Nikon L120

**Dusty Photos** · 05-03-2011, 03:58 PM

I just purchased a L120 and so far I am really impressed.... nice, crips wide angle shots. I highly recommend this camera to anyone not looking to break their bank, but still want to take pro quality photos

**JimL** · 05-03-2011, 09:23 PM

Dusty
I'm glad you like your camera. It might be helpful if you take a few pictures for one of the 'Zo catagories and mention the new camera under the photo so members could see examples and make informed decisions in their search for new equipment.
Jim

**EmmJay** · 05-03-2011, 11:57 PM

As far as Pro Quality goes, I have to offer some basic info. The small sensor on the L120 and similar superzooms is a major factor.

With a Nikon DSLR using DX format the frame size is about 16mm x 24mm. I use a Canon DSLR which is about 10% smaller - basically no difference.

Compared to a Nikon DX sensor the L120 the frame size is 4mm x 6mm, or about 4 times smaller than the Nikon DSLR. When compared to a 35mm full frame slr it is 6 times smaller.

That's why you see these large zoom ranges on very small lenses in the super-zoom compacts. The 525mm aspect ratio on the long end of the Nikon L120 is due to the very small sensor. In reality that lens is 94.5mm, and the size of any subject within that image is going to be exactly the same using a 35mm SLR at 94.5mm or an L120 at 94.5mm. On the L120 there will just be a lot less of the image recorded, so it seems to be super-magnified. When you start to factor in higher ISO settings and large paper print settings, the DX and FX DSLRs will be superior.

I only say this because I went through a couple of super-zooms, both highly rated form Nikon and Panasonic Lumix. But returned both because the quality was not near the results I used to get from my Nikon D40 and D90.

With smaller images on the internet or my monitor, yes, the superzooms were great. But with larger sizes and paper printours, the smaller sensor could not compete with the larger sensor of the DSLRs.

BTW - I saw some of your images here and like them very much.

**Dusty Photos** · 05-04-2011, 09:19 AM

Thanks... I'm not sure what the other DSLRs run price wise, but I consider my self an amature photographer with a good eye. I have no formal education in regards to digital photography, but have been learning alot through trial and error. I do appriciate the input! For under 300$ I'm very pleased with the quality of the L120. I figure next year I'll be in the market for something on the higher end.

If anyone is interested in the photos taken by my L120, I did post a few throughout the forum.

**EmmJay** · 05-04-2011, 10:45 AM

Hi Dusty. The dslrs are going to a heck of a lot more expensve. My "upper entry level" Canon 600D gerally goes for 3 times the L120 with only an inexpensive 3x zoom lens. It would take a LOT more to try matching the zoom range aspect ration on the L120.

You DO have a good eye! I think a good eye is what really makes a pro quality shot. Do keep posting your images. I really enjoy them.

Actually you should set up a gallery here and upload your shots to it. Easy to do and you can then just copy/paste the "Linked Image" text in your post and the pic will be there nicely embedded full size.

Just resize your images so the longest dimension is 800 pixels. That way the forum software won't reduce them to 800, which can degrade the sharpness a bit, and they'll be easier to be viewed on a variety of monitors.

**Dusty Photos** · 05-04-2011, 12:27 PM

I took your advice and uploaded some photos to a gallery...... you'll have to let me know if I did it right. I notice some pics appeared to be in different galleries.... kinda confused me. But thanks again!

**EmmJay** · 05-04-2011, 12:40 PM

Cool, Dusty! It looks like all the shots made it into your album, but in two ways.

Most made it to the parent Album - the default Album that is created when you create your Gallery. I see you also created an album called DUSTY PHOTOS containing 4 images.

What you can do is create various Albums with various names: be pretty general. For example, you may want a Route 66 Album since it is a favorite location of yours and you have many Route 66 images.

Don't go nuts making dozens of Albums. Just a few to help organize things under a general concept.

Then, when you upload to your Gallery, you start by selecting an Album and then choosing to Upload within that Album.

When you go to your Gallery you can select a photo, choose PHOTO OPTIONS - then EDIT and you can move it to a different Album inside of your gallery.

That may break the embed link in your post, so you may have to go in and re-paste the new link.

The more experienced folk here (still new myself) may offer more/better tips.

**Dusty Photos** · 05-04-2011, 12:51 PM

Thanks... I just moved em all into one. Make it MUCH easier to keep track of!

**Abb0nz** · 09-11-2011, 04:23 PM

I've also recently brought an L120 and overall I'm more than the happy with it. The zoom is fantastic and I have taken some (what I think are!) excellent photos.
I have one question though, is there any way I can have more control over the shutter speed? I regularly go to airshows and motor racing events and the need to consistently have a high shutter speed is imperative but so far I have not been able to see how it can be done. If I can't I will be disappointed because in all other aspects this is an excellent camera and I'll have to go get something else.

Thanks
Paul