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Nikon L120 vs Sony W800 Comparison

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Nikon L120

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

Nikon L120
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Sony W800

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

Sony W800
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Nikon L120 vs Sony W800 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two Compact cameras from Nikon and Sony. Nikon L120 was introduced to market in February 2011 and Sony W800 was launched in February 2014. As you can see, L120 is 3 years older than W800. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Both cameras have 1/2.3-inch sensors but Nikon L120 has a 14.0 MP and Sony W800 has a 20.0 MP resolution.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L120 and Sony W800 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

Sony W800 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2014-02-13
  • 20MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 3200
  • 26-130 mm F3.2-6.4 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 2.7" Fixed Type Screen
  • 1 fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 125g. 97 x 55 x 21 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L120 and Sony W800 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L120 over Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800
Max ISO
6.400 vs 3.200 100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Screen Resolution
921k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/4000s vs 1/1500s faster mechanical shutter
Focal Length - Wide
25mm vs 26mm 1 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
525mm vs 130mm 395 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
21× vs 5x more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.10 vs 3.20 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.80 vs 6.40 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
6.0m vs 3.5m 2.5m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
2.01µm2 vs 1.41µm2 42% larger pixel area


Reasons to choose Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 over Nikon Coolpix L120
Max Sensor Resolution
20 MP vs 14 MP 42% more pixels
Weight
125 g vs 431 g 306 g lighter

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800
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
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L120 and Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800
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
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" Small display
Continuous Shooting
1.0fps vs 1.0fps Slow shooting speeds
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
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 6.40 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon L120 vs Sony W800: 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 Sony W800 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). Sony W800 has external dimensions of 97 x 55 x 21 mm (1.97 x 0.87 x 2.13″) and weighs 125 g (0.28 lb / 4.41 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Sony W800. Sony W800 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 13mm narrower, 22mm shorter and 57mm thinner than Nikon L120.

Nikon L120 vs Sony W800 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Sony W800 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L120 and Sony W800.

Nikon L120 vs Sony W800 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Sony W800 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L120 and Sony W800.
Nikon L120 vs Sony W800 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Sony W800 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Sony W800 is significantly lighter (306g ) than the Nikon L120 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120
W800
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L120
W800
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L120 nor Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800 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's 3" LCD screen is slightly larger than Sony W800's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.
Nikon L120 vs Sony W800: 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, Sony W800 has a 20.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Sony W800's sensor provides 6MP more than Nikon L120'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 L120 and W800 sensor size comparison.

Nikon L120 vs Sony W800 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L120 and Sony W800 Cameras


Nikon L120 and Sony W800 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 42% larger pixel area compared to Sony W800, it has potential to collect more light on pixel level hence have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon L120 vs Sony W800 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L120 features a 25-525 mm F3.1-5.8 21× zoom lens whereas Sony W800 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.4 5x zoom lens.

Nikon L120 has 1mm wider coverage than the Sony W800. At f3.10, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L120 has 395mm longer reach than the Sony W800. At f5.80, it is also faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L120
W800
Widest - Ricoh WG-M1
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L120
W800
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L120
W800
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L120
W800
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L120 and Sony W800 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L120 and Sony W800 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

Sony W800 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
Image Stabilization
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

Nikon L120 for Street Photography

GOOD

Sony W800 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
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
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
26 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

Nikon L120 for Sports Photography

POOR

Sony W800 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
130 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
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1500s
Unknown Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.40
Read the details

Nikon L120 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE

Sony W800 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
125g
Body Thickness 21mm
5.0X 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

Sony W800 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
Very High Resolution Sensor: 20.0MP
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
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

Nikon L120 vs Sony W800: 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 Sony W800, 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 Sony W800 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
Sony W800
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #347 out of 475 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1002 out of 1223 in all Cameras

Nikon L120 has a higher Overall Score than the Sony W800 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon L120
Nikon L120
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Sony W800
Sony W800
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Sony W800 vs Nikon L120 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L120 Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W800
Brand Nikon Sony
Announced 2011-02-09 2014-02-13
Body Type Compact Compact
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 20 megapixels
Max Resolution 4320 x 3240 5152 x 3864
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×) 26-130 mm (5x)
Max Aperture F3.1-5.8 F3.2-6.4
Macro Focus Range 1cm n/a
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 3" 2.7"
Resolution 921k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/4000s 1/1500s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Image Stabilization Sensor-shift Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 6.00 m 3.50 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting 1.0 fps 1.0 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 AVI MPEG4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 431g 125g
Dimensions 110 x 77 x 78mm 97 x 55 x 21mm
Battery Life 330 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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