Nikon L31 vs Panasonic FH1 Comparison

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Nikon L31

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

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Panasonic FH1

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

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Nikon L31 vs Panasonic FH1 Comparison Overview

Here we are comparing L31 and FH1, two Compact cameras from Nikon and Panasonic. Nikon Coolpix L31 is a Ultracompact class camera and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 is a Small Sensor Compact class camera.

Nikon L31 was introduced to the market in January 2015 and Panasonic FH1 was launched in January 2010. As you can see, FH1 is 5 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 the Nikon L31 and Panasonic FH1 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

Panasonic FH1 Key Specs

Announcement Date: 2010-01-06

12MP - 1/2.3-inch CCD Sensor

ISO 80 - 6400

28-140 mm F2.8-6.9 Zoom Lens

Optical Image Stabilization

2.70" Fixed Type Screen

6.0fps continuous shooting

HD - 1280 x 720 video resolution

163g. 98 x 55 x 23 mm

Also known as Lumix DMC-FS10

Let's read on in the following sections in order to better understand in detail how the Nikon L31 and Panasonic FH1 compare 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 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1

Face Detection Focus	Yes vs No	very handy for portraits
Sensor Resolution	16 MP vs 12 MP	33% more pixels
Max Mech. Shutter	1/2000s vs 1/1600s	faster mechanical shutter
Weight	160 g vs 163 g	3 g lighter
Focal Length - Wide	26mm vs 28mm	2 mm wider coverage
Max Aperture - Tele	6.50 vs 6.90	faster lens at tele
Selfie & Vlogger LCD	Yes vs No	Rotate LCD for taking Selfies

CHECK L31 PRICE

Reasons to choose Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 over Nikon Coolpix L31

In-built Image Stabilization	Optical vs None	Sharper images at longer focal lengths and slow shutter speeds
Max ISO	6.400 vs 1.600	300% higher Max ISO
Focal Length - Tele	140mm vs 130mm	10 mm longer tele reach
Max Aperture - Wide	2.80 vs 3.20	faster lens at wide
Flash Coverage	6.8m vs 3.6m	3.2m longer range
Sensor Pixel Area	2.31µm2 vs 1.76µm2	31% larger pixel area

CHECK FH1 PRICE

Common Strengths of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1

Built-in Flash	Yes vs Yes	Useful in low-light
Max Continuous Shooting	fps vs 6.0fps	Fast shooting speeds

Common Weaknesses of Nikon Coolpix L31 and Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1

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 6.90	Slow lenses at tele

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Nikon L31 vs Panasonic FH1: 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 Panasonic FH1 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). Panasonic FH1 has external dimensions of 98 x 55 x 23 mm (3.86 x 2.17 x 0.91″) and weighs 163 g (0.36 lb / 5.75 oz) (including batteries).

Below you can see the front-view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and the Panasonic FH1. Panasonic FH1 is 4mm shorter and 6mm thinner than Nikon L31 but it is also 2mm wider.

Comparison image of the Nikon L31 and the Panasonic FH1 Size, Weight and External Dimensions - Front View

Here is the back view size comparison of the Nikon L31 and Panasonic FH1.

Comparison image of the Nikon L31 and the Panasonic FH1 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. Nikon L31 is 3g lighter than the Panasonic FH1 but we don't think this will make a significant difference.

Weight Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31

FH1

Min

Average

Max

Thickness Comparison

Compact Cameras

L31

FH1

Min

Average

Max

Weather Sealing

Unfortunately neither the Nikon Coolpix L31 nor Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1 (Lumix DMC-FS10) provides any type of weather sealing in their bodies, 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 Panasonic FH1's LCD screens have the same diagonal size of 2.70 inches.

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

Nikon L31 vs Panasonic FH1: Sensor Comparison

Nikon L31 has a 16.0MP 1/2.3' (6.17 x 4.55 mm ) sized CMOS sensor . On the other hand, Panasonic FH1 has a 12.0MP 1/2.3-inch (6.08 x 4.56 mm ) sized CCD sensor .

Below you can see the L31 and FH1 sensor size comparison.

Sensor Size and Resolution Comparison image of Nikon L31 and Panasonic FH1 Cameras

Nikon L31 and Panasonic FH1 have almost the same sensor size, so neither of them has any significant advantage over the other in terms of providing control over depth of field when used with the same focal length and aperture.

Nikon L31 vs Panasonic FH1 Lens Specs Comparison

Nikon L31 features a 26-130 mm F3.2-6.5 5× zoom lens whereas Panasonic FH1 features a 28-140 mm F2.8-6.9 5× zoom lens.

Nikon L31 has 2mm wider coverage than the Panasonic FH1. On the other hand, with a max aperture of f2.80, Panasonic FH1 is faster at widest end. On the tele end, Panasonic FH1 has 10mm longer telezoom reach than the Nikon L31. However, with a max aperture of f6.50, Nikon L31 is faster at widest end.

Wide Coverage

Compact Cameras

L31

FH1

Widest - Olympus TG-850 iHS

Average

Telezoom

Compact Cameras

L31

FH1

Longest - Canon SX520 HS

Average

Max Aperture at Tele

Compact Cameras

L31

FH1

Fastest - Ricoh GR Digital IV

Average

Max Aperture at Wide

Compact Cameras

L31

FH1

Fastest - Leica D-Lux 6

Average

What types of Photography are Nikon L31 and Panasonic FH1 Good for?

In this section, we rank and compare Nikon L31 and Panasonic FH1 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

Panasonic FH1 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: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 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

Panasonic FH1 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
Fast Lens at Wide: f2.80
28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Built-in Viewfinder
No Manual Focus Mode
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Sports Photography

POOR

Panasonic FH1 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
Average Continuous Shooting: 6.0fps
140 mm Tele Lens
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: 1/1600s
9 Focus Points
Slow Lens at Tele: f6.90
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Daily Photography

POOR

Panasonic FH1 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
163g
5.0X Optical Zoom
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
Read the details

Nikon L31 for Landscape Photography

POOR

Panasonic FH1 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

28 mm - Good Wide Angle Coverage
Average Resolution Sensor: 12.0MP
Small 1/2.33" (6.08 x 4.56 mm) sensor
No RAW shooting capability
No Manual Focus Mode
No Manual Exposure Mode
No Environmental Sealings
Read the details

Nikon L31 vs Panasonic FH1: 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 Panasonic FH1, 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 Panasonic FH1 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

Panasonic FH1

Imaging

Features

Value

Portability

Overall

Ranked #402 out of 477 in Compact cameras
Ranked #1122 out of 1259 in all Cameras

Panasonic FH1 vs Nikon L31 Specs Table

Detailed comparison of specifications

General	Nikon Coolpix L31	Panasonic Lumix DMC-FH1
Brand	Nikon	Panasonic
Announced	2015-01-14	2010-01-06
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	12 megapixels
Max Resolution	4608 x 3456	4000 x 3000
Max Native Light sensitivity	1,600 ISO	6,400 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×)	28-140 mm (5×)
Max Aperture	F3.2-6.5	F2.8-6.9
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	1/1600s
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	6.80 m
External Flash
Continuous Shooting	n/a	6.0 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	1280 x 720
Video Formats	Motion JPEG	Motion JPEG
Microphone Port
Headphone Port
Connectivity
Wireless Connectivity	None	None
HDMI
Physical
Environmental Sealing
Weight	160g	163g
Dimensions	96 x 59 x 29mm	98 x 55 x 23mm
Battery Life	200 shots	n/a
Other Features
Timelapse Recording
GPS	None	None
DxO Sensor Scores
	Report a correction	Report a correction