Nikon L120 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera Comparison

Camera to replace

Change

Nikon L120

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

CHECK PRICE

Change

Samsung Galaxy Camera

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

CHECK PRICE

Nikon L120 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing L120 and Galaxy Camera, two Small Sensor Superzoom cameras from Nikon and Samsung. Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon L120 has a 14.0 MP and Samsung Galaxy Camera has a 16.0 MP resolution. Nikon L120 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Samsung Galaxy Camera was launched in February 2013. As you can see, L120 is 2 years older than Galaxy Camera. 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 Samsung Galaxy Camera 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

Samsung Galaxy Camera Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2013-02-19

16MP - 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor

ISO 100 - 3200

23-481 mm F2.8-5.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

4.8" Fixed Type Screen

Unknown continuous shooting

Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution

120fps High-Speed Video

Built-in Wireless

Built-in GPS

300g. 129 x 71 x 19 mm

Also known as Wi-Fi

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

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L120 over Samsung Galaxy Camera

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Max ISO	6.400 vs 3.200	100% higher Max ISO
Max Mech. Shutter	1/4000s vs 1/2000s	faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Tele	525mm vs 481mm	44 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	21× vs 20.9×	more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 5.90	faster lens at tele

Reasons to choose Samsung Galaxy Camera over Nikon Coolpix L120

Wireless Connection	Built-In vs None	Better connectivity
Touch Screen	Yes vs No	Easy control of camera functions
GPS	BuiltIn vs None	track your location
Max Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 14 MP	14% more pixels
LCD Screen Size	4.8" vs 3"	1.8 inches larger display
Weight	300 g vs 431 g	131 g lighter
Manual Exposure	Yes vs No	better exposure control
Microphone Port	Yes vs No	High quality audio recording option
Focal Length - Wide	23mm vs 25mm	2 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.10	faster lens at wide
Max Video Resolution	1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720	Higher Resolution Video

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera

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
LCD Screen Size	3" vs 4.8"	Large display
LCD Screen Resolution	921k dots vs 922k dots	High resolution screens
Focal Length - Tele	525mm vs 481mm	Very good Telezoom

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera

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
Continuous Shooting	1.0fps vs fps	Slow shooting speeds
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	5.80 vs 5.90	Slow lenses at tele

Nikon L120 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera: 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 Samsung Galaxy Camera 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). Samsung Galaxy Camera has external dimensions of 129 x 71 x 19 mm (5.08 x 2.8 x 0.75″) and weighs 300 g (0.66 lb / 10.58 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera. Samsung Galaxy Camera is 6mm shorter and 59mm thinner than Nikon L120 but it is also 19mm wider.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera.

Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera.

Top View Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Samsung Galaxy Camera is significantly lighter (131g ) than the Nikon L120 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120

Galaxy Camera

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120

Galaxy Camera

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L120 nor Samsung Galaxy Camera (Wi-Fi) 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

Samsung Galaxy Camera's 4.8" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon L120's 3" screen.

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

Nikon L120 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera: 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, Samsung Galaxy Camera has a 16.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features 1.4GHz Quad-Core processor.

Below you can see the L120 and Galaxy Camera sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera Cameras

Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera have sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon L120 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L120 features a 25-525 mm F3.1-5.8 21× zoom lens whereas Samsung Galaxy Camera features a 23-481 mm F2.8-5.9 20.9× zoom lens.

Samsung Galaxy Camera has 2mm wider coverage than the Nikon L120. At f2.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L120 has 44mm longer reach than the Samsung Galaxy Camera. At f5.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L120

Galaxy Camera

Widest - Ricoh WG-M1

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L120

Galaxy Camera

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L120

Galaxy Camera

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L120

Galaxy Camera

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L120 and Samsung Galaxy Camera 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

Samsung Galaxy Camera 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
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Street Photography

GOOD

Samsung Galaxy Camera 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
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
23 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Sports Photography

POOR

Samsung Galaxy Camera 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
Manual Exposure Mode
Wireless Connection
481 mm Tele Lens
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Samsung Galaxy Camera for Daily Photography

GOOD

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
Body Thickness 19mm
20.9X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Samsung Galaxy Camera 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
Manual Exposure Mode
Built-in GPS
23 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 Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L120 vs Samsung Galaxy Camera: 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 Samsung Galaxy Camera, 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 Samsung Galaxy Camera 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

Samsung Galaxy Camera

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #81 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #531 out of 1223 in all Cameras

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

Nikon L120

CHECK PRICE

Samsung Galaxy Camera

CHECK PRICE

Samsung Galaxy Camera vs Nikon L120 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix L120	Samsung Galaxy Camera
Brand	Nikon	Samsung
Announced	2011-02-09	2013-02-19
Body Type	Compact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CCD	BSI-CMOS
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	3,200 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×)	23-481 mm (20.9×)
Max Aperture	F3.1-5.8	F2.8-5.9
Macro Focus Range	1cm	n/a
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	3"	4.8"
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	n/a
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	1920 x 1080
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	431g	300g
Dimensions	110 x 77 x 78mm	129 x 71 x 19mm
Battery Life	330 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	Built-in
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction