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Nikon L820

 
Nikon Coolpix L820 front
 
Portability
72
Imaging
40
Features
28
Overall
35

Nikon L820 summary

Nikon L820 is Nikon's Small Sensor Superzoom digital camera originally announced on January of 2013. It houses a 16 MegaPixel, BSI-CMOS 1/2.3" size sensor with a full resolution of 4608 x 3456.

Nikon launched this model as a way to replace the older Nikon L810 (Read Full Comparison) and subsequently released the updated Nikon L830 (Read Full Comparison) as a way to update this model.

The L820 is positioned #204 out of 244 in Small Sensor Superzoom cameras and over-all #901 out of 1465 for digital cameras in our list. Please try out our Smart camera filter to find camera listings based on your custom factors.

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Here is a graph of different factors used in the rating system.

Nikon L820 history

The Nikon L820 comes with a history of related digital cameras. Here, you can discover all earlier and most recent models along with important specifications.

ModelVisualizeLensResolutionSensor SizeReleased
Nikon-Coolpix-L840 front thumbnailNikon L840
L820 vs L840
23-855mm
F3.0-6.5
16MP1/2.3"2015
Nikon-Coolpix-L830 front thumbnailNikon L830
L820 vs L830
23-765mm
F3.0-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2014
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Nikon-Coolpix-L820 front thumbnailNikon L82023-675mm
F3.0-5.8
16MP1/2.3"2013
Nikon-Coolpix-L610 front thumbnailNikon L610
L820 vs L610
25-350mm
F3.3-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Nikon-Coolpix-L810 front thumbnailNikon L810
L820 vs L810
23-585mm
F3.1-5.9
16MP1/2.3"2012
Nikon-Coolpix-L120 front thumbnailNikon L120
L820 vs L120
25-525mm
F3.1-5.8
14MP1/2.3"2011
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Nikon-Coolpix-L110 front thumbnailNikon L110
L820 vs L110
28-420mm
F3.5-5.4
12MP1/2.3"2010
Nikon-Coolpix-L100 front thumbnailNikon L100
L820 vs L100
28-420mm
F3.5-5.4
10MP1/2.3"2009

Nikon L820 Pros and Cons

Here is a shortlist of positives and negatives of the Nikon L820 based on criterias which are typically regarded as useful in a digital camera.

amazing zoom range (23-675mm 29.3 x zoom)
flash built-in
great zoom (675mm)
high quality video (1920 x 1080 pixels)
megapixel count decent (16MP)
nice clear screen (921 k dot)
pretty wide (23mm)
screen size is good (3 inches)
doesn't have HDMI support
doesn't have headphone jack
doesn't have microphone jack
doesn't have Timelapse recording
does not have selfie friendly screen
external flash not possible
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
has no phase detect autofocus
has no RAW format
lack of aperture priority mode
lack of image stabilization
lack of manual mode
max zoom aperture not good (f5.8)
more heavy than others in class (470 grams)
no articulating screen
no manual focus
no shutter priority mode
somewhat slow max aperture (f3.0)
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
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Nikon L820 Sensor specs

The dimension of the sensor on the Nikon L820 is 6.16mm x 4.62mm (1/2.3"). The 28 mm² sensor is able to capture 4608 x 3456 pixels .

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The BSI-CMOS sensor boasts 16MP and delivers a standard ISO range of 125 to 3200. Sadly, RAW format is not saved therefore you have less room to maneuver in post.

The picture underneath shows the L820's sensor size compared to other popular sizes. The L820 sensor comes with a crop factor of 5.8 and is displayed in green.

Nikon Coolpix L820 sensor size Japan-exclusive Leica Leitz Phone 3 features big sensor and new modes

To get a sense of different aspect ratios, you should refer to the graphic below.

Camera sensor aspect ratios

Nikon L820 dimensions

Nikon L820 weighs in at 1.04 pounds (470g or 16.58 ounces) and the overall size of the camera is 111mm x 76mm x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3"). The weight of average Small Sensor Superzoom camera is 387g and the Nikon L820 is weightier than other competitors.

