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Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP 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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Olympus 550WP

10 MP | 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) CCD Sensor

Olympus 550WP
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Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing L31 and 550WP, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Olympus. Nikon Coolpix L31 is a Ultracompact class camera and Olympus Stylus 550WP is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Nikon L31 was introduced to market in January 2015 and Olympus 550WP was launched in January 2009. As you can see, 550WP 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 Olympus 550WP 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

Olympus 550WP Key Specs

  • Announcement Date: 2009-01-07
  • 10MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor
  • ISO 64 - 1600
  • 38-114 mm F3.5-5.0 Zoom Lens
  • Digital only Image Stabilization
  • 2.50" Fixed Type Screen
  • fps continuous shooting
  • - 640 x 480 video resolution
  • 167g. 94 x 62 x 22 mm
  • Weather Sealed Body
  • Also known as mju 550WP

Let's read on the following sections in order to better understand in detail how Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP 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 Olympus Stylus 550WP
Internal Storage
17MB vs None Extra built-in storage
Face Detection Focus
Yes vs No very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution
16 MP vs 10 MP 60% more pixels
LCD Screen Size
2.7" vs 2.5" 0.2 inches larger display
Max Mech. Shutter
1/2000s vs 1/1000s faster mechanical shutter
Weight
160 g vs 167 g 7 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide
26mm vs 38mm 12 mm wider coverage
Focal Length - Tele
130mm vs 114mm 16 mm longer tele reach
Optical Zoom
5× vs 3× more flexible focal coverage
Max Aperture - Wide
3.20 vs 3.50 faster lens at wide
Max Video Resolution
1280 x 720 vs 640 x 480 Higher Resolution Video
Selfie & Vlogger LCD
Yes vs No Rotate LCD for taking Selfies
CHECK L31 PRICE


Reasons to choose Olympus Stylus 550WP over Nikon Coolpix L31
In-built Image Stabilization
Digital only vs None Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Environmental Sealing
Yes vs No shoot at tough conditions
Max Aperture - Tele
5.00 vs 6.50 faster lens at tele
Sensor Pixel Area
2.78µm2 vs 1.76µm2 57% larger pixel area
CHECK 550WP PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Olympus Stylus 550WP
Built-in Flash
Yes vs Yes Useful in low-light
Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Olympus Stylus 550WP
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
2.50" vs 2.50" Small display
LCD Screen Resolution
230k dots vs 230k dots Low resolution screens
Manual Focusing
No vs No No manual focusing modes
Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP: 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 Olympus 550WP 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). Olympus 550WP has external dimensions of 94 x 62 x 22 mm (3.7 x 2.44 x 0.87″) and weighs 167 g (0.37 lb / 5.89 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP. Olympus 550WP is 2mm narrower and 7mm thinner than Nikon L31 but it is also 3mm taller.

Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP Camera Size Comparison - Front View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP.

Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP Camera Size Comparison - Back View
Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP Size and Weight - Back View

Now lets look at the top view comparison of Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP.
Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP Camera Size Comparison - Top View
Top View Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP Size

Weight is another important factor especially when deciding on a camera that you want to carry with you all day. Nikon L31 is 7g lighter than the Olympus 550WP but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
550WP
Min
Average
Max
Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31
550WP
Min
Average
Max

Weather Sealing

Thanks to the weather sealed body of 550WP, you can use this camera with more confidence under conditions where there is risk of exposure to water and dust compared to L31.

LCD Screen Size and Features

Nikon L31's 2.70" LCD screen is slightly larger than Olympus 550WP's 2.5" screen.

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


Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Olympus 550WP has a 10.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Nikon L31's sensor provides 6MP more than Olympus 550WP's sensor, which gives a significant advantage in real life. You can print your images larger or crop more freely. On the other hand, please keep in mind that Max sensor resolution is not the only determinant of resolving power. Factors such as the optical elements, low pass filter, pixel size and sensor technology also affects the final resolution of the captured image.

Below you can see the L31 and 550WP sensor size comparison.

Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP Sensor Size Comparison
Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP Cameras


Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP have almost the same sensor size so none of them has any significant advantage over other in providing control over depth of field when used with same focal length and aperture.

Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Olympus 550WP features a 38-114 mm F3.5-5.0 3× zoom lens.

Nikon L31 has 12mm wider coverage than the Olympus 550WP. At f3.20, it is also faster at widest end. On the tele end, Nikon L31 has 16mm longer reach than the Olympus 550WP. However, with a max aperture of f5.00, Olympus 550WP is faster at tele end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31
550WP
Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS
Average
Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31
550WP
Longest - Canon SX520 HS
Average
Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31
550WP
Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV
Average
Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31
550WP
Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6
Average
What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP Good for?
In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Olympus 550WP 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

Olympus 550WP 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
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
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

Olympus 550WP 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
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Olympus 550WP 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
Environmental Sealings
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
Slow Max shutter speed: 1/1000s
Focus Points
114 mm Tele Lens
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Olympus 550WP 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
167g
Body Thickness 22mm
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
3.0X Optical Zoom
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Olympus 550WP 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
Environmental Sealings
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
Very Low Resolution Sensor: 10.0MP
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
38 mm - Poor Wide Angle Coverage
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Olympus 550WP: 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 Olympus 550WP, 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 Olympus 550WP 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
Olympus 550WP
Imaging
Features
Value
Portability
Overall
Ranked #436 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1176 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Nikon L31 has a higher Overall Score than the Olympus 550WP and would be our choice if we have to decide between these two cameras.

Nikon L31
Nikon L31
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Olympus 550WP
Olympus 550WP
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Olympus 550WP vs Nikon L31 Specs Table
Detailed comparison of specifications
General Nikon Coolpix L31 Olympus Stylus 550WP
Brand Nikon Olympus
Announced 2015-01-14 2009-01-07
Body Type Ultracompact Compact
Sensor
Type CMOS CCD
Size 1/2.3' 1/2.3-inch
Dimensions 6.17 x 4.55 mm 6.08 x 4.56 mm
Area 28.07mm2 27.72mm2
Megapixels 16 megapixels 10 megapixels
Max Resolution 4608 x 3456 3648 x 2736
Max Native Light sensitivity 1,600 ISO 1,600 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×) 38-114 mm (3×)
Max Aperture F3.2-6.5 F3.5-5.0
Macro Focus Range 10cm 7cm
Screen
Type Fixed type Fixed type
Size 2.70" 2.50"
Resolution 230k dots 230k dots
Touch Screen
Viewfinder
Viewfinder None None
Photography Features
Max Mechanical Shutter 1/2000s 1/1000s
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 n/a
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 720 640 x 480
Video Formats Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity None None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight 160g 167g
Dimensions 96 x 59 x 29mm 94 x 62 x 22mm
Battery Life 200 shots n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS None None
DxO Sensor Scores
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