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Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III

Portability
67
Imaging
40
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III front
Portability
53
Imaging
52
Features
77
Overall
62

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III 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
  • Earlier Model is Nikon L830
Sony RX10 III
(Full Review)
  • 20MP - 1" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Display
  • ISO 125 - 12800 (Raise to 25600)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3840 x 2160 video
  • 24-600mm (F2.4-4.0) lens
  • 1051g - 133 x 94 x 127mm
  • Launched March 2016
  • Old Model is Sony RX10 II
  • Newer Model is Sony RX10 IV
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Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III Overview

In this write-up, we are evaluating the Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III, one is a Small Sensor Superzoom and the other is a Large Sensor Superzoom by brands Nikon and Sony. The resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the RX10 III (20MP) is very well matched but the L840 (1/2.3") and RX10 III (1") use different sensor size.

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The L840 was unveiled 13 months before the RX10 III making the cameras a generation away from each other. Both cameras offer the identical body type (SLR-like (bridge)).

Before delving in to a comprehensive comparison, below is a quick overview of how the L840 grades versus the RX10 III with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall score.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Sony RX10 III

 L840 RX10 III 

Reasons to pick Sony RX10 III over the Nikon L840

 RX10 III L840 
LaunchedMarch 2016February 2015More modern by 13 months
Manually focus Very exact focus
Display resolution1229k921kCrisper display (+308k dot)

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Sony RX10 III

 L840 RX10 III 
Display typeTiltingTiltingTilting display
Display sizing3"3"Equivalent display size
Selfie screen Absent selfie screen
Touch display Absent Touch display

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III Physical Comparison

If you're looking to carry around your camera, you will have to factor its weight and proportions. The Nikon L840 enjoys external 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 RX10 III has measurements of 133mm x 94mm x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0") with a weight of 1051 grams (2.32 lbs).

Contrast the Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III in the all new Camera and Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Always remember, the weight of an Interchangeable Lens Camera will vary based on the lens you select at that time. Underneath is the front view proportions comparison of the L840 versus the RX10 III.

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III size comparison

Taking into consideration size and weight, the portability score of the L840 and RX10 III is 67 and 53 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's difficult to visualize the contrast between sensor sizes just by checking technical specs. The picture below might provide you a far better sense of the sensor sizing in the L840 and RX10 III.

As you have seen, each of the cameras enjoy different megapixels and different sensor sizes. The L840 having a tinier sensor is going to make getting bokeh more difficult and the Sony RX10 III will give greater detail having an extra 4MP. Greater resolution will also enable you to crop pics far more aggressively. The more aged L840 is going to be behind in sensor technology.

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L840 Portrait photography details
Sony RX10 III Portrait photography details
35
good megapixels (16MP)
features face detect focusing
manual focus not available
no manual exposure
no external flash support
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
71
you can focus manually
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has face detection focusing
supports RAW formats
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Street Comparison

Nikon L840 Street photography features
Sony RX10 III Street photography features
51
screen tilts
built in image stabilization (Optical)
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
more heavy than others in class (538g)
64
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
heavier than competitors (1,051g)
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L840 Sports photography highlights
Sony RX10 III Sports photography highlights
51
amazing zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16MP)
features tracking focus
good battery pack (590 shots)
lack of shutter priority mode
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks phase detect AF
70
amazing zoom range (24-600mm 25.0 x zoom)
quiet shooting (1/32,000 seconds)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20MP)
nice sensor size (1")
has tracking autofocus
weather proofing
better than average battery pack (420 per charge)
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L840
Travel photography with Sony RX10 III
57
good battery pack (590 per charge)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
flash built-in
relatively wide (23mm)
very long reach (855mm)
does not have Timelapse mode
more heavy than others in class (538 grams)
display is not selfie friendly
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
55
better than average battery pack (420 shots)
weather proofing
MP count good (20MP)
flash built-in
relatively wide (24mm)
long reach (600mm)
does not have Time Lapse function
heavier than competitors (1,051g)
display is not selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f2.4)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L840 Landscape photography factors
Sony RX10 III Landscape photography factors
43
relatively wide (23mm)
good sized screen (3 inches)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
good megapixels (16 megapixels)
good battery pack (590 CIPA)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
sensor size is very small (1/2.3")
lacks RAW support
does not have Timelapse mode
63
you can focus manually
relatively wide (24mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inches)
has image stabilization (Optical)
MP count good (20 megapixels)
nice sensor size (1")
supports RAW formats
weather proofing
better than average battery pack (420 shots)
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f2.4)
does not have Time Lapse function
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Vlogging Comparison

