Reasons to choose C-21
Released in 1999, C-21 has about 31 mm² of sensor area, 1.9 MP effective resolution, and a 240 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.
Side-by-side comparison
Olympus C-21
vs Olympus D-360L
VS
Sensor area
31 mm²
C-2138 mm²
D-360L- Area ratio
- 1.23:1
- Absolute difference
- 7 mm²
- Relative difference
- 23.4%
The D-360L has the larger sensor area. More area usually means greater light-gathering potential, though real image quality still depends on sensor architecture and generation.
These cameras were released 1 years apart. Consider sensor generation when comparing pixel metrics.
Key specification differences
C-21MetricD-360L
1.9 MPEffective pixels1.2 MP
6.4 × 4.8Sensor7.11 × 5.33
4.02 µmPixel pitch5.62 µm
16.17 µm²Pixel area31.58 µm²
6.18 MP/cm²Pixel density3.17 MP/cm²
5.41Crop factor4.87
—Maximum video—
240 gWeight280 g
SmartMediaStorageSmartMedia
AA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended)BatteryAA (4) batteries (NiMH recommended)
Amber marks the value that is generally preferable in this comparison context. It is not an overall camera score.
How to choose between these cameras
The D-360L has the larger sensor area. The C-21 has the lighter body. The C-21 has the higher effective resolution. The D-360L is the newer release. Also consider the lens system and subjects you shoot.
Reasons to choose D-360L
Released in 2000, D-360L has about 38 mm² of sensor area, 1.2 MP effective resolution, and a 280 g body. Use these values to narrow the field, not as an overall image-quality score.