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Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500

Portability
67
Imaging
41
Features
48
Overall
43
Nikon Coolpix L840 front
 
Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500 front
Portability
91
Imaging
44
Features
56
Overall
48

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 Key Specs

Nikon L840
(Full Review)
  • 16MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • 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
  • Replaced the Nikon L830
Sony WX500
(Full Review)
  • 18MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 3" Tilting Screen
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 1920 x 1080 video
  • 24-720mm (F3.5-6.4) lens
  • 236g - 102 x 58 x 36mm
  • Revealed April 2015
  • Earlier Model is Sony WX350
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Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 Overview

In this article, we will be evaluating the Nikon L840 versus Sony WX500, both Small Sensor Superzoom cameras by manufacturers Nikon and Sony. The image resolution of the L840 (16MP) and the WX500 (18MP) is pretty comparable and they come with the same exact sensor sizes (1/2.3").

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The L840 was manufactured 2 months before the WX500 so they are both of a similar generation. Both cameras offer different body type with the Nikon L840 being a SLR-like (bridge) camera and the Sony WX500 being a Compact camera.

Before diving through a in-depth comparison, below is a brief overview of how the L840 grades versus the WX500 with respect to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Nikon L840 over the Sony WX500

 L840 WX500 

Reasons to pick Sony WX500 over the Nikon L840

 WX500 L840 

Common features in the Nikon L840 and Sony WX500

 L840 WX500 
RevealedFebruary 2015April 2015Same generation
Manually focus Lack of manual focusing
Screen typeTiltingTiltingTilting screen
Screen sizing3"3"Equivalent screen dimensions
Screen resolution921k921kEqual screen resolution
Selfie screen Neither has selfie screen
Touch screen Lack of Touch screen

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 Physical Comparison

When you are going to lug around your camera, you need to factor its weight and size. The Nikon L840 has physical measurements 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 WX500 has specifications of 102mm x 58mm x 36mm (4.0" x 2.3" x 1.4") and a weight of 236 grams (0.52 lbs).

Examine the Nikon L840 versus Sony WX500 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 change based on the lens you use at that time. Following is the front view size comparison of the L840 versus the WX500.

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 size comparison

Factoring in size and weight, the portability score of the L840 and WX500 is 67 and 91 respectively.

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 top view buttons comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 Sensor Comparison

Usually, it's hard to envision the gap in sensor measurements only by checking out technical specs. The visual below will help give you a more clear sense of the sensor sizing in the L840 and WX500.

As you can tell, both of the cameras offer the same exact sensor sizing albeit not the same megapixels. You should expect the Sony WX500 to show greater detail due to its extra 2 Megapixels. Higher resolution will also let you crop photographs a little more aggressively.

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 sensor size comparison

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 Screen and ViewFinder

Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Nikon L840 Portrait photography details
Sony WX500 Portrait photography details
36
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports face detection focusing
focusing manually not possible
no manual exposure
can't use external flash
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
39
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
comes with face detect focusing
no manual focus
cannot use external flash
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Street Comparison

Nikon L840 Street photography highlights
Sony WX500 Street photography highlights
51
has a tilting screen
has image stabilization (Optical)
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
more heavy than average (538 grams)
70
has a tilting screen
image stabilization (Optical)
lighter than competition in class (236 grams)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
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Sports Comparison

Nikon L840 Sports photography highlights
Sony WX500 Sports photography highlights
51
long zoom range (23-855mm 37.2 x zoom)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
supports tracking autofocus
good battery (590 per charge)
no shutter priority
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no phase detect AF
57
amazing zoom range (24-720mm 30.0 x zoom)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18 megapixels)
comes with tracking focus
better than average battery life (360 shots)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Travel photography with Nikon L840
Travel photography with Sony WX500
57
good battery (590 shots)
decent MP (16 megapixels)
built-in flash
rather wide (23mm)
great reach (855mm)
no Timelapse function
more heavy than average (538g)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
71
better than average battery life (360 CIPA)
lighter than competition in class (236g)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
flash built-in
pretty wide (24mm)
long zoom (720mm)
missing Timelapse mode
screen isn't selfie friendly
slow max aperture (f3.5)
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Landscape Comparison

Nikon L840 Landscape photography info
Sony WX500 Landscape photography info
43
rather wide (23mm)
pretty good screen size (3 inch)
has image stabilization (Optical)
decent MP (16MP)
good battery (590 per charge)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
no manual exposure
very small sensor (1/2.3")
has no RAW format
no Timelapse function
49
pretty wide (24mm)
nice screen size (3 inches)
image stabilization (Optical)
sensor resolution is decent (18MP)
better than average battery life (360 CIPA)
no manual focus
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
doesn't have RAW files
missing Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Nikon L840
Vlogging with Sony WX500
27
rather wide (23mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
supports face detection focusing
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pxls)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't posses selfie friendly screen
no external microphone support
more heavy than average (538g)
35
pretty wide (24mm)
image stabilization (Optical)
comes with face detect focusing
video res high (1920 x 1080 pxls)
lighter than competition in class (236g)
slow max aperture (f3.5)
screen isn't selfie friendly
missing microphone port
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Nikon L840 vs Sony WX500 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Nikon L840 and Sony WX500
 Nikon Coolpix L840Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
General Information
Brand Name Nikon Sony
Model Nikon Coolpix L840 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-WX500
Class Small Sensor Superzoom Small Sensor Superzoom
Launched 2015-02-10 2015-04-14
Body design SLR-like (bridge) Compact
Sensor Information
Processor - Bionz X
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 18 megapixels
Anti aliasing 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
Min native ISO 100 80
RAW support
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
Continuous AF
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
AF multi area
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Lens
Lens mounting type fixed lens fixed lens
Lens focal range 23-855mm (37.2x) 24-720mm (30.0x)
Maximal aperture f/3.0-6.5 f/3.5-6.4
Macro focus range 1cm 5cm
Focal length multiplier 5.8 5.8
Screen
Range of screen Tilting Tilting
Screen size 3" 3"
Resolution of screen 921k dot 921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type None None
Features
Minimum shutter speed 4s 30s
Fastest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/2000s
Continuous shutter speed 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 range 6.90 m (at Auto ISO) 5.40 m (with Auto ISO)
Flash settings - Auto, flash on, slow sync, flash off, rear sync
Hot shoe
AEB
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) 1920 x 1080 (60p, 60i, 30p, 24p), 1280 x 720 (30p)
Max video resolution 1920x1080 1920x1080
Video data format MPEG-4, H.264 AVCHD, XAVC S
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 None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight 538 gr (1.19 lb) 236 gr (0.52 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 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 360 photos
Form of battery AA Battery Pack
Battery model - NP-BX1
Self timer Yes (2 or 10 sec) Yes
Time lapse feature
Storage media SC/SDHC/SDXC SD/SDHC/SDXC, Memory Stick Duo
Storage slots 1 1
Launch cost $400 $348