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Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X Comparison

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Nikon L31

16 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon L31
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Canon 1D X

18 MP | Full frame (36 x 24 mm) CMOS Sensor

Canon 1D X
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Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing two cameras with different body types: Nikon L31, which was introduced in January 2015 is a Ultracompact camera with a 16.0MP 1/2.3' sensor whereas Canon 1D X, which was introduced in October 2011 is a Pro DSLR camera with a 18.0MP Full frame sensor. As you can see, 1D X is 4 years older than L31. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Comparing a DSLR camera to a Fixed Lens camera is not an easy task but we will do our best to make this a fair comparison.

Here is a brief look at the main features of the Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X before getting into our more detailed comparison.

Nikon L31 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2015-01-14
  • 16MP - 1/2.3' CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 1600
  • 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 Zoom Lens
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution
  • 160g. 96 x 59 x 29 mm

Canon 1D X Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2011-10-18
  • 18MP - Full frame CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 100 - 51200 ( expands to 50 - 204800)
  • Canon EF Mount
  • 3.20" Fixed Type Screen
  • Optical (pentaprism) viewfinder
  • 14.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 1340g. 158 x 164 x 83 mm
  • Weather-sealed Body
  • Replaced Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III Compare

Canon 1D X was replaced by Canon EOS-1D X Mark II. You may also be interested in these comparisons:
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Canon EOS-1D X
Canon EOS-1D X Mark II vs Nikon Coolpix L31

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X compare and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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**This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L31 over Canon EOS-1D X
Built-in Flash
Yes vs No Useful in low-light
Internal Storage
17MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Weight
160 g vs 1340 g 1180 g lighter
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon EOS-1D X over Nikon Coolpix L31
External Flash Shoe
Yes vs No Better for flash photography
Viewfinder
Optical vs None Better framing and control
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Sensor Resolution
18 MP vs 16 MP 12% more pixels
Max ISO
51.200 vs 1.600 3100% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3.2 vs 2.7" 0.5 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
1.040k dots vs 230k dots 352% higher resolution screen
Max Mech. Shutter
1/8000s vs 1/2000s faster mechanical shutter
Battery Life
1120 shots vs 200 shots 920 more frames with a single charge
Microphone Port
Yes vs No High quality audio recording option
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Sensor Pixel Area
48.21µm2 vs 1.76µm2 2639% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
Top LCD
Yes vs No Help viewing and changing settings easily
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
Flash Sync Port
Yes vs No Connect off-camera flash
Storage Slot
2 vs 1 Extra storage slot
CHECK 1D X PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Canon EOS-1D X
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
LCD Screen Size
3.20" vs 3.20" Large display
Max Continuous Shooting
fps vs 14.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Canon EOS-1D X
In-body Image Stabilization
Digital only vs No No Built-in stabilization
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X: Physical Specs and Body Features Comparison

Size and weight are big decision factors when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, we are going to illustrate the Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X side-by-side from the front, back and top in their relative dimensions. Nikon L31 has external dimensions of 96 x 59 x 29 mm (3.78 x 2.32 x 1.14″) and weighs 160 g (0.35 lb / 5.64 oz) (including batteries). Canon 1D X has external dimensions of 158 x 164 x 83 mm (6.22 x 6.46 x 3.27″) and weighs 1340 g (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and the Canon 1D X. Nikon L31 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 62mm narrower, 105mm shorter and 54mm thinner than Canon 1D X. As you can tell, actually this is not a fair size comparison since Nikon L31 has a built-in lens but Canon 1D X doesn't. Once you put a lens on 1D X, its thickness will increase significantly.

Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of the Nikon L31 and the Canon 1D X Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X.

Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of the Nikon L31 and the Canon 1D X Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X.
Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of the Nikon L31 and the the Canon 1D X Size

Weight is another important factor, especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon L31 is significantly lighter (1180g ) than the Canon 1D X which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Again, this comparison may not be very useful in real life as we are comparing the weight of a camera with a built-in lens to the body-only weight of an interchangeable lens camera. Once you put a lens on 1D X, the total kit will weigh much higher.

