Nikon L120 vs Canon N100 Comparison

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Nikon L120

14 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

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Canon N100

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) CMOS Sensor

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Nikon L120 vs Canon N100 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Canon. Nikon L120 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Canon N100 was launched in January 2014. As you can see, L120 is 3 years older than N100. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Nikon L120 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch sensor whereas Canon N100 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch sensor.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L120 and Canon N100 before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon L120 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2011-02-09

14MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 6400

25-525 mm F3.1-5.8 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

1 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

431g. 110 x 77 x 78 mm

Replaced Nikon Coolpix L110 Compare

Canon N100 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2014-01-06

12MP - 1/1.7-inch CMOS Sensor

ISO 80 - 6400

24-120 mm F1.8-5.7 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

3" Tilting Screen

Unknown continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

Built-in Wireless

289g. 105 x 68 x 36 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L120 and Canon N100 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L120 over Canon PowerShot N100

Max Sensor Resolution	14 MP vs 12 MP	16% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Tele	525mm vs 120mm	405 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	21× vs 5×	more flexible focal coverage

Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot N100 over Nikon Coolpix L120

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs None	Better connectivity
LCD Screen	Tilting vs Fixed Type	Flexible shooting positions
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Easy control of camera functions
Weight	289 g vs 431 g	142 g lighter
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
Focal Length - Wide	24mm vs 25mm	1 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	1.80 vs 3.10	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.70 vs 5.80	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	7.0m vs 6.0m	1m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	3.46µm² vs 2.01µm²	72% larger pixel area
NFC Connection	Yes vs No	Easy wireless connectivity with compatible devices

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Canon PowerShot N100

Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs Optical	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and long exposures
Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus	Yes vs Yes	very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 922k dots	High resolution screens

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Canon PowerShot N100

External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
Continuous Shooting	1.0fps vs fps	Slow shooting speeds
Manual Exposure	No vs No	No manual exposure control
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 5.70	Slow lenses at tele

Nikon L120 vs Canon N100: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon L120 and Canon N100 side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon L120 has external dimensions of 110 x 77 x 78 mm (4.33 x 3.03 x 3.07″) and weighs 431 g (0.95 lb / 15.20 oz) (including batteries). Canon N100 has external dimensions of 105 x 68 x 36 mm (4.13 x 2.68 x 1.42″) and weighs 289 g (0.64 lb / 10.19 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Canon N100. Canon N100 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 5mm narrower, 9mm shorter and 42mm thinner than Nikon L120.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon N100 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Canon N100.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon N100 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L120 and Canon N100.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon N100 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Canon N100 is significantly lighter (142g ) than the Nikon L120 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120

N100

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120

N100

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L120 nor Canon PowerShot N100 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon L120 and Canon N100's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

On the other hand, Canon N100 features a Tilting screen where you can change the angle of the screen to make it easier to shoot from waist or over the head levels whereas the Nikon L120 has a fixed type screen which provides less flexibility in shooting positions compared to N100.

Nikon L120 vs Canon N100: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L120 has a 14.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor and features Expeed C2 processor. On the other hand, Canon N100 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features DIGIC 6 processor.

Below you can see the L120 and N100 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Canon N100 Cameras

As seen above, Canon N100 has a 1.5x Larger sensor area than Nikon L120. 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.

Nikon L120 vs Canon N100 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L120 features a 25-525 mm F3.1-5.8 21× zoom lens whereas Canon N100 features a 24-120 mm F1.8-5.7 5× zoom lens.

Canon N100 has 1mm wider coverage than the Nikon L120. At f1.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L120 has 405mm longer reach than the Canon N100. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Canon N100 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L120

N100

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L120

N100

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L120

N100

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L120

N100

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon L120 and Canon N100 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L120 and Canon N100 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.

Nikon L120 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon N100 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
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

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Street Photography

GOOD

Canon N100 for Street Photography

GOOD

Image Stabilization
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Tilting LCD Screen
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon N100 for Sports Photography

POOR

Image Stabilization
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/4000s
525 mm Tele Lens
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
Slow Continuous Shooting: 1.0fps
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.80
Read the details

Image Stabilization
Manual Focus Mode
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
120 mm Tele Lens
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Canon N100 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Compact Body
21.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
431g
Body Thickness 78mm
Read the details

Compact Body
289g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon N100 for Landscape Photography

POOR

25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 14.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Manual Focus Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L120 vs Canon N100: 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 Nikon L120 and Canon N100, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 63 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 Nikon L120 and Canon N100 scores compare:

Nikon L120

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #216 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #792 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon N100

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #94 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #555 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Canon N100 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon L120. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that N100 trails behind the L120: Imaging
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Nikon L120. If not, we recommend the Canon N100.

Canon N100 vs Nikon L120 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix L120	Canon PowerShot N100
Brand	Nikon	Canon
Announced	2011-02-09	2014-01-06
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	CMOS
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/1.7-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area	28.07mm²	41.52mm²
Megapixels	14 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4320 x 3240	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	80 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	9	9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-525 mm (21×)	24-120 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F3.1-5.8	F1.8-5.7
Macro Focus Range	1cm	n/a
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Tilting
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	921k dots	922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder	None	None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter	1/4000s	1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift	Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.00 m	7.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps	n/a
Multi-Segment
Average
Spot
Partial
AF-Area
Center Weighted
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution	1280 x 720	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	431g	289g
Dimensions	110 x 77 x 78mm	105 x 68 x 36mm
Battery Life	330 shots	330 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction