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Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV

Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Ricoh GR Digital IV front
Portability
92
Imaging
35
Features
47
Overall
39

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV 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
  • Released February 2010
Ricoh GR Digital IV
(Full Review)
  • 10MP - 1/1.7" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 28mm (F1.9) lens
  • 190g - 109 x 59 x 33mm
  • Introduced September 2011
  • Older Model is Ricoh GR Digital III
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Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Overview

Let's look a little more closely at the Nikon L21 and Ricoh GR Digital IV, both Small Sensor Compact digital cameras by brands Nikon and Ricoh. The image resolution of the L21 (8MP) and the GR Digital IV (10MP) is very well matched but the L21 (1/2.3") and GR Digital IV (1/1.7") come with totally different sensor dimensions.

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The L21 was announced 19 months prior to the GR Digital IV making the cameras a generation apart from each other. Each of the cameras come with the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a concise summation of how the L21 grades versus the GR Digital IV when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Ricoh GR Digital IV

 L21 GR Digital IV 

Reasons to pick Ricoh GR Digital IV over the Nikon L21

 GR Digital IV L21 
IntroducedSeptember 2011February 2010Fresher by 19 months
Manual focus More accurate focus
Display dimension3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution1230k230kClearer display (+1000k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Ricoh GR Digital IV

 L21 GR Digital IV 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Lacking selfie screen
Touch display Lacking Touch display

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Physical Comparison

For anybody who is aiming to carry your camera frequently, you'll have to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon L21 provides outside 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 Ricoh GR Digital IV has sizing of 109mm x 59mm x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3") along with a weight of 190 grams (0.42 lbs).

Compare the Nikon L21 and Ricoh GR Digital IV in our completely new Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are utilising at that moment. Following is the front view dimensions comparison of the L21 and the GR Digital IV.

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV size comparison

Looking at size and weight, the portability score of the L21 and GR Digital IV is 93 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Sensor Comparison

Oftentimes, it can be difficult to visualise the gap between sensor sizing just by reading through technical specs. The graphic here will help provide you a more clear sense of the sensor measurements in the L21 and GR Digital IV.

As you can tell, both the cameras have got different resolutions and different sensor sizing. The L21 having a tinier sensor will make achieving bokeh harder and the Ricoh GR Digital IV will give you greater detail with its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop images much more aggressively. The older L21 is going to be disadvantaged with regard to sensor tech.

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Portrait photography camera
Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Portrait photography camera
18
no manual focus
no manual exposure
cannot use external flash
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
41
manual focus
saves RAW files
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography information
Ricoh GR Digital IV Street photography information
46
screen is fixed
does not have image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
65
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
screen does not articulate
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography info
Ricoh GR Digital IV Sports photography info
15
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect auto focus
34
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
better than average battery (390 shots)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Travel photography camera
Ricoh GR Digital IV as a Travel photography camera
50
has built in flash
does not have Timelapse mode
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
67
better than average battery (390 shots)
has built in flash
great max aperture (f1.9)
low megapixels (10 megapixels)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 Landscape photography details
Ricoh GR Digital IV Landscape photography details
21
no manual focus
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5 inches)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
sensor resolution low (8 megapixels)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
does not have Timelapse mode
53
manual focus
great max aperture (f1.9)
nice screen size (3")
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
saves RAW files
better than average battery (390 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
focal length is fixed (28mm)
low megapixels (10MP)
very small sensor (1/1.7")
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging factors
Ricoh GR Digital IV Vlogging factors
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
does not have microphone socket
29
great max aperture (f1.9)
image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
doesn't offer selfie friendly display
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have microphone support
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Nikon L21 vs Ricoh GR Digital IV Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Ricoh GR Digital IV
 Nikon Coolpix L21Ricoh GR Digital IV
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Ricoh
Model Nikon Coolpix L21 Ricoh GR Digital IV
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Released 2010-02-03 2011-09-15
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/1.7"
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 7.44 x 5.58mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 41.5mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 10 megapixel
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3 and 3:2
Maximum resolution 3648 x 2736 3648 x 2736
Maximum native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 64 80
RAW data
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 28mm (1x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/1.9
Macro focus distance 5cm 1cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 4.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display sizing 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230k dots 1,230k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Optical (optional)
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8s 1s
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash range - 3.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, Manual
External flash
AE bracketing
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) 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Maximum video resolution 640x480 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone 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
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 169 grams (0.37 pounds) 190 grams (0.42 pounds)
Dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 109 x 59 x 33mm (4.3" x 2.3" x 1.3")
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 - 390 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA DB65
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC, Internal
Card slots 1 1
Retail price $180 $599