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather-sealed body of the 1D X, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to the L31.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon 1D X's 3.20" LCD screen is slightly larger than Nikon L31's 2.7" screen.

Unfortunately, both cameras has fixed screens so they don't tilt or flip in directions.


Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Canon 1D X has a 18.0MP Full frame (36 x 24 mm ) sized CMOS sensor and features Dual Digic 5+ processor.

Below you can see the L31 and 1D X sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X Cameras


As seen above, Canon 1D X has a 30.8x Larger sensor area than Nikon L31. Larger sensors give photographer more control on the depth of field and blurry background compared to smaller sensor when shot in same focal length and aperture.

What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X for five different photography types in order to make your decision process easier in case you are specifically interested in one or more of these areas.

Nikon L31 for Portrait Photography

POOR

Canon 1D X for Portrait Photography

GOOD
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Canon 1D X for Street Photography

GOOD
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
No Image Stabilization
Large Body
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon 1D X for Sports Photography

EXCELLENT
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
130 mm Tele Lens
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 200 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.50
Read the details
Optical Built-in Viewfinder
Good Ergonomics&Handling
Fast Continuous Shooting: 14.0fps
Environmental Sealings
Fast Max shutter speed: 1/8000s
41 Cross Type Focus sensors
61 Focus Points
Good Battery Life: 1120 shots
Good Low Light ISO
No Image Stabilization
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Canon 1D X for Daily Photography

GOOD
Compact Body
160g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Environmental Sealings
Large Body
1340g
Body Thickness 83mm
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon 1D X for Landscape Photography

AVERAGE
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 16.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details
Large Full frame (36 x 24 mm) sensor
Very High Resolution Sensor: 18.0MP
Environmental Sealings
Live-view
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Canon 1D X: OUR DECISION

You may have already made your decision about which camera suits better for your needs and your budget so far, but in case you wonder how we rated Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X, below you can find their scores in five different aspects. Our Decision Algorithm dynamically scores cameras using 69 different specs, current price and DxO Mark scores (where possible) in order to make a more objective and consistent comparison.

Here is a summary of how Nikon L31 and Canon 1D X scores compare:

Nikon L31
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #105 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #1132 out of 1260 in all Cameras
Canon 1D X
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #8 out of 36 in Large SLR cameras
Ranked #195 out of 1260 in all Cameras

Canon 1D X is the overall winner of this comparison. It has a higher Overall Score and beats Nikon L31 in all criteria except one: Portability.
If small size and light body is a big priority for you, choose Nikon L31. Otherwise, Canon 1D X is the better camera overall.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Canon 1D X
Canon 1D X
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Canon 1D X vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Canon EOS-1D X
Brand Nikon Canon
Announced 2015-01-14 2011-10-18
Body Type Ultracompact Large SLR
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3' Full frame
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 36 x 24 mm
Area 28.07mm2 864.00mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 18 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 5184 x 3456
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 51,200 ISO
Max Boosted Light Sensitivity - 204800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 100 ISO
Min Boosted Light Sensitivity - 50 ISO
RAW Support
Autofocus
AF Touch
AF Continuous
AF Single
AF Tracking
AF Selective
AF Center
AF Multi Area
AF Live View
AF Face Detection
AF Contrast Detection
AF Phase Detection
Number of Focus Points n/a 61
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens Canon EF
Lens Focal Range 26-130 mm (5×) no lens
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 no lens
Macro Focus Range 10cm no lens
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 3.20"
Resolution 230k dots 1,040k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None Optical (pentaprism)
Viewfinder Coverage n/a 100%
Viewfinder Magnification n/a 0.76x
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/8000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.60 m no built-in flash
Max Flash Sync n/a 1/250s
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 14.0 fps
Multi-Segment Metering
Average Metering
Spot Metering
Partial Metering
AF-Area Metering
Center Weighted Metering
AE Bracketing
WB Bracketing
Video Features
Max Video Resolution 1280 x 720 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4, H.264
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None Optional
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 1340g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 158 x 164 x 83mm
Battery Life 200 shots 1120 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 82
DxO Color Depth not tested 23.8
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.8
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 2786
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