Photography Glossary

Here is a shot of the Nikon L820 alongside a soft drink so you can have a feel for its size.

Nikon Coolpix L820 dimensions scale

The top view underneath will show you the button arrangement on the L820.

Nikon Coolpix L820 topview buttons dials

Nikon L820 Lens details

The L820 features a built-in lens with a focal range of 23-675mm giving it a 29.3 x zoom which is very good and could make it easier to zoom all the way in.

At it's widest 23mm, it provides an aperture of f3.0 making it somewhat sluggish and not the best in low light events and you will likely find it difficult to capture good bokeh. You would also need to up your ISO producing noisy shots. For the long end, 675mm is superb zoom and comes at f5.8 making it pretty sluggish and you will have to use slower shutter speeds.

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Nikon L820 Connectivity

The L820 has the following connectivity:

  • USB Yes

Digital cameras with NFC or Bluetooth support can easily be used wirelessly with smartphones. You can easily send images and in some cases alter camera settings without connecting directly with the camera.

Several apps also enable a Liveview and release the shutter when you are not close to the camera. If the camera provides a HDMI out, it could be attached to an external screen. A good number of cameras enable you to charge the battery pack through the USB port.

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Nikon L820 Video details

The highest possible video resolution on the Nikon L820 is 1920 x 1080 and it can save in file format. 1080p resolution delivers a great balance for video quality versus file size but 1080p won't leave you with much room to downsample. The body does not offer a mic or headphone socket which means that you have zero control over your audio. It is probably a better idea to look into another model in case you want good audio in your videos.

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Nikon L820 Weather Sealing

Nikon L820 does not have environment proofing so rainy conditions could damage the camera.

Nikon L820 Screen and Viewfinder

The Nikon L820 is equipped with a 3" fixed display with a resolution of 921k dots.

Please be aware that the display screen offers no touch support.

Nikon Coolpix L820 screen and viewfinder President Biden pushes bill mandating TikTok sale or ban

The View Finder specifications regarding Nikon L820 are the following:

  • ViewFinder None

Viewfinders can be quite beneficial for sunny outdoor situations which can easily make the camera screen washed out and difficult to view.

Nikon L820 Shutter details

Nikon L820 continuous shooting rate is 8.0 frames/s. The highest shutter speed is 1/4000 sec.

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Nikon L820 Flash and Hot shoe details

Nikon L820 has got just integrated flash lacking external flash support.

Nikon L820 Autofocus details

Nikon L820 has not got Auto focus. Phase Detection autofocusing is a lot quicker and accurate than Contrast Detect autofocusing.

Nikon L820 has not got manual focus. Manual focus mode can be good for low light conditions or you want more exact focus control.

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Nikon L820 Battery life

The battery life (4 x AA) in the Nikon L820 is fashioned to last for 320 photos according to the CIPA specifications which is on par with its competition. The average Small Sensor Superzoom camera battery life is 316. Fujifilm HS35EXR has got the best (600) battery life for this kind of cameras.

Underneath is a collection of Small Sensor Superzoom cameras with the highest battery life:

Nikon L820 for different kinds of photography

The following illustration presents a summary of the Nikon L820 for different kinds of photography. To see more, check out the specific section underneath.

Nikon L820 as a Portrait photography camera

The Nikon L820 has a points tally of 30 which is really bad, and means the camera is not good to use for portrait photos. Shooting portrait photos leans greatly towards sensor size, RAW support together with the flexibility to utilize external lighting.

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good megapixels (16 megapixels)
no manual focus
manual exposure not possible
no external flash support
small sensor (1/2.3")
does not have RAW support

Street photography with Nikon L820

Coming in at a really bad points total of 38, the Nikon L820 is not good for street photography. A decent street photography camera features a perfect balance of image quality and portability.

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screen does not articulate
does not have image stabilization
tiny sensor size (1/2.3")
has no RAW files
heavier than average (470 grams)

Nikon L820 Sports photography features

A really bad sports photography rating of 36 suggests the Nikon L820 is not good for taking photos of sports. A camera needs good focusing plus shutter speeds for sports photography.

