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Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20

Portability
93
Imaging
39
Features
24
Overall
33
Nikon Coolpix L26 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20 front
Portability
92
Imaging
37
Features
46
Overall
40

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 Key Specs

Nikon L26
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 26-130mm (F3.2-6.5) lens
  • 164g - 96 x 60 x 29mm
  • Announced February 2012
Panasonic ZS20
(Full Review)
  • 14MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-480mm (F3.3-6.4) lens
  • 206g - 105 x 59 x 28mm
  • Launched April 2012
  • Also Known as Lumix DMC-TZ30
  • Superseded the Panasonic ZS15
  • Refreshed by Panasonic ZS25
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Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 Overview

On this page, we are matching up the Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20, one being a Small Sensor Compact and the other is a Small Sensor Superzoom by rivals Nikon and Panasonic. The image resolution of the L26 (16MP) and the ZS20 (14MP) is very well matched and both cameras provide the same sensor measurements (1/2.3").

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The L26 was unveiled 2 months before the ZS20 and they are both of a similar generation. The two cameras have the same body design (Compact).

Before diving into a complete comparison, here is a quick summation of how the L26 scores vs the ZS20 for portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon L26 over the Panasonic ZS20

 L26 ZS20 

Reasons to pick Panasonic ZS20 over the Nikon L26

 ZS20 L26 
Display resolution460k230kCrisper display (+230k dot)
Touch friendly display Easily navigate

Common features in the Nikon L26 and Panasonic ZS20

 L26 ZS20 
LaunchedFebruary 2012April 2012Similar generation
Focus manually Lack of manual focusing
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display measurements
Selfie screen Neither comes with selfie screen

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 Physical Comparison

In case you're intending to carry your camera frequently, you'll need to think about its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L26 comes with outer dimensions of 96mm x 60mm x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") and a weight of 164 grams (0.36 lbs) whilst the Panasonic ZS20 has dimensions of 105mm x 59mm x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1") with a weight of 206 grams (0.45 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into account, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change based on the lens you use at that moment. Below is a front view dimension comparison of the L26 compared to the ZS20.

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 size comparison

Looking at dimensions and weight, the portability score of the L26 and ZS20 is 93 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very hard to visualise the gap between sensor sizing merely by looking at a spec sheet. The photograph below should give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the L26 and ZS20.

Clearly, each of these cameras provide the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Nikon L26 to give you more detail having an extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos more aggressively.

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 sensor size comparison

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Portrait photography with Nikon L26
Portrait photography with Panasonic ZS20
34
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
includes face detection focus
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
30
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
no external flash support
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Street photography with Nikon L26
Street photography with Panasonic ZS20
47
no articulating screen
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
65
has image stabilization (Optical)
features touch to focus
lighter than average in class (206 grams)
no moving screen
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L26 Sports photography highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Sports photography highlights
27
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
lack of shutter priority mode
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
not so great battery (200 shots)
does not have phase detect auto focus
47
amazing zoom range (24-480mm 20.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14MP)
features tracking autofocus
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
low battery life (260 per charge)
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L26 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic ZS20 as a Travel photography camera
62
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
built-in flash
reasonably wide (26mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
68
lighter than average in class (206g)
features touch to focus
megapixel count decent (14MP)
has built in flash
really wide (24mm)
great reach (480mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
low battery life (260 per charge)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L26
Landscape photography with Panasonic ZS20
37
reasonably wide (26mm)
decent sized screen (3")
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
manual focus not available
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
no manual exposure
does not have image stabilization
small sensor size (1/2.3")
does not have RAW files
not so great battery (200 CIPA)
does not have Timelapse recording
42
really wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
has image stabilization (Optical)
megapixel count decent (14 megapixels)
lack of manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
low battery life (260 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse recording
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L26 Vlogging highlights
Panasonic ZS20 Vlogging highlights
28
reasonably wide (26mm)
includes face detection focus
sluggish max aperture (f3.2)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
does not have image stabilization
video quality not great (1280 x 720 pxls)
does not have external microphone jack
34
really wide (24mm)
touchscreen enabled
has image stabilization (Optical)
video res high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than average in class (206g)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.3)
does not feature selfie friendly screen
does not have external mic jack
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Nikon L26 vs Panasonic ZS20 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L26 and Panasonic ZS20
 Nikon Coolpix L26Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Panasonic
Model type Nikon Coolpix L26 Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS20
Also called - Lumix DMC-TZ30
Type Small Sensor Compact Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2012-02-01 2012-04-26
Body design Compact Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CCD CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 14 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 and 16:9 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4320 x 3240
Max native ISO 1600 6400
Minimum native ISO 80 100
RAW data
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch to focus
Continuous AF
AF single
AF tracking
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Total focus points - 23
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens support fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 26-130mm (5.0x) 24-480mm (20.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.2-6.5 f/3.3-6.4
Macro focusing distance 10cm 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 230k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch capability
Screen technology TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 15 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/2000 secs 1/2000 secs
Continuous shutter speed - 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance - 6.40 m
Flash modes Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Slow-sync Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Slow Syncro
External flash
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720p (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30fps) 1920 x 1080 (60 fps), 1280 x 720 (60, 30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (220 fps)
Max video resolution 1280x720 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 164g (0.36 lb) 206g (0.45 lb)
Physical dimensions 96 x 60 x 29mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.1") 105 x 59 x 28mm (4.1" x 2.3" x 1.1")
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 life 200 photographs 260 photographs
Type of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 2 x AA -
Self timer Yes Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Launch pricing $70 $349