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Nikon L21 vs Sony A65

Portability
93
Imaging
32
Features
11
Overall
23
Nikon Coolpix L21 front
 
Sony SLT-A65 front
Portability
64
Imaging
64
Features
85
Overall
72

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 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
  • Released February 2010
Sony A65
(Full Review)
  • 24MP - APS-C Sensor
  • 3" Fully Articulated Display
  • ISO 100 - 12800 (Bump to 25600)
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • Sony/Minolta Alpha Mount
  • 622g - 132 x 97 x 81mm
  • Introduced November 2011
  • Replacement is Sony A68
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Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 Overview

The following is a in depth overview of the Nikon L21 versus Sony A65, former is a Small Sensor Compact while the other is a Entry-Level DSLR by brands Nikon and Sony. There exists a considerable gap among the image resolutions of the L21 (8MP) and A65 (24MP) and the L21 (1/2.3") and A65 (APS-C) provide totally different sensor size.

Photography Glossary

The L21 was revealed 21 months prior to the A65 making them a generation away from one another. Both cameras feature different body design with the Nikon L21 being a Compact camera and the Sony A65 being a Compact SLR camera.

Before going into a in-depth comparison, here is a short view of how the L21 scores against the A65 with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall mark.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L21 over the Sony A65

 L21 A65 

Reasons to pick Sony A65 over the Nikon L21

 A65 L21 
IntroducedNovember 2011February 2010Newer by 21 months
Manual focus Dial precise focus
Display typeFully ArticulatedFixed Fully Articulating display
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution921k230kClearer display (+691k dot)
Selfie screen Take selfies

Common features in the Nikon L21 and Sony A65

 L21 A65 
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 Physical Comparison

For anyone who is planning to travel with your camera, you will need to take into account its weight and volume. The Nikon L21 provides 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 A65 has sizing of 132mm x 97mm x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2") along with a weight of 622 grams (1.37 lbs).

Examine the Nikon L21 versus Sony A65 in our completely new Camera plus Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an ILC will differ based on the lens you have at the time. Underneath is a front view sizing comparison of the L21 against the A65.

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 size comparison

Using dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L21 and A65 is 93 and 64 respectively.

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is very difficult to see the contrast in sensor dimensions merely by looking through specs. The picture here will offer you a far better sense of the sensor dimensions in the L21 and A65.

As you can plainly see, both cameras come with different megapixel count and different sensor dimensions. The L21 using its smaller sensor will make achieving shallow DOF more challenging and the Sony A65 will render greater detail because of its extra 16 Megapixels. Greater resolution can also help you crop pics a good deal more aggressively. The more aged L21 will be disadvantaged when it comes to sensor tech.

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 sensor size comparison

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L21 Portrait photography information
Sony A65 Portrait photography information
19
manual focus not available
no manual control
external flash not possible
MP count low (8MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
78
you can focus manually
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports face detection focusing
saves RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L21
Street photography with Sony A65
46
no moving screen
lack of image stabilization
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
77
screen can move to multiple angles
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L21 Sports photography highlights
Sony A65 Sports photography highlights
16
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8MP)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect auto focus
82
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
supports tracking autofocus
has phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L21 Travel photography information
Sony A65 Travel photography information
50
built-in flash
no Time Lapse recording
MP count low (8 megapixels)
does not have selfie friendly screen
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
68
decent MP (24MP)
flash built-in
selfie friendly screen
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L21
Landscape photography with Sony A65
22
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
screen is somewhat small (2.5 inches)
no manual control
lack of image stabilization
MP count low (8 megapixels)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
no Time Lapse recording
75
you can focus manually
change lenses (Sony/Minolta Alpha mount)
screen is a decent size (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
decent MP (24MP)
nice sensor size (APS-C)
saves RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L21 as a Vlogging camera
Sony A65 as a Vlogging camera
21
wide angle not great (38mm)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.1)
does not have selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
low video resolution (640 x 480 pxls)
no external mic port
78
selfie friendly screen
built in image stabilization (Sensor based)
supports face detection focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
has external microphone support
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Nikon L21 vs Sony A65 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L21 and Sony A65
 Nikon Coolpix L21Sony SLT-A65
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix L21 Sony SLT-A65
Type Small Sensor Compact Entry-Level DSLR
Released 2010-02-03 2011-11-15
Physical type Compact Compact SLR
Sensor Information
Powered by Expeed C2 Bionz
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" APS-C
Sensor measurements 6.08 x 4.56mm 23.5 x 15.6mm
Sensor surface area 27.7mm² 366.6mm²
Sensor resolution 8MP 24MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 3:2 and 16:9
Full resolution 3648 x 2736 6000 x 4000
Max native ISO 1600 12800
Max boosted ISO - 25600
Minimum native ISO 64 100
RAW photos
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection focusing
Contract detection focusing
Phase detection focusing
Number of focus points - 15
Cross focus points - 3
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens Sony/Minolta Alpha
Lens focal range 38-136mm (3.6x) -
Highest aperture f/3.1-6.7 -
Macro focus distance 5cm -
Number of lenses - 143
Focal length multiplier 5.9 1.5
Screen
Type of screen Fixed Type Fully Articulated
Screen size 2.5 inches 3 inches
Resolution of screen 230 thousand dots 921 thousand dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359 thousand dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100%
Viewfinder magnification - 0.73x
Features
Slowest shutter speed 8 seconds 30 seconds
Maximum shutter speed 1/2000 seconds 1/4000 seconds
Continuous shooting rate - 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Set WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range - 10.00 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Fill-in, Slow Syncro Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow Sync, High Speed Sync, Rear Curtain, Fill-in, Wireless
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Maximum flash synchronize - 1/160 seconds
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Supported video resolutions 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps) 1920 x 1080 (60, 24 fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 640 x 424 (29.97 fps)
Max video resolution 640x480 1920x1080
Video file format Motion JPEG MPEG-4, AVCHD, H.264
Microphone support
Headphone support
Connectivity
Wireless None Eye-Fi Connected
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental sealing
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 169g (0.37 lbs) 622g (1.37 lbs)
Physical dimensions 92 x 67 x 28mm (3.6" x 2.6" x 1.1") 132 x 97 x 81mm (5.2" x 3.8" x 3.2")
DXO scores
DXO All around score not tested 74
DXO Color Depth score not tested 23.4
DXO Dynamic range score not tested 12.6
DXO Low light score not tested 717
Other
Battery life - 560 images
Battery style - Battery Pack
Battery model 2 x AA NP-FM500H
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC, Internal SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Pro Duo/ Pro-HG Duo
Card slots 1 1
Cost at launch $180 $700