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Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99

Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
67
Overall
53

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 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
  • Revealed February 2010
Sony HX99
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3-inch Sensor
  • 3.00" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 242g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Released September 2018
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Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 Overview

In this article, we will be comparing the Nikon L21 versus Sony HX99, former being a Small Sensor Compact while the latter is a Small Sensor Superzoom by companies Nikon and Sony. There exists a substantial gap among the sensor resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and HX99 (18MP) and the L21 (1/2.3") and HX99 (1/2.3-inch) possess totally different sensor size.

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The L21 was manufactured 9 years before the HX99 and that is a fairly big difference as far as camera technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer the identical body type (Compact).

Before diving in to a complete comparison, below is a simple summation of how the L21 scores against the HX99 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Sony HX99

 L21 HX99 

Reasons to pick Sony HX99 over the Nikon L21

 HX99 L21 
ReleasedSeptember 2018February 2010More recent by 104 months
Manually focus Dial exact focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen sizing3.00"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")
Screen resolution921k230kClearer screen (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Easy selfies
Touch friendly screen Quickly navigate

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Sony HX99

 L21 HX99 

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to lug around your camera regularly, you'll need to consider its weight and volume. The Nikon L21 has got outer 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) whilst the Sony HX99 has sizing of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") having a weight of 242 grams (0.53 lbs).

See the Nikon L21 versus Sony HX99 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will vary dependant on the lens you are using during that time. Following is the front view overall size comparison of the L21 against the HX99.

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L21 and HX99 is 93 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 Sensor Comparison

Typically, it is tough to see the contrast in sensor measurements purely by looking through a spec sheet. The graphic here might offer you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the L21 and HX99.

As you can see, the two cameras enjoy different resolutions and different sensor measurements. The L21 because of its bigger sensor will make shooting shallower depth of field simpler and the Sony HX99 will provide you with extra detail due to its extra 10 Megapixels. Higher resolution can also allow you to crop shots far more aggressively. The older L21 will be disadvantaged with regard to sensor innovation.

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Portrait photography camera
18
lack of manual focus
manual mode not possible
external flash not possible
low resolution (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
53
has manual focus
good MP (18MP)
offers face detect focusing
delivers RAW files
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3-inch)
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Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography highlights
Sony HX99 Street photography highlights
46
fixed screen
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
77
tilting screen
built in image stabilization
delivers RAW files
lighter than competition in class (242g)
small sensor (1/2.3-inch)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX99 as a Sports photography camera
15
no shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8 megapixels)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
57
incredible zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization
good MP (18 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery life (360 shots)
small sensor (1/2.3-inch)
lacks phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 Travel photography information
Sony HX99 Travel photography information
50
flash built-in
lack of Time Lapse function
low resolution (8 megapixels)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
76
great battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
good MP (18MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
fairly wide (24mm)
very long zoom (720mm)
no Time Lapse function
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 Landscape photography info
Sony HX99 Landscape photography info
21
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is small (2.5")
manual mode not possible
does not have image stabilization
low resolution (8MP)
tiny sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
lack of Time Lapse function
58
has manual focus
fairly wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3.00 inches)
built in image stabilization
good MP (18 megapixels)
delivers RAW files
great battery life (360 per charge)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
small sensor (1/2.3-inch)
no Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX99 Vlogging highlights
21
wide angle not fantastic (38mm)
slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
does not have image stabilization
low quality video (640 x 480 resolution)
lack of mic socket
76
fairly wide (24mm)
selfie friendly screen
touchscreen capability
built in image stabilization
offers face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
lighter than competition in class (242g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
no mic socket
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Nikon L21 vs Sony HX99 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Sony HX99
 Nikon Coolpix L21Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix L21 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX99
Class Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Revealed 2010-02-03 2018-09-01
Physical type Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Expeed C2 -
Sensor type CCD BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3-inch
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 18MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Peak resolution 3648 x 2736 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 1600 12800
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW format
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch to focus
Autofocus continuous
Autofocus single
Autofocus tracking
Selective autofocus
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Display type Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 2.5 inch 3.00 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 8s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set white balance
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p, 120p)
Highest video resolution 640x480 3840x2160
Video data format Motion JPEG AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
Connectivity
Wireless None Built-In
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 169g (0.37 lbs) 242g (0.53 lbs)
Dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
DXO scores
DXO Overall 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 - 360 pictures
Battery type - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-BX1
Self timer Yes Yes
Time lapse feature
Type of storage SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $180 $469