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Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Samsung WB850F front
Portability
91
Imaging
39
Features
51
Overall
43

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F 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
  • Launched February 2010
Samsung WB850F
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-483mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 250g - 109 x 62 x 25mm
  • Announced January 2012
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Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F Overview

The following is a detailed overview of the Nikon L21 and Samsung WB850F, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Samsung. There is a noticeable difference between the sensor resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and WB850F (16MP) but both cameras have the same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The L21 was announced 23 months prior to the WB850F making them a generation away from each other. Both the cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before going into a step-by-step comparison, here is a quick introduction of how the L21 grades vs the WB850F for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Samsung WB850F

 L21 WB850F 

Reasons to pick Samsung WB850F over the Nikon L21

 WB850F L21 
AnnouncedJanuary 2012February 2010Newer by 23 months
Focus manually Very accurate focus
Display dimensions3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution614k230kSharper display (+384k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Samsung WB850F

 L21 WB850F 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen Neither includes selfie screen
Touch display Neither includes Touch display

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F Physical Comparison

In case you're looking to travel with your camera regularly, you are going to need to think about its weight and volume. The Nikon L21 features external dimensions of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") and a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) while the Samsung WB850F has sizing of 109mm x 62mm x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0") having a weight of 250 grams (0.55 lbs).

Examine the Nikon L21 and Samsung WB850F in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Do not forget, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you are employing at that moment. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the L21 compared to the WB850F.

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the L21 and WB850F is 93 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is very tough to imagine the difference between sensor dimensions just by going over technical specs. The pic below should offer you a greater sense of the sensor sizes in the L21 and WB850F.

As you can tell, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but different MP. You can expect to see the Samsung WB850F to offer you more detail with its extra 8 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also make it easier to crop images a bit more aggressively. The more aged L21 is going to be behind with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 Portrait photography highlights
Samsung WB850F Portrait photography highlights
19
manual focus not available
manual exposure not possible
external flash not possible
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
43
focusing manually
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
offers face detection autofocus
cannot use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography info
Samsung WB850F Street photography info
46
no articulating screen
no image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
61
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than others (250g)
fixed screen
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography highlights
Samsung WB850F Sports photography highlights
16
no shutter priority
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
52
incredible zoom range (23-483mm 21.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
offers tracking autofocus
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect autofocus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Travel photography camera
Samsung WB850F as a Travel photography camera
50
has built in flash
missing Timelapse function
low megapixels (8MP)
does not have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than others (250g)
decent sensor resolution (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (23mm)
great reach (483mm)
no Timelapse recording
screen is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Landscape photography camera
Samsung WB850F as a Landscape photography camera
22
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
manual exposure not possible
no image stabilization
low megapixels (8 megapixels)
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW files
missing Timelapse function
49
focusing manually
really wide (23mm)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
decent sensor resolution (16MP)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
no Timelapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging features
Samsung WB850F Vlogging features
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
video resolution low (640 x 480 pxls)
missing external microphone socket
34
really wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detection autofocus
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than others (250 grams)
somewhat slow max aperture (f2.8)
screen is not selfie friendly
no external microphone jack
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Nikon L21 vs Samsung WB850F Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Samsung WB850F
 Nikon Coolpix L21Samsung WB850F
General Information
Make Nikon Samsung
Model type Nikon Coolpix L21 Samsung WB850F
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2010-02-03 2012-01-09
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 -
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 area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 16MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Min native ISO 64 100
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Continuous AF
AF single
Tracking AF
Selective AF
AF center weighted
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 23-483mm (21.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing distance 5cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.9 5.8
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen diagonal 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230k dot 614k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Screen tech - AMOLED display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Min shutter speed 8s 8s
Max shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance - 3.50 m
Flash settings Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance 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) 1920 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 480fps (176 x 128), 240fps (384 x 288)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
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 grams (0.37 pounds) 250 grams (0.55 pounds)
Physical dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 109 x 62 x 25mm (4.3" x 2.4" x 1.0")
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 ID 2 x AA SLB-10A
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Double)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Launch price $180 $599