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Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
63
Overall
51

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V 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
  • Launched February 2015
  • Earlier Model is Nikon L830
Sony HX90V
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 245g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Announced April 2015
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Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V Overview

Its time to take a more detailed look at the Nikon L840 versus Sony HX90V, both Small Sensor Superzoom digital cameras by competitors Nikon and Sony. The sensor resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the HX90V (18MP) is very well matched and they feature the same exact sensor size (1/2.3").

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The L840 was introduced 2 months earlier than the HX90V so they are of a similar generation. Both the cameras offer different body type with the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony HX90V being a Compact camera.

Before getting in to a step-by-step comparison, below is a short introduction of how the L840 grades vs the HX90V in regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

Photography Glossary
	
	

Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Sony HX90V

 L840 HX90V 

Reasons to pick Sony HX90V over the Nikon L840

 HX90V L840 
Focus manually More precise focus
Selfie screen Easy selfies

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Sony HX90V

 L840 HX90V 
AnnouncedFebruary 2015April 2015Similar generation
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Display resolution921k921kIdentical display resolution
Touch friendly display Missing Touch friendly display

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to carry around your camera regularly, you're going to have to factor in its weight and measurements. The Nikon L840 has got outer measurements of 114mm x 89mm x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") having a weight of 538 grams (1.19 lbs) whilst the Sony HX90V has proportions of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") with a weight of 245 grams (0.54 lbs).

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Bear in mind, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary dependant on the lens you have chosen at that time. Underneath is the front view overall size comparison of the L840 vs the HX90V.

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V size comparison

Using size and weight, the portability score of the L840 and HX90V is 67 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V Sensor Comparison

Generally, it is tough to visualize the gap between sensor sizes only by looking at a spec sheet. The image below should give you a much better sense of the sensor measurements in the L840 and HX90V.

As you can see, both the cameras enjoy the same exact sensor sizing but different megapixels. You should expect to see the Sony HX90V to resolve extra detail using its extra 2 Megapixels. Greater resolution will also make it easier to crop photos far more aggressively.

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L840 as a Portrait photography camera
Sony HX90V as a Portrait photography camera
36
sensor resolution is decent (16MP)
comes with face detection autofocus
manual focus not available
manual exposure not available
can't use external flash
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
46
focusing manually
good resolution (18 megapixels)
comes with face detection focusing
external flash not possible
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Street Comparison

Nikon L840 Street photography information
Sony HX90V Street photography information
51
has a tilting screen
built in image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than competitors (538g)
70
tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition (245g)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Sports photography with Nikon L840
Sports photography with Sony HX90V
51
excellent zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
good battery life (590 CIPA)
lack of shutter priority mode
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no phase detect autofocus
57
excellent zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking autofocus
better than average battery life (360 per charge)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L840
Travel photography with Sony HX90V
57
good battery life (590 CIPA)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
reasonably wide (23mm)
great zoom (855mm)
doesn't have Timelapse recording
more heavy than competitors (538 grams)
does not have selfie friendly screen
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
76
better than average battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition (245 grams)
good resolution (18MP)
built-in flash
selfie friendly display
relatively wide (24mm)
great reach (720mm)
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Landscape photography with Nikon L840
Landscape photography with Sony HX90V
43
reasonably wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (16 megapixels)
good battery life (590 CIPA)
manual focus not available
cannot swap lenses (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
manual exposure not available
very small sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
doesn't have Timelapse recording
53
focusing manually
relatively wide (24mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
good resolution (18 megapixels)
better than average battery life (360 shots)
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
sensor is tiny (1/2.3")
lack of RAW format
doesn't have Time Lapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L840 Vlogging advice
Sony HX90V Vlogging advice
27
reasonably wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection autofocus
high res video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
sluggish max aperture (f3.0)
does not have selfie friendly screen
doesn't have external microphone jack
more heavy than competitors (538 grams)
75
relatively wide (24mm)
selfie friendly display
has image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detection focusing
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
lighter than competition (245g)
sluggish max aperture (f3.5)
doesn't have external mic socket
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Nikon L840 vs Sony HX90V Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Sony HX90V
 Nikon Coolpix L840Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L840 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-HX90V
Category Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-02-10 2015-04-14
Physical type SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1/2.3"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 6.17 x 4.55mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 28.1mm²
Sensor resolution 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Max resolution 4608 x 3456 4896 x 3672
Max native ISO 6400 12800
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW files
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
AF single
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detect AF
Contract detect AF
Phase detect AF
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-855mm (37.2x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Largest aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focusing distance 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Display type Tilting Tilting
Display diagonal 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921k dots 921k dots
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch functionality
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 638k dots
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.5x
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Continuous shutter rate 7.4 frames per sec 10.0 frames per sec
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Flash distance 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash modes - Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
External flash
AEB
WB 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 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic port
Headphone port
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
Environmental sealing
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 538 gr (1.19 lb) 245 gr (0.54 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") 102 x 58 x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4")
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 590 photos 360 photos
Battery type AA Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Card slots 1 1
Retail pricing $400 $440