manual mode not available
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse recording
56
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
nice screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
decent MP (16MP)
weather proof
great battery pack (330 per charge)
manual focus not available
can't switch lenses (fixed lens mount)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging factors
Olympus TG-3 Vlogging factors
21
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow max aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
no image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have external mic port
34
reasonably wide (25mm)
good maximum aperture (f2.0)
has image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
supports face detection focus
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
screen is not selfie friendly
lack of external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (247 grams)
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Nikon L21 vs Olympus TG-3 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Olympus TG-3
 Nikon Coolpix L21Olympus Tough TG-3
General Information
Brand Nikon Olympus
Model type Nikon Coolpix L21 Olympus Tough TG-3
Category Small Sensor Compact Waterproof
Revealed 2010-02-03 2014-03-31
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 TruePic VII
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Lowest native ISO 64 100
RAW support
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
AF continuous
AF single
Tracking AF
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-100mm (4.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/2.0-4.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dot 460 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Screen tech - TFT-LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 4s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed - 5.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, redeye reduction, fill-in, off, LED
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) 1920 x 1080 (30p), 1280 x 720 (30p), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video data format Motion JPEG H.264, Motion JPEG
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 169 gr (0.37 lbs) 247 gr (0.54 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 112 x 66 x 31mm (4.4" x 2.6" x 1.2")
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 - 330 images
Form of battery - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA LI-92B
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 12 sec, custom)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD, SDHC, SDXC, Internal Memory
Storage slots 1 1
Pricing at release $180 $350