Nikon Coolpix L820 vs Sigma DP3 Merrill

In this comparison, we will evaluate the Nikon Coolpix L820 and the Sigma DP3 Merrill, highlighting the advantages of each over the other, discussing their pros and cons, shared strengths and weaknesses, and providing a rating based on their available features and specifications to assist you in choosing the one that best suits your needs.

Both cameras were introduced in January 2013. Let us first list highlights of the models.

Now that we've looked at the most essential specifications and gained a basic understanding of these cameras, we can delve into more details and see the differences between them.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Nikon Coolpix L820 over Sigma DP3 Merrill.

This section shows those features and specifications which are the reason to choose Sigma DP3 Merrill over Nikon Coolpix L820.

We already listed pros and cons of each model. However, you may also find useful to look at their common strengths and weaknesses shown side-by-side.

Screen

Nikon Coolpix L820 and Sigma DP3 Merrill have 3.0" Fixed screens with 921k dot and 920k dot resolutions respectively.

Nikon Coolpix L820 features a 16 megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI-CMOS sensor with dimensions of 6.16 x 4.62 mm and a total area of 28.5 mm². Its native ISO range is 125 - 3,200. Sigma DP3 Merrill features a 46 megapixel APS-C CMOS (Foveon X3) sensor with dimensions of 24 x 16 mm and a total area of 256 mm². Its native ISO range is 100 - 6,400.

Nikon Coolpix L820 has BSI-CMOS sensor, short for Backside Illuminated Complementary Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor sensor. In traditional CMOS sensors, the wiring and circuitry are located on the front side of the sensor, which can block some of the incoming light. BSI technology flips this design by placing the photosensitive elements (pixels) on the backside of the sensor, allowing more light to reach the pixels. This significantly enhances light sensitivity and improves low-light performance. BSI-CMOS sensors are particularly effective in low-light conditions, as they can capture more light, resulting in brighter and less noisy images. This makes them well-suited for indoor and night photography. BSI-CMOS sensors deliver a higher SNR and reduced cross-talk.

Nikon Coolpix L820 can take pictures up to 4608 x 3456 resolution. Sigma DP3 Merrill is equipped with Dual TRUE II engine processor and can take pictures up to 4704 x 3136 resolution.

No Image Stabilization

The cameras do not have image stabilization.

NFC on Nikon Coolpix L820

Nikon Coolpix L820 has Near Field Communication (NFC) technology which simplifies the process of pairing it with other NFC-enabled devices like smartphones or tablets. It allows to quickly transfer photos and videos or remotely control the camera from compatible device. NFC can also be used for authentication and security purposes. It can verify your identity before accessing certain features or transferring sensitive data. It can be used with NFC-enabled accessories as well, such as lenses, flashes and GPS devices.

USB Inputs

Both models have USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) inputs for data transfer.

Battery

Nikon Coolpix L820 comes with 4 x AA battery pack with battery life of 320 shots.

External Storage Slots

Nikon Coolpix L820 has a single SD/SDHC/SDXC card slot. Sigma DP3 Merrill has a single card slot.

Shutter

Shutter speed can go up to 1/4000 sec on Nikon Coolpix L820, and up to [] on Sigma DP3 Merrill. Nikon Coolpix L820 can shoot continuously up to 8.0 fps. Sigma DP3 Merrill can shoot continuously up to 4.0 fps.

Flash

Nikon Coolpix L820 has a built-in flash. Sigma DP3 Merrill has no built-in flash but an external flash may be connected via Shoe Mount..

Nikon Coolpix L820 body has dimensions of 111 x 76 x 85 mm (4.37 x 2.99 x 3.35") and Sigma DP3 Merrill body has dimensions of 122 x 67 x 59 mm (4.8 x 2.64 x 2.32"). Nikon Coolpix L820 weighs 470 g (1.04 lb / 16.58 oz) and Sigma DP3 Merrill weighs 330 g (0.73 lb / 11.64 oz).

Nikon Coolpix L820

Sigma DP3 Merrill

111 mm

76 mm

122 mm

67 mm

76 mm

67 mm