Nikon L21 vs Panasonic ZS80

On this page, we will be evaluating the Nikon L21 and Panasonic ZS80, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by competitors Nikon and Panasonic. There exists a sizable gap between the resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and ZS80 (20MP) but both cameras posses the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

Photography Glossary

The L21 was manufactured 9 years before the ZS80 and that is quite a significant difference as far as technology is concerned. Both cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a thorough comparison, here is a brief highlight of how the L21 grades versus the ZS80 when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

The following is a preview of the gallery photos for Nikon Coolpix L21 & Panasonic Lumix DC-ZS80. The entire galleries are available at Nikon L21 Gallery & Panasonic ZS80 Gallery.

If you're going to carry your camera often, you'll need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon L21 offers exterior dimensions 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 Panasonic ZS80 has specifications of 112mm x 69mm x 42mm (4.4" x 2.7" x 1.7") and a weight of 327 grams (0.72 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon L21 and Panasonic ZS80 in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool.

Remember that, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have attached at that moment. The following is a front view over all size comparison of the L21 against the ZS80.

Taking into account dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L21 and ZS80 is 93 and 86 respectively.

More often than not, it is difficult to envision the contrast between sensor sizing only by reading specs. The graphic underneath might provide you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the L21 and ZS80.

All in all, both of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions albeit not the same resolution. You can count on the Panasonic ZS80 to offer you greater detail due to its extra 12 Megapixels. Higher resolution will let you crop pictures more aggressively. The older L21 is going to be disadvantaged in sensor tech.