Nikon L120 vs Fujifilm S8600 Comparison

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Nikon L120

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

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Fujifilm S8600

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

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Nikon L120 vs Fujifilm S8600 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing L120 and S8600, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Fujifilm. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon L120 has a 14.0 MP and Fujifilm S8600 has a 16.0 MP resolution. Nikon L120 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Fujifilm S8600 was launched in January 2014. As you can see, L120 is 3 years older than S8600. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 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

Fujifilm S8600 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2014-01-06

16MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 100 - 6400

25-900 mm F2.9-6.5 Zoom Lens

Sensor-shift Image Stabilization

3" Fixed Type Screen

8 fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

450g. 121 x 81 x 65 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L120 over Fujifilm FinePix S8600

LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 460k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Weight	431 g vs 450 g	19 g lighter
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 6.50	faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area	2.01µm² vs 1.76µm²	14% larger pixel area

Reasons to choose Fujifilm FinePix S8600 over Nikon Coolpix L120

Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 14 MP	14% more pixels
Continuous Shooting	8.0fps vs 1.0fps	7 fps faster
Battery Life	410 shots vs 330 shots	80 more frames with a single charge
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Focal Length - Tele	900mm vs 525mm	375 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	36× vs 21×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	2.90 vs 3.10	faster lens at wide
AE Bracketing	Yes vs No	Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Fujifilm FinePix S8600

Image Stabilization	Sensor-shift vs Sensor-shift	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
Focal Length - Tele	525mm vs 900mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Fujifilm FinePix S8600

Fixed Screen	Fixed Type vs No	No flexible viewing angles
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
Manual Focusing	No vs No	No manual focusing modes
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions

Nikon L120 vs Fujifilm S8600: 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 Fujifilm S8600 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). Fujifilm S8600 has external dimensions of 121 x 81 x 65 mm (4.76 x 3.19 x 2.56″) and weighs 450 g (0.99 lb / 15.87 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600. Nikon L120 is 11mm narrower and 4mm shorter than Fujifilm S8600 but it is also 13mm thicker.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon L120 is 19g lighter than the Fujifilm S8600 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Bridge Cameras

L120

S8600

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Bridge Cameras

L120

S8600

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L120 nor Fujifilm FinePix S8600 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
Top Bridge Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 3".

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.

Nikon L120 vs Fujifilm S8600: 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, Fujifilm S8600 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the L120 and S8600 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 Cameras

Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Nikon L120 has 14% larger pixel area compared to Fujifilm S8600, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon L120 vs Fujifilm S8600 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L120 features a 25-525 mm F3.1-5.8 21× zoom lens whereas Fujifilm S8600 features a 25-900 mm F2.9-6.5 36× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 25mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.90, Fujifilm S8600 is faster than Nikon L120 at this focal length. On the tele end, Fujifilm S8600 has 375mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon L120. However, with a max aperture of f5.80, Nikon L120 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L120

S8600

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

DSLR-Like Cameras

L120

S8600

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

DSLR-Like Cameras

L120

S8600

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

DSLR-Like Cameras

L120

S8600

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L120 and Fujifilm S8600 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

Fujifilm S8600 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 Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Average Ergonomics&Handling
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
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Street Photography

GOOD

Fujifilm S8600 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
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Medium sized Body
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

Nikon L120 for Sports Photography

POOR

Fujifilm S8600 for Sports Photography

AVERAGE

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 Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 8.0fps
900 mm Tele Lens
Average Ergonomics&Handling
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Fujifilm S8600 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

36.0X Optical Zoom
Medium size Body
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
450g
Body Thickness 65mm
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Fujifilm S8600 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 Exposure Mode
25 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L120 vs Fujifilm S8600: 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 Fujifilm S8600, 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 Fujifilm S8600 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

Fujifilm S8600

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #96 out of 113 in SLR-like (bridge) cameras
Ranked #766 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Fujifilm S8600 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon L120 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Fujifilm S8600 vs Nikon L120 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix L120	Fujifilm FinePix S8600
Brand	Nikon	Fujifilm
Announced	2011-02-09	2014-01-06
Body Type	Compact	SLR-like (bridge)
Sensor
Type	CCD	CCD
Size	1/2.3-inch	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	14 megapixels	16 megapixels
Max Resolution	4320 x 3240	4608 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity	6,400 ISO	6,400 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	100 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	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	25-525 mm (21×)	25-900 mm (36×)
Max Aperture	F3.1-5.8	F2.9-6.5
Macro Focus Range	1cm	7cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	3"
Resolution	921k dots	460k 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	Sensor-shift
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	6.00 m	6.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	1.0 fps	8.0 fps
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	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	431g	450g
Dimensions	110 x 77 x 78mm	121 x 81 x 65mm
Battery Life	330 shots	410 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction