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Nikon L31 vs Canon S120 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 S120

12 MP | 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) BSI-CMOS Sensor

Canon S120
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Nikon L31 vs Canon S120 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing L31 and S120, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Canon. Nikon Coolpix L31 is a Ultracompact class camera and Canon PowerShot S120 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Nikon L31 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Canon S120 was launched in November 2013. There is 14 months difference between L31 and S120 so we don't expect to see a huge technology difference between these two cameras but it would still give an advantage to younger L31, especially in sensor tech.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L31 and Canon S120 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 S120 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-11-26
  • 12MP - 1/1.7-inch BSI-CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 80 - 12800
  • 24-120 mm F1.8-5.7 Zoom Lens
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 3.00" Fixed Type Screen
  • 12.0fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 240fps High-Speed Video
  • Built-in Wireless
  • 217g. 100 x 59 x 29 mm
  • Replaced Canon PowerShot S110 Compare

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Canon S120 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.


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Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix L31 over Canon PowerShot S120
Internal Storage
17MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 12 MP 33% more pixels
Weight
160 g vs 217 g 57 g lighter
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs 120mm 10 mm longer tele reach
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Canon PowerShot S120 over Nikon Coolpix L31
Wireless Connection
Built-In vs None Better connectivity
In-built Image Stabilization
Optical vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
RAW Support
Yes vs No Better image quality
Max ISO
12.800 vs 1.600 700% higher Max ISO
LCD Screen Size
3" vs 2.7" 0.3 inches larger display
LCD Resolution
922k dots vs 230k dots 300% higher resolution screen
Battery Life
230 shots vs 200 shots 30 more frames with a single charge
Timelapse Recording
Yes vs No creative shooting
Focal Length - Wide
24mm vs 26mm 2 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
1.80 vs 3.20 faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele
5.70 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage
7.0m vs 3.6m 3.4m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area
3.46µm2 vs 1.76µm2 96% larger pixel area
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
AE Bracketing
Yes vs No Useful for tough lighting conditions and HDR
CHECK S120 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Canon PowerShot S120
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Max Continuous Shooting
fps vs 12.0fps Fast shooting speeds
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Canon PowerShot S120
Fixed Screen
Fixed Type vs No Screen tilts or Flips out independently, perfect for both stills and video
External Flash Shoe
No vs No Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder
None vs None No eye-level shooting option
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
6.50 vs 5.70 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon L31 vs Canon S120: Physical Specs and Body features Comparison

Size and weight is a big decision factor when you are trying to find the ideal camera for your needs. In this section, We are going to illustrate Nikon L31 and Canon S120 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 S120 has external dimensions of 100 x 59 x 29 mm (3.94 x 2.32 x 1.14″) and weighs 217 g (0.48 lb / 7.65 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Canon S120.

Nikon L31 vs Canon S120 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Canon S120 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Canon S120.

Nikon L31 vs Canon S120 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Canon S120 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Canon S120.
Nikon L31 vs Canon S120 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Canon S120 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 (57g ) than the Canon S120 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
S120
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
S120
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Canon PowerShot S120 provides any type of weather sealing in their body, so you have to give extra care especially when you are shooting outdoors. If weather sealing is a must-have feature for you, check these sections:
Top Compact Cameras with Weather Sealing

LCD Screen Size and Features

Canon S120's 3.00" 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 S120: 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 S120 has a 12.0MP 1/1.7-inch (7.44 x 5.58 mm ) sized BSI-CMOS sensor and features Digic 6 processor.

Below you can see the L31 and S120 sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Canon S120 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Canon S120 Cameras


As seen above, Canon S120 has a 1.5x 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.

Nikon L31 vs Canon S120 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Canon S120 features a 24-120 mm F1.8-5.7 5× zoom lens.

Canon S120 has 2mm wider coverage than the Nikon L31. At f1.80, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L31 has 10mm longer reach than the Canon S120. However, with a max aperture of f5.70, Canon S120 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
S120
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31
S120
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31
S120
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31
S120
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Canon S120 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Canon S120 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 S120 for Portrait Photography

AVERAGE
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
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Canon S120 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
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
Fast Lens at Wide: f1.80
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Built-in Viewfinder
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Canon S120 for Sports Photography

POOR
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
Image Stabilization
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
Fast Continuous Shooting: 12.0fps
Wireless Connection
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
120 mm Tele Lens
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
9 Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 230 shots
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.70
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Canon S120 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
RAW shooting capability
Compact Body
217g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Canon S120 for Landscape Photography

POOR
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
RAW shooting capability
Manual Focus Mode
Manual Exposure Mode
24 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/1.7" (7.44 x 5.58 mm) sensor
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Canon S120: 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 S120, 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 S120 scores compare:

Nikon L31
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #105 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #1132 out of 1259 in all Cameras
Canon S120
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #18 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #354 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Canon S120 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 S120 is the better camera overall.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Canon S120
Canon S120
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Canon S120 vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Canon PowerShot S120
Brand Nikon Canon
Announced 2015-01-14 2013-11-26
Body Type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS BSI-CMOS
Size 1/2.3' 1/1.7-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 7.44 x 5.58 mm
Area 28.07mm2 41.52mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 12 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 12,800 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 80 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 9
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount fixed lens fixed lens
Lens Focal Range 26-130 mm (5×) 24-120 mm (5×)
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F1.8-5.7
Macro Focus Range 10cm 3cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 3.00"
Resolution 230k dots 922k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/2000s
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only Optical
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.60 m 7.00 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting n/a 12.0 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 Built-In
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 217g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 100 x 59 x 29mm
Battery Life 200 shots 230 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None Optional
DxO Sensor Scores
DxO Overall Score not tested 56
DxO Color Depth not tested 21.3
DxO Dynamic Range not tested 11.9
DxO Low Light ISO not tested 246
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