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Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02 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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Nikon S02

13 MP | 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) CMOS Sensor

Nikon S02
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Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02 Comparison Overview

In this review, we will be comparing L31 and S02, two Ultracompact cameras by Nikon. Nikon L31 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Nikon S02 was launched in September 2013. There is 16 months difference between L31 and S02 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 Nikon S02 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

Nikon S02 Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2013-09-05
  • 13MP - 1/3-inch CMOS Sensor
  • ISO 125 - 1600
  • 30-90 mm F3.3-5.9 Zoom Lens
  • Digital only Image Stabilization
  • 2.70" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • Full HD - 1920 x 1080 video resolution
  • 100g. 77 x 51 x 18 mm

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Nikon S02 compares 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 Nikon Coolpix S02
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 13 MP 23% more pixels
Focal Length - Wide
26mm vs 30mm 4 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs 90mm 40 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 3× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.20 vs 3.30 faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage
3.6m vs 1.4m 2.2m longer range
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Nikon Coolpix S02 over Nikon Coolpix L31
In-built Image Stabilization
Digital only vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Touch Screen
Yes vs No Easy control of camera functions
Battery Life
210 shots vs 200 shots 10 more frames with a single charge
Weight
100 g vs 160 g 60 g lighter
Max Aperture - Tele
5.90 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Max Video Resolution
1920 x 1080 vs 1280 x 720 Higher Resolution Video
CHECK S02 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Nikon Coolpix S02
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs Yes very handy for portraits
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Nikon Coolpix S02
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 230k dots Low resolution screens
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Environmental Sealing
No vs No not suitable for tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
6.50 vs 5.90 Slow lenses at tele
Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02: 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 Nikon S02 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). Nikon S02 has external dimensions of 77 x 51 x 18 mm (3.03 x 2.01 x 0.69″) and weighs 100 g (0.22 lb / 3.53 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Nikon S02. Nikon S02 is clearly the smaller of the two cameras. Its body is 19mm narrower, 8mm shorter and 11mm thinner than Nikon L31.

Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02 Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Nikon S02 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Nikon S02.

Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02 Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Nikon S02 Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Nikon S02.
Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02 Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Nikon S02 Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon S02 is significantly lighter (60g ) than the Nikon L31 which may become a big advantage especially on long walking trips.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
S02
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
S02
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Nikon Coolpix S02 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 Nikon S02'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 Nikon S02: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Nikon S02 has a 13.0MP 1/3-inch (4.8 x 3.6 mm ) sized CMOS sensor .

Below you can see the L31 and S02 sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02 Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Nikon S02 Cameras


As seen above, Nikon L31 has a 1.6x Larger sensor area than Nikon S02. 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 Nikon S02 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Nikon S02 features a 30-90 mm F3.3-5.9 3× zoom lens.

Nikon L31 has 4mm wider coverage than the Nikon S02. At f3.20, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L31 has 40mm longer reach than the Nikon S02. However, with a max aperture of f5.90, Nikon S02 is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
S02
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31
S02
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31
S02
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31
S02
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Nikon S02 Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Nikon S02 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

Nikon S02 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
Image Stabilization
Average Resolution Sensor: 13.0MP
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
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

Nikon L31 for Street Photography

POOR

Nikon S02 for Street Photography

AVERAGE
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
Small Body
Live-view
Face-Detection Focusing
30 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Nikon S02 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
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
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/s
Unknown Focus Points
Poor Battery Life: 210 shots
90 mm Tele Lens
Slow Lens at Tele: f5.90
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Nikon S02 for Daily Photography

AVERAGE
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
100g
Body Thickness 18mm
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Nikon S02 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
Average Resolution Sensor: 13.0MP
30 mm - Not so Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/3" (4.8 x 3.6 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Nikon S02: 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 Nikon S02, 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 Nikon S02 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
Nikon S02
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #27 out of 155 in Ultracompact cameras
Ranked #855 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon S02 has a higher Overall Score than the Nikon L31. It also has more features, more compact body and offers higher value for the money. But there is one area that S02 trails behind the L31: Imaging
If image quality is the most important aspect in a camera, choose the Nikon L31. If not, we recommend the Nikon S02.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Nikon S02
Nikon S02
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Nikon S02 vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Nikon Coolpix S02
Brand Nikon Nikon
Announced 2015-01-14 2013-09-05
Body Type Ultracompact Ultracompact
Sensor
Type CMOS CMOS
Size 1/2.3' 1/3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 4.8 x 3.6 mm
Area 28.07mm2 17.28mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 13 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 4160 x 3120
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 1,600 ISO
Min Native Light sensitivity 80 ISO 125 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×) 30-90 mm (3×)
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F3.3-5.9
Macro Focus Range 10cm 5cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 2.70"
Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s n/a
Shutter Priority
Aperture Priority
Manual Exposure Mode
Custom White Balance
Built-in Image Stabilization Digital only Digital only
Built-in Flash
Flash Range 3.60 m 1.40 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 1920 x 1080
Video Formats Motion JPEG MPEG-4
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 100g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 77 x 51 x 18mm
Battery Life 200 shots 210 shots
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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