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Nikon L21 vs Sony W650

Portability
93
Imaging
31
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650 front
Portability
96
Imaging
39
Features
32
Overall
36

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 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
  • Introduced February 2010
Sony W650
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.6-6.3) lens
  • 124g - 94 x 56 x 19mm
  • Introduced January 2012
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Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 Overview

Lets take a closer look at the Nikon L21 vs Sony W650, both Small Sensor Compact cameras by rivals Nikon and Sony. There is a noticeable difference among the sensor resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and W650 (16MP) but both cameras provide the same sensor size (1/2.3").

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The L21 was unveiled 23 months prior to the W650 which makes them a generation away from each other. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving right into a detailed comparison, here is a short synopsis of how the L21 matches up against the W650 for portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

Photography Glossary

        

Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Sony W650

 L21 W650 

Reasons to pick Sony W650 over the Nikon L21

 W650 L21 
IntroducedJanuary 2012February 2010Newer by 23 months
Screen dimensions3"2.5"Bigger screen (+0.5")

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Sony W650

 L21 W650 
Manual focus Lack of manual focus
Screen typeFixed Fixed Fixed screen
Screen resolution230k230kExact same screen resolution
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 Physical Comparison

If you're planning to travel with your camera often, you are going to need to think about its weight and size. The Nikon L21 features physical dimensions of 92mm x 67mm x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") with a weight of 169 grams (0.37 lbs) and the Sony W650 has specifications of 94mm x 56mm x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7") with a weight of 124 grams (0.27 lbs).

Check out the Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 in our brand new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an ILC will change dependant on the lens you are using at that moment. The following is a front view dimension comparison of the L21 and the W650.

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability grade of the L21 and W650 is 93 and 96 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 Sensor Comparison

Usually, its tough to visualize the difference in sensor dimensions simply by seeing specs. The picture below should offer you a better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L21 and W650.

As you can plainly see, the two cameras have the same sensor dimensions albeit different resolution. You can count on the Sony W650 to show greater detail having an extra 8 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also allow you to crop photographs a bit more aggressively. The more aged L21 will be behind with regard to sensor technology.

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 Portrait photography information
Sony W650 Portrait photography information
18
focusing manually not possible
no manual control
external flash not possible
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
34
MP count good (16MP)
has face detection focus
manual focus not available
manual mode not available
external flash not possible
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon L21 Street photography factors
Sony W650 Street photography factors
46
fixed screen
no image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
63
built in image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (124g)
screen does not articulate
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L21
Sports photography with Sony W650
15
no shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect AF
40
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
has tracking autofocus
very slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames/s)
lack of shutter priority mode
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 Travel photography factors
Sony W650 Travel photography factors
50
flash built-in
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sensor resolution not great (8 megapixels)
screen isn't selfie friendly
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
69
lighter than competition (124g)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
fairly wide (25mm)
missing Time Lapse function
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L21 Landscape photography features
Sony W650 Landscape photography features
21
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
tiny screen (2.5 inches)
no manual control
no image stabilization
sensor resolution not great (8MP)
small sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW support
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
43
fairly wide (25mm)
good sized screen (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
manual mode not available
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
no RAW format
missing Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 Vlogging details
Sony W650 Vlogging details
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen isn't selfie friendly
no image stabilization
low res video (640 x 480 pxls)
doesn't have mic port
33
fairly wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focus
lighter than competition (124 grams)
slow maximum aperture (f2.6)
doesn't feature selfie friendly display
low quality video (1280 x 720 resolution)
missing external mic port
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Nikon L21 vs Sony W650 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Sony W650
 Nikon Coolpix L21Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L21 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W650
Category Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2010-02-03 2012-01-10
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Chip Expeed C2 BIONZ
Sensor type CCD CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.08 x 4.56mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 8 megapixel 16 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 1600 3200
Lowest native ISO 64 80
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Autofocus touch
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Live view autofocus
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 38-136mm (3.6x) 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.1-6.7 f/2.6-6.3
Macro focusing range 5cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.9 5.8
Screen
Range of display Fixed Type Fixed Type
Display size 2.5 inch 3 inch
Resolution of display 230 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Display technology - Clear Photo TFT LCD
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 secs 2 secs
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/1600 secs
Continuous shooting speed - 1.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 3.70 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1280x720
Video format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Mic jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 169 gr (0.37 pounds) 124 gr (0.27 pounds)
Physical dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 94 x 56 x 19mm (3.7" x 2.2" x 0.7")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 - 220 photographs
Battery form - Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA NP-BN
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec, Portrait 1/2)
Time lapse shooting
Storage media SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC, microSD/micro SDHC, Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $180 $140