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Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V

Portability
67
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V front
Portability
89
Imaging
44
Features
57
Overall
49

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V 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
  • Replaced the Nikon L830
Sony HX50V
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Display
  • ISO 100 - 3200 (Increase to 12800)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5 - 6.3) lens
  • 272g - 108 x 64 x 38mm
  • Introduced April 2013
  • Succeeded the Sony HX30V
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Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V Overview

On this page, we are contrasting the Nikon L840 and Sony HX50V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the HX50V (20MP) is very similar and both cameras posses the same sensor dimensions (1/2.3").

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The L840 was manufactured 22 months later than the HX50V making them a generation apart from one another. Both cameras have different body design with the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX50V being a Compact camera.

Before diving into a in-depth comparison, here is a simple introduction of how the L840 matches up against the HX50V when considering portability, imaging, features and an overall rating.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Sony HX50V

 L840 HX50V 
IntroducedFebruary 2015April 2013Fresher by 22 months
Display typeTiltingFixed Tilting display

Reasons to pick Sony HX50V over the Nikon L840

 HX50V L840 
Manual focus More accurate focusing

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Sony HX50V

 L840 HX50V 
Display dimensions3"3"Equal display sizing
Display resolution921k921kSame display resolution
Selfie screen Neither provides selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither provides Touch friendly display

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V Physical Comparison

If you're aiming to carry your camera regularly, you will have to factor its weight and dimensions. The Nikon L840 provides outside dimensions of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") with a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX50V has dimensions of 108mm x 64mm x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5") having a weight of 272 grams (0.60 lbs).

Compare the Nikon L840 and Sony HX50V in the all new Camera with Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will change depending on the lens you are utilising at the time. Following is a front view physical size comparison of the L840 vs the HX50V.

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability rating of the L840 and HX50V is 67 and 89 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V Sensor Comparison

Quite often, it is very tough to envision the difference between sensor sizing simply by reviewing specs. The visual here will help give you a clearer sense of the sensor sizes in the L840 and HX50V.

All in all, the 2 cameras have the same sensor dimensions but not the same resolution. You should expect to see the Sony HX50V to offer you greater detail due to its extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also let you crop photos a bit more aggressively. The newer L840 will have a benefit in sensor tech.

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Portrait photography camera
35
MP count decent (16MP)
provides face detect autofocus
no manual focus
manual mode not possible
can't use external flash
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
50
you can focus manually
good megapixels (20MP)
offers face detect focus
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon L840 Street photography factors
Sony HX50V Street photography factors
51
screen tilts up and down
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
heavier than competition (538 grams)
61
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than average (272g)
screen does not articulate
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Sports photography camera
Sony HX50V as a Sports photography camera
51
amazing zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16MP)
provides tracking focus
good battery pack (590 shots)
no shutter priority mode
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no phase detect autofocus
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20 megapixels)
offers tracking focus
great battery power (400 CIPA)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no phase detect auto focus
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L840
Travel photography with Sony HX50V
57
good battery pack (590 CIPA)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
really wide (23mm)
long reach (855mm)
no Time Lapse recording
heavier than competition (538 grams)
screen is not selfie friendly
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
great battery power (400 shots)
lighter than average (272g)
good megapixels (20MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
very long reach (720mm)
no Timelapse function
display is not selfie friendly
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L840 Landscape photography advice
Sony HX50V Landscape photography advice
43
really wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
MP count decent (16 megapixels)
good battery pack (590 per charge)
no manual focus
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
manual mode not possible
sensor size is tiny (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Time Lapse recording
53
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3")
image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (20MP)
great battery power (400 CIPA)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
no RAW format
no Timelapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L840 Vlogging highlights
Sony HX50V Vlogging highlights
27
really wide (23mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
provides face detect autofocus
video resolution high (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
screen is not selfie friendly
no mic jack
heavier than competition (538 grams)
34
relatively wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focus
high quality video (1920 x 1080 resolution)
lighter than average (272g)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f3.5 )
display is not selfie friendly
no microphone port
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Nikon L840 vs Sony HX50V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Sony HX50V
 Nikon Coolpix L840Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
General Information
Make Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L840 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX50V
Type Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2015-02-10 2013-04-24
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 20 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3 and 16:9
Full resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 2920
Max native ISO 6400 3200
Max boosted ISO - 12800
Min native ISO 100 100
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Touch focus
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detect autofocus
Contract detect autofocus
Phase detect autofocus
Cross type focus points - -
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-855mm (37.2x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.5 - 6.3
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Crop factor 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of display Tilting Fixed Type
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921 thousand dot 921 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch display
Display tech - XtraFine LCD display
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic (optional)
Features
Lowest shutter speed 4 secs 30 secs
Highest shutter speed 1/4000 secs 1/4000 secs
Continuous shooting speed 7.4 frames per second 10.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Change white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 5.60 m
Flash modes - Auto, On, Off, Slow Sync, Rear Sync, Advanced Flash
Hot shoe
AEB
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 1920 x 1080 (60fps), 1440 x 1080 (30fps), 1280 x 720 (30fps), 640 x 480 (30fps)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None BuiltIn
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 538 grams (1.19 lbs) 272 grams (0.60 lbs)
Physical dimensions 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") 108 x 64 x 38mm (4.3" x 2.5" x 1.5")
DXO scores
DXO All around 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 590 photos 400 photos
Battery form AA Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC/Memory Stick Duo/Memory Stick Pro Duo, Memory Stick Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots Single Single
Price at launch $400 $439