• 1/2.35 inch 27.3mm2
  • 8.0 megapixels
  • 36.00mm - 180.00mm (35mm eq.)
  • 1/2.3 inch 28.1mm2
  • 16.1 megapixels
  • 23.00mm - 675.00mm (35mm eq.)

Buy From

Differences

Pentax M50 advantages over Nikon L820

  • Less expensive
    $230 vs $280 (MSRP)
    Save money for lenses or accessories
  • Bigger pixels
    ~ 1.85 vs 1.34 microns
    Better low-light and dynamic range (all else equal)
  • Manual focus
    Yes vs No
    AF is for the weak. Real photographers focus manually.
  • Thinner
    23 mm vs 84 mm
    Thinner
  • Lighter weight
    116g vs 470g
    Lighter weight
  • Higher extended ISO
    6400 vs 3200 ISO
    Higher extended ISO can give more low-light flexibility

Nikon L820 advantages over Pentax M50

  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
    Yes vs No
    Reduces the effects of camera shake at slower shutter speeds
  • Larger lens aperture
    f/3.0 vs f/3.5
    Take photos in low-light or isolate your subject
  • More telephoto lens reach
    675 mm vs 180 mm
    Capture objects farther away
  • Longer stills battery life
    More info 540 vs 210 shots
    Capture more photos
  • Newer
    12 years vs 17 years old
    Newer cameras often support more advanced features
  • More dots on screen
    921k vs 230k dots
    Can mean greater resolution or a brighter screen
  • Shoots 1080p video
    Yes vs No
    You'll want this if you shoot video
  • More pixels
    16.1 vs 8.0 megapixels
    Higher resolution photos
  • Shoots 60p video
    Yes vs No
    A faster framerate can give you more editing options
  • Wider angle lens
    23 mm vs 36 mm
    Capture more of the scene
  • Slow-motion videos
    Yes vs No
    Shoot slow-motion videos
  • Faster shutter
    1/4000 vs 1/2000 sec
    Shoot wide open in bright light

Similarities

Common Strengths

  • Internal flash
    Both provide
    Useful in a pinch for fill flash

Common Weaknesses

  • Focus peaking
    Neither provide
    Your camera will highlight what's in focus
  • Eye-level viewfinder
    Neither provide
    You'll be able to frame photos even when the sun is out
  • Touchscreen
    Neither provide
    Interact with your camera just like your smartphone
  • In-camera panoramas
    Neither provide
    Stitches multiple shots into a panoramic photo
  • Tiltable Screen
    Neither provide
    Tilt the screen for shooting flexbility
  • RAW file ability
    Neither provide
    Gives you more flexibility to develop your photos later
  • Built-in Wi-Fi
    Neither provide
    Share your photos wirelessly
  • Built-in Bluetooth
    Neither provide
    Always-on wireless connectivity
  • Built-in GPS
    Neither provide
    Geotag your photos
  • On-sensor phase detect
    Neither provide
    Usually improves live view and video AF performance
  • Integrated ND filter
    Neither provide
    Shoot in daylight with a large aperture or slow shutter
  • External Mic Jack
    Neither provide
    Improved sound fidelity when shooting video
  • HDMI out
    Neither provide
    Use HDMI output to monitor or review video
  • Hot shoe
    Neither provide
    Off-camera flashes open new possibilities
  • Headphone jack
    Neither provide
    Monitor audio recording while you shoot video
  • Bulb shutter
    Neither provide
    Hold the shutter open manually for long exposures

User reviews

Buy From

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Pentax M50

Your purchases support this site

Buy the Nikon L820
Nikon L820
All L820 Deals

Review Excerpt

The Competition

Compared to Ricoh R50

Pentax M50
Ricoh R50
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Longer exposure
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More pixels

Compare Pentax M50 vs Ricoh R50

Nikon L820
Ricoh R50
  • $199
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • Larger lens aperture
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Manual focus

Compare Nikon L820 vs Ricoh R50

Compared to Nikon S560

Pentax M50
Nikon S560
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • Manual focus
  • $250
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • More pixels

Compare Pentax M50 vs Nikon S560

Nikon L820
Nikon S560
  • $199
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger lens aperture
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $250
  • 1/2.33 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Thinner

Compare Nikon L820 vs Nikon S560

Compared to Olympus FE-370

Pentax M50
Olympus FE-370
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Manual focus
  • Higher extended ISO
  • $136
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization

Compare Pentax M50 vs Olympus FE-370

Nikon L820
Olympus FE-370
  • $199
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Larger lens aperture
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • $136
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels

Compare Nikon L820 vs Olympus FE-370

Compared to Nikon L810

Pentax M50
Nikon L810
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Less expensive
  • Bigger pixels
  • $280
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • More telephoto lens reach

Compare Pentax M50 vs Nikon L810

Nikon L820
Nikon L810
  • $199
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • More telephoto lens reach
  • Longer stills battery life
  • $280
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • HDMI out

Compare Nikon L820 vs Nikon L810

Compared to Fujifilm S8600

Pentax M50
Fujifilm S8600
  • $140
  • 1/2.35 inch
  • Bigger pixels
  • Thinner
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • In-Camera Image Stabilization
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Pentax M50 vs Fujifilm S8600

Nikon L820
Fujifilm S8600
  • $199
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Longer stills battery life
  • More dots on screen
  • $250
  • 1/2.3 inch
  • Less expensive
  • In-camera panoramas

Compare Nikon L820 vs Fujifilm S8600

Compare Other Cameras?