Clicky

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Pentax Optio RZ18 front
Portability
92
Imaging
39
Features
37
Overall
38

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 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
  • Announced February 2015
  • Old Model is Nikon L830
Pentax RZ18
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 80 - 6400
  • Sensor-shift Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • 25-450mm (F3.5-5.9) lens
  • 178g - 97 x 61 x 33mm
  • Revealed September 2011
Pentax 17 Pre-Orders Outperform Expectations by a Landslide

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 Overview

Lets look a bit more closely at the Nikon L840 versus Pentax RZ18, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Pentax. The image resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the RZ18 (16MP) is pretty similar and they come with the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

Sora from OpenAI releases its first ever music video

The L840 was launched 3 years after the RZ18 which is quite a sizable gap as far as technology is concerned. Both of the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Pentax RZ18 being a Compact camera.

Before going straight into a step-by-step comparison, below is a simple highlight of how the L840 scores versus the RZ18 in terms of portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Pentax RZ18

 L840 RZ18 
RevealedFebruary 2015September 2011More modern by 42 months
Screen typeTiltingFixed Tilting screen
Screen resolution921k460kClearer screen (+461k dot)

Reasons to pick Pentax RZ18 over the Nikon L840

 RZ18 L840 
Focus manually Very accurate focusing

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Pentax RZ18

 L840 RZ18 
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen size
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Missing Touch screen

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 Physical Comparison

In case you're aiming to carry around your camera frequently, you have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L840 has outside measurements of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") having a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs) while the Pentax RZ18 has dimensions of 97mm x 61mm x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3") and a weight of 178 grams (0.39 lbs).

Check out the Nikon L840 versus Pentax RZ18 in the latest Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Take into consideration, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary depending on the lens you have during that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the L840 vs the RZ18.

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 size comparison

Factoring in dimensions and weight, the portability grade of the L840 and RZ18 is 67 and 92 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it's hard to imagine the difference between sensor sizes simply by going over specifications. The picture below may offer you a stronger sense of the sensor sizing in the L840 and RZ18.

To sum up, each of these cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing and the same MP and you should expect similar quality of photographs though you will want to take the release date of the products into consideration. The more recent L840 provides an advantage in sensor tech.

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
Photobucket discusses licensing 13 billion images with AI firms

Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L840 Portrait photography details
Pentax RZ18 Portrait photography details
36
decent MP (16MP)
features face detection focusing
no manual focus
no manual control
can't use external flash
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
36
you can focus manually
MP count good (16MP)
lack of manual exposure
no external flash support
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
Meta to Introduce 'AI-Generated' Labels for Media starting next month

Street Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Street photography camera
Pentax RZ18 as a Street photography camera
51
screen tilts up and down
has image stabilization (Optical)
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than average (538g)
65
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
environment sealing
lighter than average (178g)
no articulating screen
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

Sports Comparison

Nikon L840 Sports photography information
Pentax RZ18 Sports photography information
51
long zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
features tracking autofocus
good battery pack (590 per charge)
lack of shutter priority mode
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
47
amazing zoom range (25-450mm 18.0 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
supports tracking focus
environment sealing
painfully slow continuous shooting (1.0 frames per second)
no shutter priority mode
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect autofocus
Snapchat Adds Watermarks to AI-Created Images

Travel Comparison

Nikon L840 Travel photography info
Pentax RZ18 Travel photography info
57
good battery pack (590 CIPA)
decent MP (16MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (23mm)
very long reach (855mm)
does not have Time Lapse recording
heavier than average (538g)
screen is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
lighter than average (178 grams)
environment sealing
MP count good (16MP)
has built in flash
decently wide (25mm)
great zoom (450mm)
does not have Timelapse recording
doesn't have selfie friendly display
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
Samsung Releases Faster Versions of EVO MicroSD Cards

Landscape Comparison

Nikon L840 Landscape photography information
Pentax RZ18 Landscape photography information
43
pretty wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
good battery pack (590 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual control
small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
does not have Time Lapse recording
49
you can focus manually
decently wide (25mm)
screen size is good (3")
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
MP count good (16 megapixels)
environment sealing
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
lack of manual exposure
small sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
does not have Timelapse recording
Apple Innovates by Creating Next-Level Optical Stabilization for iPhone

Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L840 Vlogging factors
Pentax RZ18 Vlogging factors
27
pretty wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
features face detection focusing
high res video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
does not have external mic socket
heavier than average (538 grams)
30
decently wide (25mm)
built in image stabilization (Sensor-shift)
lighter than average (178g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have selfie friendly display
low video resolution (1280 x 720 pixels)
does not have microphone port
Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

Nikon L840 vs Pentax RZ18 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Pentax RZ18
 Nikon Coolpix L840Pentax Optio RZ18
General Information
Manufacturer Nikon Pentax
Model Nikon Coolpix L840 Pentax Optio RZ18
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2015-02-10 2011-09-12
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 16MP
Anti aliasing filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 4608 x 3456
Max native ISO 6400 6400
Lowest native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect focusing
Contract detect focusing
Phase detect focusing
Number of focus points - 9
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-855mm (37.2x) 25-450mm (18.0x)
Max aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.5-5.9
Macro focus distance 1cm 4cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.9
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inch 3 inch
Display resolution 921k dot 460k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch friendly
Display tech - TFT color LCD with Anti-reflective coating
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 seconds 4 seconds
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shooting speed 7.4fps 1.0fps
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 2.80 m
Flash options - Auto, On, Off, Red-eye, Soft
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1280 x 720 (30, 15 fps), 640 x 480 (30, 15 fps), 320 x 240 (30, 15 fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1280x720
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In 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 proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 538g (1.19 lb) 178g (0.39 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") 97 x 61 x 33mm (3.8" x 2.4" x 1.3")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 photos -
Type of battery AA -
Battery model - D-LI92
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse recording
Type of storage SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Internal
Storage slots 1 1
Price at launch $400 $210