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Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Nikon Coolpix P520 front
Portability
66
Imaging
42
Features
51
Overall
45

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 Key Specs

Nikon L840
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 23-855mm (F3.0-6.5) lens
  • 538g - 114 x 89 x 96mm
  • Released February 2015
  • Succeeded the Nikon L830
Nikon P520
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3.2" Fully Articulated Screen
  • ISO 80 - 3200
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-1000mm (F3.0-5.9) lens
  • 550g - 125 x 84 x 102mm
  • Revealed January 2013
  • Succeeded the Nikon P510
  • Updated by Nikon P530
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Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 Overview

Following is a extended assessment of the Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and they are both created by Nikon. The sensor resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the P520 (18MP) is relatively comparable and they feature the exact same sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The L840 was released 2 years after the P520 which is a fairly large gap as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras come with the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a quick summation of how the L840 grades against the P520 when it comes to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Nikon P520

 L840 P520 
RevealedFebruary 2015January 2013More modern by 25 months

Reasons to pick Nikon P520 over the Nikon L840

 P520 L840 
Manually focus Very exact focusing
Screen typeFully ArticulatedTiltingFully Articulating screen
Screen dimension3.2"3"Bigger screen (+0.2")
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Nikon P520

 L840 P520 
Screen resolution921k921kIdentical screen resolution
Touch friendly screen Neither includes Touch friendly screen

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 Physical Comparison

For those who are intending to carry around your camera often, you should factor in its weight and size. The Nikon L840 features outside dimensions of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") accompanied by a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Nikon P520 has specifications of 125mm x 84mm x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0") accompanied by a weight of 550 grams (1.21 lbs).

Take a look at the Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 in the new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Don't forget, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change dependant on the lens you are working with at that moment. Following is the front view size comparison of the L840 and the P520.

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L840 and P520 is 67 and 66 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 Sensor Comparison

Sometimes, it is hard to visualise the gap in sensor sizes purely by seeing a spec sheet. The picture here should provide you a greater sense of the sensor dimensions in the L840 and P520.

As you can see, the two cameras posses the exact same sensor measurements albeit not the same MP. You should count on the Nikon P520 to show extra detail as a result of its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also enable you to crop pictures somewhat more aggressively. The newer L840 will have a benefit in sensor technology.

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Portrait photography camera
Nikon P520 as a Portrait photography camera
36
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with face detection autofocus
lack of manual focus
no manual control
no external flash support
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
41
you can focus manually
MP count good (18 megapixels)
can't use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon L840 Street photography information
Nikon P520 Street photography information
51
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
more heavy than competition (538 grams)
51
screen can move to multiple angles
has image stabilization (Optical)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than competition (550g)
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L840
Sports photography with Nikon P520
51
amazing zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery pack (590 CIPA)
no shutter priority mode
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
46
great zoom range (24-1000mm 41.7 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18MP)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
has no phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Nikon L840 Travel photography factors
Nikon P520 Travel photography factors
57
better than average battery pack (590 shots)
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (23mm)
great reach (855mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competition (538 grams)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
57
MP count good (18 megapixels)
flash built-in
screen is selfie friendly
decently wide (24mm)
very long zoom (1000mm)
does not have Time Lapse mode
bad battery pack (200 shots)
heavier than competition (550g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L840 Landscape photography features
Nikon P520 Landscape photography features
43
pretty wide (23mm)
nice screen size (3")
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
better than average battery pack (590 per charge)
lack of manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
doesn't have Timelapse recording
46
you can focus manually
decently wide (24mm)
screen size is good (3.2")
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (18 megapixels)
cannot swap lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
bad battery pack (200 per charge)
does not have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L840 Vlogging highlights
Nikon P520 Vlogging highlights
27
pretty wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
does not posses selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone socket
more heavy than competition (538 grams)
57
decently wide (24mm)
screen is selfie friendly
has image stabilization (Optical)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have mic jack
heavier than competition (550g)
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Nikon L840 vs Nikon P520 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Nikon P520
 Nikon Coolpix L840Nikon Coolpix P520
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Nikon
Model Nikon Coolpix L840 Nikon Coolpix P520
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Released 2015-02-10 2013-01-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor area 28.1mm² 28.5mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 -
Peak resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Highest native ISO 6400 3200
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Manual focus
Touch focus
Continuous AF
Single AF
Tracking AF
Selective AF
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
AF live view
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-855mm (37.2x) 24-1000mm (41.7x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.0-5.9
Macro focus range 1cm 1cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fully Articulated
Display diagonal 3" 3.2"
Display resolution 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch screen
Display technology - TFT-LCD with Anti-reflection coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Features
Min shutter speed 4 secs 8 secs
Max shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed 7.4 frames/s 7.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) -
External flash
AE bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080
Highest video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 -
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Optional
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) none
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 538 grams (1.19 lb) 550 grams (1.21 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") 125 x 84 x 102mm (4.9" x 3.3" x 4.0")
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 590 photographs 200 photographs
Battery format AA Battery Pack
Battery model - EN-EL5
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) -
Time lapse recording
Storage media SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $400 $380