Nikon L840 Vlogging advice
Sony RX10 III Vlogging advice
27
relatively wide (23mm)
built in image stabilization (Optical)
features face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 resolution)
sluggish maximum aperture (f3.0)
display is not selfie friendly
does not have microphone jack
more heavy than others in class (538 grams)
28
relatively wide (24mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
has face detection focusing
video res high (3840 x 2160 pxls)
includes external mic jack
slow max aperture (f2.4)
display is not selfie friendly
heavier than competitors (1,051g)
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Nikon L840 vs Sony RX10 III Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Sony RX10 III
 Nikon Coolpix L840Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
General Information
Brand Nikon Sony
Model type Nikon Coolpix L840 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-RX10 III
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Large Sensor Superzoom
Announced 2015-02-10 2016-03-29
Body design SLR-like (bridge) SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Powered by - Bionz X
Sensor type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Sensor size 1/2.3" 1"
Sensor dimensions 6.17 x 4.55mm 13.2 x 8.8mm
Sensor surface area 28.1mm² 116.2mm²
Sensor resolution 16MP 20MP
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 1:1, 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Highest Possible resolution 4608 x 3456 5472 x 3648
Maximum native ISO 6400 12800
Maximum enhanced ISO - 25600
Lowest native ISO 100 125
RAW pictures
Lowest enhanced ISO - 64
Autofocusing
Manual focusing
Touch focus
Continuous autofocus
Single autofocus
Tracking autofocus
Selective autofocus
Autofocus center weighted
Autofocus multi area
Autofocus live view
Face detect focus
Contract detect focus
Phase detect focus
Total focus points - 25
Lens
Lens mount type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens zoom range 23-855mm (37.2x) 24-600mm (25.0x)
Maximum aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/2.4-4.0
Macro focusing distance 1cm 3cm
Crop factor 5.8 2.7
Screen
Range of display Tilting Tilting
Display size 3 inches 3 inches
Display resolution 921k dot 1,229k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder None Electronic
Viewfinder resolution - 2,359k dot
Viewfinder coverage - 100 percent
Viewfinder magnification - 0.7x
Features
Min shutter speed 4 seconds 30 seconds
Max shutter speed 1/4000 seconds 1/2000 seconds
Max quiet shutter speed - 1/32000 seconds
Continuous shutter speed 7.4 frames/s 14.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Expose Manually
Exposure compensation - Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Inbuilt flash
Flash distance 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 10.80 m (at Auto ISO)
Flash options - Auto, fill-flash, slow sync, rear sync, off
Hot shoe
Auto exposure bracketing
White balance bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment exposure
Average exposure
Spot exposure
Partial exposure
AF area exposure
Center weighted exposure
Video features
Supported video resolutions 1920 x 1080 (60i, 50i, 30p, 25p), 1280 x 720 (30p, 25p), 640 x 480 (30p, 25p) 3840 x 2160 (30p, 25p, 24p), 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 24p) ,1440 x 1080 (30p), 640 x 480 (30p)
Maximum video resolution 1920x1080 3840x2160
Video file format MPEG-4, H.264 MPEG-4, AVCHD, XAVC S
Mic input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless Built-In Built-In
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environment seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 538 grams (1.19 lb) 1051 grams (2.32 lb)
Dimensions 114 x 89 x 96mm (4.5" x 3.5" x 3.8") 133 x 94 x 127mm (5.2" x 3.7" x 5.0")
DXO scores
DXO Overall rating not tested 70
DXO Color Depth rating not tested 23.1
DXO Dynamic range rating not tested 12.6
DXO Low light rating not tested 472
Other
Battery life 590 pictures 420 pictures
Battery format AA Battery Pack
Battery ID - NP-FW50
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec, continuous)
Time lapse recording
Storage media SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo/Pro Duo/Pro-HG Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Cost at release $400 $1,398