• 1/2.5 inch 24.7mm2
  • 10.0 megapixels
  • 36.00mm - 360.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • 23.00mm - 675.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • Detailed specifications
  • Canon PowerShot SX120 IS
  • Nikon Coolpix L820
Links
Prices:   Compare Prices
Manufacturer URL: Manufacturer website Manufacturer website
Predecessor: Canon SX110 IS
SX110 IS vs SX120 IS
 
Successor: Canon SX130 IS
SX120 IS vs SX130 IS
 
General
Model Number: SX120 IS L820
Alternate Model Number(s):    
Camera Format: Mid-Sized Mid-Sized
Currently Manufactured: No No
Retail Price: $249.99 $279.95
Street Price: $214.97 $199.00
Date Available: 2009-09-15 2013-02-15
Tripod Mount: Yes Yes
Weight: 10.7 oz (302 g)
includes batteries
16.6 oz (470 g)
includes batteries
Size: 4.4 x 2.8 x 1.8 in.
(111 x 70 x 45 mm)
4.4 x 3.0 x 3.3 in.
(111 x 76 x 85 mm)
Waterproof: No No
Waterproof Depth: n/a n/a
Image Sensor
Sensor Type: CCD CMOS
Sensor Manufacturer:    
Effective Megapixels: 10.0 16.1
Sensor Format: 1/2.5 inch 1/2.3 inch
Sensor size: 24.7104mm2 (5.76mm x 4.29mm) 28.0735mm2 (6.17mm x 4.55mm)
Approximate Pixel Pitch: 1.58 microns 1.34 microns
Focal Length Multiplier: n/a n/a
Aspect Ratio: 4:3, 16:9 4:3
Color Filter Type: RGBG  
Anti Aliasing Filter:    
Self-Cleaning: No No
Sensor shift image stabilization: No No
On-Sensor Phase Detect: No No
DxO Sensor Score:    
DxO Color Depth Score (bits):    
DxO Dynamic Range Score (evs):    
DxO Maximum Effective ISO Score (iso):    
Image Capture
Image Resolution: 3648 x 2736 (10.0 MP, 4:3),
3648 x 2048 (7.5 MP, 16:9),
2816 x 2112 (5.9 MP, 4:3),
2272 x 1704 (3.9 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3)
4608 x 3456 (15.9 MP, 4:3),
3264 x 2448 (8.0 MP, 4:3),
2272 x 1704 (3.9 MP, 4:3),
1600 x 1200 (1.9 MP, 4:3),
640 x 480 (0.3 MP, 4:3),
4608 x 2592 (11.9 MP, 16:9)
Image File Format: JPEG (EXIF 2.2) JPEG, MPO
Continuous-mode frames/second: 1.3 8.0
Video Capture
Can take movies: Yes Yes
Movie Resolution: 640x480 (30)
320x240 (30)
1920x1080 (30p/​15p)
1280x720 (60p/​30p)
960x540 (30p)
640x480 (120p)
320x240 (240p)
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MOV (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo)
Composite Video Out: Yes Yes
NTSC/PAL Switchable Video: Yes Yes
Video Usable as Viewfinder:
HD Video Out: No No
HD Video Connection:
Lens & Optics
Lens Mount: n/a n/a
Lens: Canon Zoom Lens, 10 elements in 9 groups (including 1 aspherical element) Zoom-Nikkor ED VR; 12 elements in 9 groups (2 ED lens elements)
Focal Length (35mm equivalent): 36 - 360mm 23 - 675mm
Focal Length (actual): 6 - 60mm 4 - 120mm
Zoom Ratio: 10.00x 30.00x
Aperture Range: f/2.8 (W) / f/4.3 (T) - f/8.0 f/3.0 (wide) / f/5.8 (tele) - ??? with ND filter
Integrated ND Filter: No No
Normal Focus Range: 50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
50 cm to Infinity
19.7 in to Infinity
Macro Focus Range: 1 - 50 cm
0.4 - 19.7 in
1 cm to Infinity
0.4 in to Infinity
Filter Thread: n/a n/a
Thread Type: n/a n/a
Optical Image Stabilization: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom: Yes Yes
Digital Zoom Values: Up to 4x Up to 4x
Auto Focus
Auto Focus: Yes Yes
Auto Focus Type: Contrast Detection with Face Detect AF, Single AF point, Selectable AF frame size: normal, or small Contrast Detection: Center, Face priority
Auto Focus Assist Light? Yes Yes
Manual Focus: Yes No
Viewfinder
Viewfinder: LCD LCD
Viewfinder Type:    
Focus Peaking: No No
EVF Resolution: n/a n/a
Viewfinder Magnification (35mm equivalent):    
Viewfinder Magnification (nominal/claimed):    
Display
Eye-level Viewfinder: No No
Rear Display: Yes Yes
Rear Display Size (inches): 3.0 3.0
Rear Display Resolution: 230,000 dots 921,000 dots
Touchscreen: No No
Articulating Screen: No No
Tilt Swivel Screen: No
Selfie Screen: No
Max Playback Zoom: 10.0x  
Top Deck Display:
Exposure
Maximum ISO (native):    
Minimum ISO (native):    
ISO Settings: Auto, 80, 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, 3200* (*3200 in special scene mode) Auto, 125, 200, 400, 800, 1600; ISO 3200 availablein Auto mode
Auto ISO Mode: Yes Yes
White Balance Settings: Auto, Daylight, Cloudy, Tungsten, Fluorescent, Fluorescent H, Flash, Custom Auto, Cloudy, Daylight, Flash, Fluorescent, Incandescent, Preset Manual
Shutter Speed Range: 1/2500 - 15 sec 1/4000 - 4 sec
Bulb Mode: No No
Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps +/- 2.0EV in 0.3EV steps
Metering Modes: Evaluative, Center-weighted average, Spot (spot metering at center), Face Detect AE Matrix, Center-weighted (digital zoom less than 2x), Spot (digital zoom 2X or more)
Program Auto Exposure: Yes Yes
Aperture Priority: Yes No
Shutter Priority: Yes No
Full Manual Exposure: Yes No
Creative Exposure Modes: Easy, Portrait, Landscape, Special Scene (Foliage, Snow, Beach, Sunset, Fireworks, Aquarium, ISO 3200), Indoor, Kids & Pets, Night Snapshot, Night Scene Back Light, Beach, Black and White Copy, Close Up, Dusk/Dawn, Easy Panorama, Fireworks Show, Food, Landscape, Museum, Night Landscape, Night Portrait, Party/Indoor, Pet Portrait, Portrait, Snow, Sports, Sunset, 3D Photography
Self Timer: 1 - 30 seconds 10 or 2 seconds
Time Lapse (intervalometer):    
High Resolution Composite: No No
Flash
Built-in Flash: Yes Yes
Flash Modes: Auto, Auto w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash On, Flash On w/Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; FE lock, Safety FE, Slow Synchro Auto, Auto w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off, Flash On, w/ Red-eye Reduction, Flash Off; Slow Syncro
Flash Guide Number (ISO 100): n/a n/a
Flash Range Description: Auto ISO: 50 cm - 4.0 m (W), 1.0 cm - 2.5 m (T) (1.6 - 13 ft. (W), 3.3 - 8.2 ft. (T)) Auto ISO: [W]: 0.5 to 6.0m (1ft. 8in. to 19ft.) [T]: 1.5 to 6.0m (5 ft. to 19 ft.)
Max Flash Sync: 1/500  
Flash Exposure Compensation: +/- 2.0 EV in 0.3EV steps  
External Flash Connection: n/a n/a
Built-In Wireless Flash Control:    
Image Storage
Usable Memory Types: SD / SDHC SD / SDHC / SDXC
UHS Support:    
Other Memory:    
Dual Card Slots: No No
RAW Capture Support: No No
Uncompressed Format:    
Movie File Format: AVI (Motion JPEG) MOV (Video: MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, Audio: AAC stereo)
Included Memory: No memory included 65.0 MB
Included Memory Type:   Internal
Connectivity
Built-In Wi-Fi: No No
NFC: No
Bluetooth: No No
Built-In GPS: No No
Microphone Jack: No No
Headphone Jack: No No
External Connections: USB 2.0 High Speed USB 2.0 High Speed
PictBridge Compliant: Yes No
DPOF Compliant: Yes Yes
Remote Control: No
Remote Control Type:    
Connections (extended): DC input  
Performance Timing
Cycle time for JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame, max resolution): 2.07  
Cycle time for RAW shooting in single shot mode (seconds per frame):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in single shot mode (frames):    
Cycle time for RAW+JPEG shooting in single shot mode (seconds per shot):    
Camera penalizes early shutter press?
JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps, max resolution): 1.3 8.0
Buffer size for JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames, max resolution):   6
RAW shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer size for RAW shooting in burst mode (frames):    
RAW+JPEG shooting speed in burst mode (fps):    
Buffer Size for RAW+JPEG shooting in burst mode (frames):    
Shutter lag (full AF, wide/mid): 0.80 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, tele): 0.93 seconds  
Shutter lag (full AF, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter lag (prefocused, live view - DSLR):    
Shutter Lag (manual focus):    
Shutter lag (full AF, with flash):    
Shutter Lag (prefocused): 0.066 seconds  
Shutter Lag (notes):    
Startup Time: 3.1 seconds  
Play -> Record Time:    
Flash cycle time, full power:    
Power
Battery Life, Stills (CIPA Rating Monitor/Live View): 370 shots 540 shots (NiMH AA)
Battery Life, Still (CIPA Rating OVF/EVF):    
Battery Life, Video:    
Battery Form Factor: 2 x AA 4 x AA
Usable Battery Types: Alkaline disposable or NiMH rechargeable Alkaline, Lithium disposables; NiMH rechargeables
Batteries Included: 2 x AA Alkaline disposables 4 x Alkaline AAs
Battery Charger Included (dedicated charger or AC/USB adapter): No No
Dedicated Battery Charger Included:
Internal Charging Supported:
Software
Included Software: Digital Camera Solution CD-ROM Nikon ViewNX 2 CD-ROM
OS Compatibility: Windows, Mac OS Windows, Mac OS
Miscellaneous
Notes & Features: Optical Image Stabilization, Face and Motion Detection, Smart Auto, Intelligent Contrast Correction. Vibration Reduction (VR), 1080p Full HD movies, Creative Image Effects. Available in black or red.