Nikon L31 vs Casio EX-Z280 Comparison

Camera to replace

Change

Nikon L31

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

CHECK PRICE

Change

Casio EX-Z280

12 MP | 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) CCD Sensor

CHECK PRICE

Nikon L31 vs Casio EX-Z280 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing L31 and EX-Z280, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Casio. Nikon Coolpix L31 is a Ultracompact class camera and Casio Exilim EX-Z280 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Nikon L31 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Casio EX-Z280 was launched in August 2009. As you can see, EX-Z280 is 6 years older than L31. Let's see if this age difference between two cameras makes a big difference.

Here is a brief look at the main features of Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 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

Casio EX-Z280 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2009-08-31

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 64 - 3200

26-104 mm F2.6-5.9 Zoom Lens

2.70" Fixed Type Screen

fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

133g. 97 x 53 x 20 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 compares and hopefully end up with enough arguments to decide which one is better for you.

Related Blog Posts

DPReview to Close
Daily Deals: Sirui Anamorphic Lens, Apple MacBook Air and more
100-400mm Lens Size Comparison: Leica vs Sony vs Canon vs Nikon
Sirui 24mm f2.8 Super35 Anamorphic 1.33x Lens %50 Off
Nikon Z9 firmware Update v3.10 Released
Best Selling Lenses in Micro Four Thirds, Fujifilm X and Canon EF Mounts in 2023
Daily Deals: Sigma 12-24mm Lens, SmallRig Cage, LED Lights and more
Sigma to Release 16mm f1.4, 30mm f1.4 and 56mm f1.4 Lenses in Nikon Z Mount

**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 Casio Exilim EX-Z280

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
LCD Resolution	230k dots vs 115k dots	100% higher resolution screen
Focal Length - Tele	130mm vs 104mm	26 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom	5× vs 4×	more flexible focal coverage
Selfie & Vlogger LCD	Yes vs No	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies

CHECK L31 PRICE

Reasons to choose Casio Exilim EX-Z280 over Nikon Coolpix L31

Max ISO	3.200 vs 1.600	100% higher Max ISO
Weight	133 g vs 160 g	27 g lighter
Max Aperture - Wide	2.60 vs 3.20	faster lens at wide
Max Aperture - Tele	5.90 vs 6.50	faster lens at tele
Flash Coverage	4.2m vs 3.6m	0.6m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	2.34µm2 vs 1.76µm2	32% larger pixel area

CHECK EX-Z280 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Casio Exilim EX-Z280

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Casio Exilim EX-Z280

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
External Flash Shoe	No vs No	Not suitable for flash photography
Viewfinder	None vs None	No eye-level shooting option
RAW Support	No vs No	Lower image quality
LCD Screen Size	2.70" vs 2.70"	Small display
LCD Screen Resolution	230k dots vs 115k dots	Low resolution screens
Environmental Sealing	No vs No	not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele	6.50 vs 5.90	Slow lenses at tele

New4

Nikon L31 vs Casio EX-Z280: 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 Casio EX-Z280 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). Casio EX-Z280 has external dimensions of 97 x 53 x 20 mm (3.82 x 2.09 x 0.79″) and weighs 133 g (0.29 lb / 4.69 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280. Casio EX-Z280 is 6mm shorter and 9mm thinner than Nikon L31 but it is also 1mm wider.

Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280.

Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 Size and Weight - Back View

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Casio EX-Z280 is significantly lighter (27g ) than the Nikon L31 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31

EX-Z280

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31

EX-Z280

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Casio Exilim EX-Z280 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

Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280's LCD screens has the same diagonal size of 2.70".

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

Nikon L31 vs Casio EX-Z280: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Casio EX-Z280 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the L31 and EX-Z280 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 Cameras

Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 have the same sensor sizes so they will provide same level of control over the depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture. On the other hand, since Casio EX-Z280 has 32% larger pixel area (2.34µm² vs 1.76µm²) compared to Nikon L31, it has larger pixel area to collect light hence potential to have less noise in low light / High ISO images.

Nikon L31 vs Casio EX-Z280 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Casio EX-Z280 features a 26-104 mm F2.6-5.9 4× zoom lens.

Both cameras have a wide angle coverage of 26mm. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.60, Casio EX-Z280 is faster than Nikon L31 at this focal length. On the tele end, Nikon L31 has 26mm longer reach than the Casio EX-Z280. However, with a max aperture of f5.90, Casio EX-Z280 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31

EX-Z280

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31

EX-Z280

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31

EX-Z280

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31

EX-Z280

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Casio EX-Z280 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

Casio EX-Z280 for Portrait Photography

POOR

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

Manual Focus Mode
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
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 Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Casio EX-Z280 for Street Photography

POOR

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

Manual Focus Mode
Small Body
Live-view
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.60
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
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Casio EX-Z280 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

Manual Focus Mode
Average Max shutter speed: 1/2000s
No Image Stabilization
No RAW shooting capability
No External Flash Shoe
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Exposure Mode
Not so good Ergonomics&Handling
Environmental Sealings
Focus Points
104 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Casio EX-Z280 for Daily Photography

POOR

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

Compact Body
133g
Body Thickness 20mm
4.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Casio EX-Z280 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

Manual Focus Mode
26 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.3" (6.17 x 4.55 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Casio EX-Z280: 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 Casio EX-Z280, 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 Casio EX-Z280 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

Casio EX-Z280

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #422 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1152 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon L31 has a higher Overall Score than the Casio EX-Z280 and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Casio EX-Z280 vs Nikon L31 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix L31	Casio Exilim EX-Z280
Brand	Nikon	Casio
Announced	2015-01-14	2009-08-31
Body Type	Ultracompact	Compact
Sensor
Type	CMOS	CCD
Size	1/2.3'	1/2.3-inch
Dimensions	6.17 x 4.55 mm	6.17 x 4.55 mm
Area	28.07mm²	28.07mm²
Megapixels	16 megapixels	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	1,600 ISO	3,200 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity	80 ISO	64 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	n/a
Lens
Manual Focus
Lens Mount	fixed lens	fixed lens
Lens Focal Range	26-130 mm (5×)	26-104 mm (4×)
Max Aperture	F3.2-6.5	F2.6-5.9
Macro Focus Range	10cm	5cm
Screen
Type	Fixed type	Fixed type
Size	2.70"	2.70"
Resolution	230k dots	115k 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	No
Built-in Flash
Flash Range	3.60 m	4.20 m
External Flash
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	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	160g	133g
Dimensions	96 x 59 x 29mm	97 x 53 x 20mm
Battery Life	200 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction