Clicky

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II

Portability
72
Imaging
40
Features
28
Overall
35
Nikon Coolpix L820 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II front
Portability
58
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II Key Specs

Nikon L820
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 125 - 3200
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-675mm (F3.0-5.8) lens
  • 470g - 111 x 76 x 85mm
  • Introduced January 2013
  • Earlier Model is Nikon L810
  • Successor is Nikon L830
Sony RX10 II
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Boost to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-200mm (F2.8) lens
  • 813g - 129 x 88 x 102mm
  • Revealed June 2015
  • Succeeded the Sony RX10
  • Refreshed by Sony RX10 III
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II Overview

Here is a detailed analysis of the Nikon L820 versus Sony RX10 II, former being a Small Sensor Superzoom while the latter is a Large Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the L820 (16MP) and the RX10 II (20MP) is relatively well matched but the L820 (1/2.3") and RX10 II (1") offer different sensor dimensions.

Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

The L820 was launched 3 years before the RX10 II and that is quite a significant difference as far as tech is concerned. Both of the cameras have the same body design (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before diving straight to a in depth comparison, here is a brief overview of how the L820 scores against the RX10 II with regard to portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon L820 over the Sony RX10 II

 L820 RX10 II 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 II over the Nikon L820

 RX10 II L820 
RevealedJune 2015January 2013Fresher by 28 months
Focus manually More accurate focusing
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution1229k921kClearer screen (+308k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L820 and Sony RX10 II

 L820 RX10 II 
Screen dimensions3"3"Equal screen sizing
Selfie screen Neither offers selfie screen
Touch screen Neither offers Touch screen

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II Physical Comparison

When you are planning to carry your camera often, you will have to factor its weight and volume. The Nikon L820 offers external dimensions of 111mm x 76mm x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3") along with a weight of 470 grams (1.04 lbs) while the Sony RX10 II has sizing of 129mm x 88mm x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0") and a weight of 813 grams (1.79 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon L820 versus Sony RX10 II in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Remember, the weight of an ILC will differ dependant on the lens you have attached at the time. Here is a front view overall size comparison of the L820 vs the RX10 II.

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the L820 and RX10 II is 72 and 58 respectively.

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II top view buttons comparison

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II Sensor Comparison

Generally, it's hard to visualize the difference between sensor sizing simply by checking technical specs. The photograph below might give you a much better sense of the sensor sizes in the L820 and RX10 II.

As you can tell, both cameras have different megapixels and different sensor sizing. The L820 because of its tinier sensor is going to make achieving shallow depth of field harder and the Sony RX10 II will give extra detail utilizing its extra 4 Megapixels. Higher resolution will enable you to crop pictures a bit more aggressively. The older L820 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II sensor size comparison

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L820 Portrait photography information
Sony RX10 II Portrait photography information
30
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
manual exposure not available
cannot use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
71
focusing manually
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
features face detect focusing
delivers RAW formats
Photography Glossary

Street Comparison

Nikon L820 Street photography info
Sony RX10 II Street photography info
38
no moving screen
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
more heavy than competition in class (470g)
72
screen tilts
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

Sports Comparison

Nikon L820 as a Sports photography camera
Sony RX10 II as a Sports photography camera
36
long zoom range (23-675mm 29.3 x zoom)
resolution is good (16MP)
lack of shutter priority mode
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect auto focus
68
quiet shutter (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
features tracking focus
environment proofing
lack of phase detect AF
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Travel Comparison

Nikon L820 Travel photography advice
Sony RX10 II Travel photography advice
56
resolution is good (16MP)
built-in flash
quite wide (23mm)
long zoom (675mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than competition in class (470 grams)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
56
environment proofing
MP count good (20 megapixels)
built-in flash
quite wide (24mm)
lack of Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.8)
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L820
Landscape photography with Sony RX10 II
36
quite wide (23mm)
screen is a good size (3 inches)
resolution is good (16MP)
focusing manually not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
no image stabilization
very small sensor (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
no Timelapse function
62
focusing manually
quite wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
delivers RAW formats
environment proofing
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.8)
lack of Timelapse function
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L820 Vlogging information
Sony RX10 II Vlogging information
24
quite wide (23mm)
high res video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
doesn't have a selfie friendly display
no image stabilization
no external microphone support
more heavy than competition in class (470 grams)
31
quite wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
high quality video (3840 x 2160 pixels)
includes microphone support
slow max aperture (f2.8)
display is not selfie friendly
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Nikon L820 vs Sony RX10 II Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L820 and Sony RX10 II
 Nikon Coolpix L820Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
General Information
Company Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L820 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 II
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Introduced 2013-01-29 2015-06-10
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
Sensor type BSI-CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor measurements 6.16 x 4.62mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.5mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixel 20 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio - 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Max native ISO 3200 12800
Max enhanced ISO - 25600
Min native ISO 125 125
RAW photos
Min enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
AF center weighted
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Total focus points - 25
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-675mm (29.3x) 24-200mm (8.3x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-5.8 f/2.8
Macro focusing range - 3cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 2.7
Screen
Type of display Fixed Type Tilting
Display size 3" 3"
Resolution of display 921k dots 1,229k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/2000 secs
Fastest quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 secs
Continuous shutter rate 8.0fps 14.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual mode
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance - 10.20 m
Flash modes - Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
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 1920 x 1080 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video format - MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Microphone support
Headphone support
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 proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 470 grams (1.04 lb) 813 grams (1.79 lb)
Physical dimensions 111 x 76 x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3") 129 x 88 x 102mm (5.1" x 3.5" x 4.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.0
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 531
Other
Battery life 320 pictures 400 pictures
Battery style AA Battery Pack
Battery ID 4 x AA NP-FW50
Self timer - Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse shooting
Storage type SD/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Card slots One One
Pricing at release $192 $998