Photography Glossary
great zoom range (23-675mm 29.3 x zoom)
megapixel count decent (16 megapixels)
no shutter priority
lack of image stabilization
sensor is small (1/2.3")
lack of phase detect AF

Nikon L820 Travel photography information

Weight is pretty important in selecting a camera for travel. Overall, the Nikon L820 gets a decent 56 for a travelling camera which makes it relatively adequate to take on your travels.

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megapixel count decent (16MP)
built-in flash
pretty wide (23mm)
great reach (675mm)
lack of Timelapse function
more heavy than average in class (470g)
does not contain selfie friendly screen
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)

Nikon L820 Landscape photography details

When you are planning to pick a digital camera for landscape photography, the biggest factor will be image quality. The Nikon L820 at it's really bad grade of 36 as a landscape camera is not good within the current marketplace.

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rather wide (23mm)
screen size is decent (3 inch)
decent megapixels (16MP)
manual focus not available
fixed lens (fixed lens mount)
slow max aperture (f3.0)
no manual mode
lack of image stabilization
sensor is very small (1/2.3")
no RAW support
does not have Time Lapse mode

Nikon L820 as a Vlogging camera

A vlogging camera preferably should offer a moving display screen, microphone input and preferably IBIS. Taking everything in to account, the Nikon L820 is not good as a vlog camera as it gets a really bad rating of 24.

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reasonably wide (23mm)
high video quality (1920 x 1080 pixels)
slow maximum aperture (f3.0)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
lack of image stabilization
no mic socket
heavier than average in class (470g)

Nikon L820 Alternatives

If you are trying to find replacements to the L820, below is a list of the highest scored cameras which fall in to the class of Small Sensor Superzoom.

The line chart followed below gives you a summary of the L820 vs it's top ranking rivals mentioned previously.

These are various other cameras you might check out as alternate options. To look at a complete comparison, simply click the "compare" link.

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Specifications

General Information
Company
Nikon
Model
Nikon Coolpix L820
Category
Small Sensor Superzoom
Introduced
2013-01-29
Body design
SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor Information
Sensor type
BSI-CMOS
Sensor size
1/2.3"
Sensor measurements
6.16 x 4.62mm
Sensor surface area
28.5mm²
Sensor resolution
16 megapixels
Anti aliasing filter
Highest Possible resolution
4608 x 3456
RAW support
Maximum native ISO
3200
Minimum native ISO
125
Autofocusing
Focus manually
AF touch
AF continuous
Single AF
AF tracking
AF selectice
Center weighted AF
Multi area AF
Live view AF
Face detection AF
Contract detection AF
Phase detection AF
Cross focus points
0
Lens
Lens mounting type
fixed lens
Lens focal range
23-675mm (29.3x)
Maximum aperture
f/3.0-5.8
Focal length multiplier
5.8
Screen
Range of screen
Fixed Type
Screen diagonal
3 inches
Screen resolution
921k dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch operation
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type
None
DXO scores
DXO Overall score
not tested
DXO Color Depth score
not tested
DXO Dynamic range score
not tested
DXO Low light score
not tested
Features
Minimum shutter speed
4 secs
Fastest shutter speed
1/4000 secs
Continuous shutter speed
8.0 frames/s
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manually set exposure
Change WB
Image stabilization
Integrated flash
Hot shoe
AE bracketing
WB bracketing
Exposure
Multisegment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF area
Center weighted
Video features
Supported video resolutions
1920 x 1080
Maximum video resolution
1920x1080
Microphone input
Headphone input
Connectivity
Wireless
None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB
USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS
None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proof
Dust proof
Shock proof
Crush proof
Freeze proof
Weight
470g (1.04 lbs)
Dimensions
111 x 76 x 85mm (4.4" x 3.0" x 3.3")
Other
Battery life
320 images
Form of battery
AA
Battery model
4 x AA
Time lapse shooting
Storage media
SD/SDHC/SDXC
Storage slots
Single
Pricing at release
$192