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Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20 Comparison

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Canon G1 X III

24 MP | APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon G1 X III
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Nikon L20

10 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Nikon L20
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Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing G1 X III and L20, two Compact cameras from Canon and Nikon. Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III is a Large Sensor Compact class camera and Nikon Coolpix L20 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Canon G1 X III was introduced to the market in October 2017 and Nikon L20 was launched in February 2009. As you can see, L20 is 8 years older than G1 X III. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Canon G1 X III Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2017-10-25
  • 24MP - APS-C CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 25600
  • 24-72 mm F2.8-5.6 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fully Articulated Screen
  • 2360k dot Electronic viewfinder
  • 9.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 399g. 115 x 78 x 51 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark II Compare

Nikon L20 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-02-03
  • 10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 38-136 mm F3.1-6.7 Zoom Lens
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 135g. 61 x 97 x 29 mm

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20 compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III over Nikon Coolpix L20
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
LCD Screen
Fully Articulated vs Fixed Type Flexible shooting positions
Tiltable Flash
Yes vs No Bounce built-in flash off the ceiling
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Viewfinder
Electronic vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
24 MP vs 10 MP 140% more pixels
Max ISO
25.600 vs 1.600 1500% higher Max ISO
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 230k dots 352% higher resolution screen
Manual Exposure
Yes vs No better exposure control
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 38mm 14 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
2.80 vs 3.10 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.60 vs 6.70 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
13.84µm2 vs 2.78µm2 397% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Built-in ND Filter
3.0-stops vs No Use larger aperture under strong light
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
NFC Connection
Yes vs No Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices
Bluetooth
Yes vs No Connect your camera to other devices via Blueetooth
Smartphone Remote
Yes vs No Remote control your camera with a smartphone
CHECK G1 X III PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L20 over Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III
Internal Storage
20 MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
135 g vs 399 g 264 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
136mm vs 72mm 64 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
3.6× vs 3x more flexible focal coverage
CHECK L20 PRICE

Common Strengths of Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III and Nikon Coolpix L20
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III and Nikon Coolpix L20
New4
Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Canon G1 X III has external dimensions of 115 x 78 x 51 mm (4.53 x 3.07 x 2.01″) and weighs 399 g (0.88 lb / 14.07 oz) (including batteries). Nikon L20 has external dimensions of 61 x 97 x 29 mm (2.4 x 3.82 x 1.14″) and weighs 135 g (0.30 lb / 4.76 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Canon G1 X III and the Nikon L20. Nikon L20 is 54mm narrower and 22mm thinner than Canon G1 X III but it is also 19mm taller.

Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Canon G1 X III and the Nikon L20 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20.

Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Canon G1 X III and the Nikon L20 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon L20 is significantly lighter (264g ) than the Canon G1 X III which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

G1 X III
L20
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

G1 X III
L20
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

With its weather-sealed body, we believe that the G1 X III has a big advantage over the L20 which doesn't provide any kind of environmental sealing.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 3.00 inches.

On the other hand, Canon G1 X III sports a Fully Articulated screen which you can change the angle and position of the screen almost freely, making it possible to shoot from waist or over-the-head levels, and especially very useful for shooting selfies and video. Nikon L20's LCD screen is a fixed type which provides almost no flexibility in shooting positions compared to G1 X III.


Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20: Sensor Comparison

Canon G1 X III has a 24.0MP APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 7 processor. On the other hand, Nikon L20 has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Canon G1 X III's sensor provides 14MP more than Nikon L20's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the G1 X III and L20 sensor size comparison.

Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20 Cameras


As seen above, Canon G1 X III has a 12.0x Larger sensor area than Nikon L20. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20 Lens Specs Comparison

Canon G1 X III features a 24-72 mm F2.8-5.6 3x zoom lens whereas Nikon L20 features a 38-136 mm F3.1-6.7 3.6× zoom lens.

Canon G1 X III has 14mm wider coverage than the Nikon L20. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L20 has 64mm longer telezoom reach than the Canon G1 X III. However, with a max aperture of f5.60, Canon G1 X III is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Large Sensor Compact Cameras

G1 X III
L20
Widest - Sony ZV-1F
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

G1 X III
L20
Longest - Panasonic ZS200
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

G1 X III
L20
Fastest - Leica X (Typ 113)
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

G1 X III
L20
Fastest - Panasonic LX10
Average
What types of Photography are Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20 for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Canon G1 X III for Portrait Photography

GOOD

Nikon L20 for Portrait Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Street Photography

EXCELLENT

Nikon L20 for Street Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fully Articulated LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details
Small Body
Live-view
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon L20 for Sports Photography

POOR
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
External Flash Shoe
Electronic Built-in Viewfinder
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 9.0fps
Environmental Sealings
49 Focus Points
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
72 mm Tele Lens
Read the details
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
136 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.70
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Daily Photography

GOOD

Nikon L20 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
Environmental Sealings
399g
Body Thickness 51mm
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details
Compact Body
135g
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
3.6X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Canon G1 X III for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE

Nikon L20 for Landscape Photography

POOR
Large APS-C (22.3 x 14.9 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 24.0MP
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Canon G1 X III vs Nikon L20: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Canon G1 X III and Nikon L20 scores compare:

Canon G1 X III
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #6 out of 62 in Large sensor compact cameras
Ranked #154 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Nikon L20
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #459 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1214 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Canon G1 X III is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon L20 in all criteria except one: Portability. But the size difference between these cameras are negligible in real world so it is not a big disadvantage for Canon G1 X III.

Canon G1 X III
Canon G1 X III
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Nikon L20
Nikon L20
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CHECK PRICE

Nikon L20 vs Canon G1 X III Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Canon PowerShot G1 X Mark III Nikon Coolpix L20
Brand Canon Nikon
Announced 2017-10-25 2009-02-03
Body Type Large sensor compact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CCD
Size APS-C 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 22.3 x 14.9 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 332.27mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 24 megapixels 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 6000 x 4000 3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity 25,600 ISO 1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 100 ISO 64 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points 49 n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 24-72 mm (3x) 38-136 mm (3.6×)
Max Aperture F2.8-5.6 F3.1-6.7
Macro Focus Range 10cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fully Articulated Fixed type
Size 3.00" 3.00"
Resolution 1,040k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder Electronic None
Viewfinder Resolution 2,360k dots no electronic viewfinder
Viewfinder Coverage 100% n/a
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Optical No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 9.00 m (at Auto ISO) n/a
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 9.0 fps n/a
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1920 x 1080 640 x 480
Video Formats MPEG-4, H.264 Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity Built-In None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 399g 135g
Dimensions 115 x 78 x 51mm 61 x 97 x 29mm
Battery Life 200 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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